Dude, my baby's not fat! He's in the 97th percentile for height and only the 67th percentile for weight. Proportionally, he's a little slimmer than most babies. Do people just not realize that babies are supposed to be chubbier than adults? When did it become OK to comment on other's weight? How hard is it to just say, "What a cutie" so we can both continue along with our days without me imagining throwing discount boxes of generic Tylenol at your head while screeching like a banshee, "My baby's perfect THANKYOUVERYMUCH. Don't you dare touch him!"?
Really people, really. Let's all just keep our opinions to ourselves, shall we?
Grrr I know just what you mean, my little guy is really solid and pretty short whilst all his wee friends tend toward slight of build and taller and I am just so sick of the he's so chubby comments, he's so big comments esp since he's (perfect of course and) in the size smaller than he *should be*. My MIL comments are the worst though, all because my gorgeous niece (her only other grandchild) is so light and slight, if she tells me he's so heavy (actually light compared to all other kids his age) one more time I think I'll scream - okay rant over - I feel better - thanks Meghan as always you write what I think :)
ReplyDeleteWow....just wow. Maybe she meant it as a compliment (I prefer my babies cute and chubby myself), but seriously...that's not cool. I'm also amazed by people who touch strangers' babies. I get cooing and making smiley faces, but touching is like, "Whoa! Did you wash those hands before you touched my child?!" People don't know boundaries.
ReplyDeleteI would never say something like that to a stranger. I do comment on my nephew as being a little chunker, but it's a good thing for babies to be like that! I don't find it offensive, but am very surprised by what people to say and do to other people's children. Strange.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that will send me from 0 to 60 in a split second is people touching my children. WHY is it somehow acceptable to grope a helpless baby in a way that you'd NEVER touch anyone over the age of two? Because it's NOT. Just like the incredibly rude touching-the-pregnant-lady's-belly thing. Gah.
ReplyDeleteBig babies are healthy babies. She probably didn't know she was being rude.
I don't think she knew she was being rude either, but I would have rather her said, "I love those chubby cheeks" than "Aren't you a butterball".
DeletePeople often treat babies like dogs. Since I've never been on the owner/mother end, I've always thought, "Hm... How would I feel if some stranger just started touching my kid in public or petting my dog? It'd probably get annoying real quick." I do wave at babies if I'm standing in line, and the urge to touch them is sometimes strong. But I do always keep my hands to myself. Another thing... She's a Target cashier! She's touching dirty money all day! Keep your dirty hands away from Meg's baby!
ReplyDeleteDitto to what Deb said about touching a pregnant woman's belly!
On the weight front... I don't know. I wouldn't call a baby Butterball, but I have said, "Look at those cheeks!" or "Look at his chubby thighs!" I've never meant it offensively because babies are supposed to look like that, and it's cute! But I can see how that might upset a mother... So I'll be more mindful in the future because of this post!
I have a hard time not touching babies sometimes too. I don't mind when people pat him on the back or play with his toes, pinching his fat, on the other hand, kind of a dick move.
DeletePeople are so obsessed with weight they even get snarky with babies and kids. It's just crazy. I'd rather see big healthy babies (like my daughter) than tiny skinny babies. Tiny skinny babies always make me think 'Failure to Thrive'.
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating! I think people are drawn to babies and perhaps she just didn't know what to say but wanted to say something. People used to say that about my little girl and she was like in the 37th percentile. I know every time I see a baby I find myself looking at them thinking, how much i'd love to hold them!
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