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AIBU

A baby is a human child and that alone!

(95 Posts)
Sago Tue 11-Mar-25 15:47:50

I always cringe when people refer to their animals as their babies but today was the final straw.

I went on an online forum for Thermomix, someone posted that “their baby had died”, she was affronted at posters being angry.

So this person was comparing a kitchen gadget to a human baby.
It shows a complete lack of emotional intelligence and maturity IMHO.

Am I being unreasonable?

karmalady Wed 12-Mar-25 07:01:05

kids are baby goats, not human children and how many use the word kid for a human child.

Kandinsky Wed 12-Mar-25 07:04:31

What’s that good to do with talking about the death of pets?

Kandinsky Wed 12-Mar-25 07:05:57

got

Georgesgran Wed 12-Mar-25 07:11:59

I think there are some harsh comments here over a four letter word!
Who knows what someone’s life is that revolves around an animal that is referred to as his or her baby. DD1’s first dog, was known as my Grandog!
Others might refer to a project as their baby - something they are lavishly all their care and attention on. My friend and her garden comes to mind.

It’s just a word.

As for couples calling each other babe - I can think of a lot worse.

escaped Wed 12-Mar-25 07:12:50

I often say machinery or electrical equipment "has died", but not "baby".
I call my dog, "young man," but never my "baby", so like now "walk time young man!"

nanna8 Wed 12-Mar-25 07:25:04

There’s some miserable bs around.

nanna8 Wed 12-Mar-25 07:26:14

Do you not realise how very important animals are to some people ? How insensitive.

escaped Wed 12-Mar-25 07:30:21

karmalady

kids are baby goats, not human children and how many use the word kid for a human child.

Kid is a very old English word coming from "Kind", meaning "child", hence Kindergarten.
Or so I learnt studying languages at uni.

Kandinsky Wed 12-Mar-25 07:31:31

I understand how important animals are to some people, but when announcing their death don’t say ‘my baby died’ - your baby hasn’t died. Your pet dog/ cat has died.

Aldom Wed 12-Mar-25 07:40:41

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Baby can be a Noun an Adjective and a Verb. Common usage.
So, no, not just to be applied to a
human baby.

Astitchintime Wed 12-Mar-25 07:44:21

Personally, it is of no consequence to me how anyone refers to their pets. Keeping a pet can have a positive effect on the owners mental health, particularly if they live alone.

What I do object to is anyone picking up their pet animal and lunging it at me to 'introduce' it.

Allsorts Wed 12-Mar-25 07:49:12

I don’t call anyone baby and would never be called it, however I don't get offended if others use it. Can think of far worse.

Iam64 Wed 12-Mar-25 08:26:01

What a lot of irritation towards not much.
My dogs are ‘the dogs’. When my daughter’s dog stays, I walk her with my female spaniel, leaving my big male lab to be taken out separately because he isn’t as easy to manage as “the girls” . Come on girls I’ll say and off we go. He hears this and goes to his bed. None of them are due babies, not in any way.

My daughters are heading for 40 but are known as ‘the girls’.

Georgesgran Wed 12-Mar-25 08:37:11

It would seem a human baby over 12months becomes an infant - but I’ve never been asked to infant-sit my DGSs.

Churchview Wed 12-Mar-25 09:38:42

"I always talk to my dog in an American accent. Always have done with all my dogs over the years. No idea why. But I don't call her my baby." Rula

grin When our dog 'talks' to us she does so with Bristol accent as that's where we rescued her.

She's not my baby, but she is my friend and she's 'gert lush'.

Cossy Wed 12-Mar-25 09:50:57

Personally, I think that’s bonkers!

We adore dogs, and they are as much part of the family as our children, but they are not humans and kitchen appliances certainly are not!

Each to their own, I guess!

Iam64 Wed 12-Mar-25 09:57:34

Churchview, my spaniel has a midlands accent despite living in the north west since 8 months of age 🐶

Allira Wed 12-Mar-25 09:57:40

Churchview

"I always talk to my dog in an American accent. Always have done with all my dogs over the years. No idea why. But I don't call her my baby." Rula

grin When our dog 'talks' to us she does so with Bristol accent as that's where we rescued her.

She's not my baby, but she is my friend and she's 'gert lush'.

😂😂😂

Allira Wed 12-Mar-25 09:58:52

I wonder if our last dog spoke Welsh?

He could speak English too but with a Welsh lilt.

Indigo8 Wed 12-Mar-25 10:11:58

The first time I visit Paris was as a child. I came across a poodle outside a shop and I told it how beautiful it was in English. The dog just looked puzzled. My father spoke to it in French and it immediately perked up and wagged its tail.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 12-Mar-25 10:15:37

Sago I like my Thermomix, it is really useful, when it dies I will be cross.

If I started telling my AC that baby had died referring to an inanimate kitchen gadget, I am sure they would be calling for the men in white jackets for me…

henetha Wed 12-Mar-25 10:39:57

Yes, it is silly, but it's also fairly harmless, mostly. So live and let live.
I must admit that my car has a name and I always refer to it as 'she'. So I'm silly too. 😁

nanna8 Wed 12-Mar-25 11:42:12

I can speak meow and my girls answer me, too. I have a perfect meow accent. I heard one of them singing loudly and realised a fox was trying to get in through the catflap.

Cossy Wed 12-Mar-25 11:49:09

nanna8

I can speak meow and my girls answer me, too. I have a perfect meow accent. I heard one of them singing loudly and realised a fox was trying to get in through the catflap.

😂😂😂

Jolene2 Wed 12-Mar-25 11:50:36

With the advent of AI androids. natural babies will become extinct. The android child will look prettier than a real child, and he or she will not have tantrums. They will not be noisy or smelly, and the parents will always get a night's sleep.
The androids will also be programmed to develop physically until they are eighteen. Thereafter, they will remain young and beautiful for a century or more. What's not to like?