Sits like a princess, shouts like a fishwife

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

My sister has boy/girl twins - they are 11 months old.

The way my sister and her husband talk about their baby girl makes me cringe a bit, and I am not sure whether I should say something to them, or just let it go.

In the space of about an hour last week, the baby was described as 'sitting like a princess', 'shouting like a fishwife' and 'waving at everyone like a complete tart'.

My sister and her husband are both lovely, intelligent, professional people. They are saying these things affectionately and obviously the baby is too young to understand, but it makes my skin crawl.

No such comparisons were made about the baby boy. He just sat, shouted and waved.

Would you say anything? Or am I being too sensitive?

I think I'd say something, in a jokey way to try and get the point across without causing a dispute! I think it's awful, but know loads of people think I'm over-sensitive on things like this.

I think it's awful too. Calling their baby a tart? The fact that they use these types of phrases full stop will manifest itself later when she does understand the language. She will pick up on the different ways they talk about women to men and the way she is described in comparison to her twin.

I'd be inclined to go passive aggressive and buy them Cordelia Fines Delusions of Gender .

Maybe more constructively try BunnyPotter's suggestion or perhaps at a time when they haven't immediately just called their daughter a tart to mention you'd been reading about how parents speak to and about their children starts the gender differentiation from an early age. In a kind of informative, casual, I've just read an article, kind of way?

Thanks, I'm glad it's not just me who thinks it's awful!

I have got two boys and am trying so hard not to use language like this in front of them. My FIL once told DS1 to stop crying 'like a girl' - aargh!

I think a light hearted response might be best. Maybe I'll buy DNiece a copy of that book for her first birthday scallopsrgrate!

They think my parenting is a bit odd anyway (I bf, co-sleep, blw), so if I do say something it probably wont come as a surprise!

scallopsrgreat - sorry about misspelling! Trying to type and play snap at the same time!

And I think that at every opportunity for the rest of her childhood I'd make a point of saying things to her to undermine those type of comments. I can't think if a direct example right now, other than that every single birthday/Christmas present should be either a book from A Mighty Girl recommendations for her age, or science kits etc - or both!!

YANBU. My friend's DD isn't 6 months old yet but she has been told that she's going to be "a right tease" when she grows up, amongst other things. It's all said affectionately but of course it has a drip drip effect and it starts so young!