A baby is a human child and that alone!

What a cute face 😀

NanKate

What a cute face 😀

Thank you, I adore him
🥰

A lot of my hippy friends used to call each other babe about 40 odd years ago.. it's quite amusing that some of them still do it..

I've never called any of my cats "babe" but what others do is none of my business. Their house pets, their choice. My partner sometimes calls me "babe" and I like it. Yes, we are a pair of old hippies but I'm waiting to be drummed out of GN after this admission.

One of my nicknames for DD in her early 50s is BD which stands for Baby Daughter. I know she rather likes it.
I do think often of her and DS as children: I was and am fearfully proud of them both but would

not call either of them baby.
Our "cat of the life" adored by DH, he did call her baby.

I agree with you. It makes me cringe! I’m glad I’m not the only one.

Surely someone comparing a kitchen gadget with a human baby is just speaking carelessly, figuratively if you will.
I can't imagine it making me angry though. it's just daft!!
People saying their car is their "baby" is also speaking figuratively.
I can't see the harm.
I never used to call my dog "my baby" although I did and do refer to him as " my beloved dog".
Takes all sorts , I suppose.

My little Yorkie has been my constant companion since my husband died last year .He comes nearly everywhere with me. I would feel awkward walking into restaurants cafes and even pubs (where dogs are allowed )if l was on my own .People make conversation with me because of my dog.We love eachother very much .l have noticed very often in conversation that l am referred to as his "mum". I expect to him l am. I am probably his world.He is my pal ...my baby..and my companion and he has got me through some dark days ...so l don't really care if it makes anyone cringe. It is doing no one any harm and me a lot of good. He (my baby) is cuddled up on my lap as l write this.

My beef is using the term “kid”.

That is a young goat.

My young are children/child

I am from the black country we called our children kid or kids . Plus lot of other odd things we say that other people think is wrong.
I find things what people call things and people in other parts of the
country interesting . Within the same county depending what part of it they live they use different words. That's the great thing about GB we all have different accents and different names for the same thing . It would be so boring if we were all the same .

I’m from Cornwall.

A young girl is called a maid

A child is called “cheel”

We used to call children 'bairns' here- I don't live in Scotland!

Also baby was always pronounced 'babby' too!

The English language is wonderfully fluid, but I don't always have to like the way people speak.

Fur babies and treating your pet like a child is something that gets to me though... I think animals should be respected for what they are and not turned into trophies. I just don't get it.

Should a child be treated as some kind of 'trophy' then? I find that a very odd remark. For some people, their pet is their only companion, and for many, they are as much a part of the family as any other.

Oh... there's a lot of judgement here.....! Don't we all know what an actual baby is... of course we do... ..but does it really matter what people call their pets, their appliances or their spouses..? We can just let it wash over us can't we? Live and let live and all that.

I have always really, really wanted someone to call me "Babe" I don't know why.
I just get "the missus", "dear" "madam".

Suppose I should be grateful he doesn't refer to me as 'er indoors'.

I’m not a fan of furbaby either . My dog is my dog . He’s just turned 3 and is still full a of beans , and is usually referred to a nutcase or a loon !!!
Couples calling each other baby is bit cringe . As is men saying we’re pregnant ???

On Facebook there are a couple of Americans who visit here and do food blogs. They are from different states and visits different places in GB. But neither will say they are eating faggots or spotted dick . They both say these food begins with f end in s and said spotted d. Which I think is hilarious especially as the swearing that goes on in America films ,TV programmes and what stand up comics say.

It takes all sorts. I woukd never call my pet, my fur baby or baby. My children were my babies. I think a lot of people have pets and they are substitutes, it doesn't hurt anyone and the pets couldn’t care less, all they know is they are looked after and loved.