Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

If someone who was admiring your baby said "Oh what an adorable chubawuba?" would you be insulted? My DH had made a comment to me last month that I had said it to someone in a store and that some people might find it offensive. I most certianly dont mean it that way. I did it again today in the mall went something like...
"Oh how old is your son?"
"He's 3 months...and yours?"
"Mine is 5 months. Oh wow your son looks so much bigger than my guy! What a cute little chubbawub!"

The lady gave me a look and walked off. I totally didnt mean it in a derogatory manner but I think I insulted her.

Has anyone been insulted by a comment like this? I am certainly going to be more careful in the future

Message edited 3/23/2010 9:31:07 PM.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

That would not insult me at all.. I think you were using it as a nice term...like chubby babies are so adorable...If the kid was 5, then yes, thats an insult..

Message edited 3/23/2010 9:32:48 PM.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

People are just weird. You said nothing wrong; "Chubbawuba" is hardly a derogatory term!!! Maybe it's the "he looks so much bigger than mine" part that got her to go weird. People have really STRANGE stuff going on about weight/size/etc. I don't think you need to be more cautious at all since what you said was NOT insulting or derogatory at all!!

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

I haven't had this happen, but I do stay away from comments that could come across as a judgment on size, and I also avoid asking if a baby is "walking, talking, cruising, crawling, etc." You just never know what is going on in the family and what a person may be sensitive too.

I tend to say "Oh what a handsome little boy" or "what a beautiful little girl".

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

"Chubbawubb" no, that isn't insulting. I do know people have called babies "fatties" and I think that is a little bit insulting...

But yeah, people are freaks Don't sweat it, you meant no harm

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

Babies are supposed to be "chubby" so that would not offend me. And people have there own terms of endearment for babies.

I mean if you went on with oh he's so big, I mean huge, like wow I can't get over how gigantic he is... that may be offensive!

Are there mommies who are sensitive to any less than perfect comment about their baby... absolutely. Don't take it personal.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

While it never bothered me when people commented on DS's size in a nice way like that. I do know someone who did find it insulting and got really annoyed at comments like that!

I would personally stay away from comments like that unless you know the person better...

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

If you had drawn a picture of DS as an infant ou would have just drawn a bunch of circles. He was so round...

I wouldnt have found it insulting in the least bit...

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

Posted by KateDevine

"Chubbawubb" no, that isn't insulting. I do know people have called babies "fatties" and I think that is a little bit insulting...

But yeah, people are freaks Don't sweat it, you meant no harm

Message edited 3/23/2010 9:41:49 PM.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

I would stay away from commenting on how big or how small a baby is because you never know what someone is dealing with (Gestational Diabetes = bigger babies; preemie = smaller babies).

Better to comment on a cute smile; beautiful eyes, etc.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

even if you were, I think people can be too sensitive, honestly. Even if she was offended by it, she had to know you didnt mean it that way and that wasnt your intention. Id continue on as you were, and let people take your nice comments for what they are worth.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

not insulting to me, but i could see how people might be...

a carpet salesman asked how old ds was.. when i replied he said - what are you feeding him rocks?

now- ds wasnt that chubby... he was 75% weight, but his head is 90%... i dont take offense cause it is what it is, and i know he is the cutest baby ever

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

wouldn't bother me!

it did bug me when "helpful" people would say, "oh! mommy needs to see that you have dirt under your nails!"

This happens with my MIL and one b!tch at Costco.

Listen, he is 2. I bathe him like 2x a day. He is a boy. He LOVES getting dirty.

Shove it.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

Again I am going against the grain by saying, yes, it would bother me.

My DS was a BIG baby. From birth on, he has always been in the 90-95 percentile or even higher for height and weight. Before he started walking, he was chunkier, now he is slimmer, but very tall.

I didn't mind if people commented on him being a big boy, but calling him a chubawuba definitely would have bothered me.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

I wouldnt be insulted bc I personally LOVE chubby babies and have one lol But..I guess some people would take take this offensively. When it comes to babies I'm so used to using words like look at that big boy or look at that little peanut

Message edited 3/23/2010 10:48:54 PM.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

totally depends on the person and the situation.

me, personally, i wouldn't get upset. if the person you said that to is having weight gain issues w her little one, a comment like that could be perceived as negatory.

you said it in a nice way though, this person must have issues . it's not like you said "WOW. what a chubawub", kwim?

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

Message edited 3/23/2010 11:12:58 PM.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

Nope wouldn't find it offensive, hehehehe I would then tell you to check out her thighs

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

I'm in the minority here, but yeah...that would probably bother me. JMO.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

While I wouldn't be highly offended, I could see how it could be slightly offensive. You just never know what 'sore spot' you could be hitting upon. I agree with the pp who said it's best not to comment on a baby's size, and go more with the eyes, smile, or overall cuteness.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

I might be a little. I LOVE a chubby baby, but I would just think there might be a sweeter adjective to use.

Re: Am I insulting people and not even knowing it?

I love a chubby baby too, and my own DD was such a chub till she started walking! But you never know if a person has weight issues of their own that they're dealing with, or if they're getting sh!t from family members about having a chubby baby. I know my own mother did nothing but harass me about my DD's weight till she was about 12 months and had been walking for a while and naturally lost some of those cute little rolls.