"Grandbaby"

[Anonymous]

It doesn't really bother me, but I think it sounds southern. In fact, when I "hear" it in my head, it's definitely with a southern, maybe hillbilly accent

I also never referred to my kids as "baby" or "the baby". Always by first name or my son/daughter.

[Anonymous]

I've never heard any Southerner say grandbaby. I hear northern people say it.

The word baby when used like this, baby needs to eat or when baby needs changing, sounds silly. Northern people say it a lot. Especially Chicago people.

[Anonymous]

This is "country" and to a certain extent, African-American. If you don't like it, don't use it. My SIL wanted her kids to call the GPs "Grandmere" and "Grandpere." HAHAHA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one whose teeth get set on edge by this term? "Granddaughter" "Grandson" or "Grandchild" are fine, even "Grandkid" but "Grandbaby" really, really annoys me for some reason. (Which I realize may be totally irrational, but there it is...)

If it doesn't annoy you, did you call your own child your "baby?" as in "Oh, I have to take my baby to the pediatrician tomorrow?" I wonder if that's why it sounds grating to me; because I never used "baby" only "son" and "daughter" or "kid"

This is your problem?

[Anonymous]

My mom uses this until she knows if the baby is a boy or girl. (We don't find out, so it's roughly 27 weeks of new grandbaby coming.)

I use baby exclusively until I know boy or girl and then interchangably used baby or daughter for my first, I'm sure I'll do the same with this one.

[Anonymous]

I don't like "grandbaby" either. It's some weird combination of too cutesy/too folksy/too Southern for my tastes. Luckily, no one in my family says it. Whew!

PS RE "the grands," I am not a huge fan, but it's better to me than "grandbaby."

[Anonymous]

PPS How about if your MIL calls you, 'Mama"? I don't care for this one. If one of my DDs is doing something, my MIL will narrate as if my DD is saying it, and say something like: "No, Mama, I don't like that. I wanted the peanut butter one." Ugh, I am not your mama! And we don't even use the term "mama" in our house!

[Anonymous]

My mother still introduces me to her friends as "her baby" because I am the youngest. I am 34 years old. She's otherwise charming so I let it slide .

[Anonymous]

yeah, grandbaby is a little gaggy. I haven't heard anyone IRL use "the grands" but that's weird, too.

[Anonymous]

I call my youngest "the baby" as in, "is the baby asleep?"

My baby is nine. I only say this at home.

She'll always be my baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I call my youngest "the baby" as in, "is the baby asleep?"

My baby is nine. I only say this at home.

She'll always be my baby.

Ha, our baby is six and we still say it. It makes us smile every time.

[Anonymous]

I think it's adorable.

Yes, when referring to my young kid I will use "the baby" interchangeably with other ways of referring to her -- "my daughter", by her name, by nicknames, etc.

[Anonymous]

I love when my mom or MIL calls my kids her babies; it means my kids are loved, and what a gift that is. It in no way threatens me or my "status" as their mom. I'm just happy for my kids.

[Anonymous]

I've always thought this was an African-American thing. I've been called "baby" many times (though I am 40 years old) by African-American women.

I (white, Northern) have gotten used to this and call my kid "baby" all the time.

[Anonymous]

My mother and grandmother use that term and they are from South Carolina, so I also associate with the south. I think it's adorable.