Tell Us: Does The Term “Little Man” Get On YOUR Nerves?

People tend to give babies all sorts of baby names when they’re young but one Mumsnet user is really annoyed by one title in particular. Reader Mimicat44 sparked quite the debate when she revealed that she doesn’t like the term “Little Man” because of the “stereotypically masculine” connotations it has. In her post -which was called “To really detest the term ‘little man’ for a baby/little boy” - she explained:

“It just seems that everyone is using this term now and it annoys me - they're not a little man, they're a baby or a little boy! Why impose any connotation of being a 'man' already on a tiny child, just let them be a child! I don't hear 'little woman' with reference to a baby girl so why the keenness to have it the other way round?! Is this some subconscious way of encouraging little boys to be 'manly' or stereotypically masculine or am I completely overreacting and it's just a cute term. I am prepared to accept that maybe I am… Anyway, anyone else got any terms/sayings they find (potentially) unreasonably annoying?”

The post got quite a mixed reaction with other mums citing some of the terms they don’t like including “Little Lady”, “Sausages”, “Princess” and “Dumpling”. Others didn’t agree and/or didn’t understand how someone could be irritated by something so simple. One wrote: “I really don't get why people let stupid things like this bother them. Does it really matter what other people call their kids?” Another commented: “I refer to my 13 week old as 'monkey' wit your logic am I therefor encouraging him to become a monkey? [sic].” Someone else admitted: “I hated it before I had my son and now I use it all the time...it just suits him...he doesn't have much baby pudge and has so much focus and seems older than he is, a little man is just what he is!” What do you think of the name "Little Man"? Let us know in the Facebook comments or get in touch on Twitter (@HerFamilydotie).