You know what…..I dont think its bad for a child or adult for that matter to be told that they are beautiful, pretty, etc …. Perhaps the people raising the children need to explain to them that beauty is what comes from inside and when someone says they are beautiful it means they are letting their inner beauty shine.
Lets face it its very doubtful that someone will tell a child they are beautiful if they are on the floor throwing a tantrum at the time.

I am guilty of this. I notice it with my daughter too. All comments are about her appearance and for my son, about how strong, bold, clever etc he is.

Unfortunately I will have to change how I talk and compliment children. I always say they are gorgeous and adorable. The thing is I focus on their smile or their actions or even an outfit they are wearing. You’d think he would be flattered about his child being called gorgeous. How do you know how clever or talented a strangers child is. Maybe he thinks if we see a child we should turn our backs on them.

WOW! It’s a sad world we now live in. I often comment on girls I’m close to as being beautiful or gorgeous – this for me is their insides and out. It’s who they are as a person. It’s their soul, their inner beauty, their confidence, their style, the way they carry themselves, their behaviour. I think it’s a fantastic compliment and can be descriptive of so much more than just looks.

I can understand both sides of this story, it is hard to get people to change their language and we often do not think about what we say, we go by emotions and feelings, my son was always called gorgeous and cute and it did not effect him, now he is a teenager he does not think about his looks at all. What you say at home is what effects them more, so saying they are clever, kind and generous is always a good thing.

Wouldn’t bother me a 9 month old wouldn’t have a clue anyway

I would be offerend

I wouldn’t be offended either way as long as it was said like that.

I honestly don’t think telling a child they’re gorgeous is damaging at all. As long as it’s balanced out with honesty when the child isn’t so gorgeous

I get what the father was going for, I also get what his supporters are saying, but how could I compliment a child on being smart or strong when I don’t even know them? I am also one to tell kids they’re beautiful and gorgeous, but I also do that with adults who are complete strangers. In saying that, it’s usually people with kind faces that I find beautiful, which is what I tell them. Delightful is a good neutral word, I find. I use that one a lot ????????

It shouldn’t be offensive, it’s better than saying wow your baby looks ugly… I would prefer if they said gorgeous…

Oh my gosh, things are really getting out of control when we can’t use the term ‘gorgeous’ aren’t they? Seriously, some people are way too uptight.

I had a similar experience with my husband’s aunt – she used to be my daughter’s carer while we worked, a service we paid for. One day my daughter said that she was beautiful while in her care and was told that she isn’t beautiful, that she’s average and beauty is on the inside. What a load of garbage. I always tell my girl that I think she’s beautiful and my son handsome.

Seriously? This is so ridiculous. I call children and adults – males and females — gorgeous all the time. It can refer to behaviour eg. sharing. Aww, isn’t that gorgeous? We are becoming so precious. I will continue to call my 21 year old niece my gorgeous girl. She is gorgeous inside and out and it refers to her personality and her soul, moreso than her looks. I will not apologise for this.

This is ridiculous. So many things to worry about in this world, calling a baby gorgeous is not one of them.

how silly, gorgeous could have been referring to the child’s personality or their behaviour towards the other child, I call all kids gorgeous and beautiful as sometimes we all need a compliment to pick us up

• • 
  • • mom93821 replied
    • 26 May 2018 , 4:02 am

  ---

  I agree – people can have a gorgeous personality! Well said!

It is a lovely thing to say – especially if you have just met – how would anyone know the child was clever or not when you have just met.

People are always telling me my son is gorgeous- I take it as a compliment. Does it mean he isn’t smart or clever? No! He’s that too but in that moment they don’t know that so they are just being nice by paying him a compliment. Seriously this world is getting more and more ridiculous every day

No, ‘gorgeous’ isn’t a term I would be offended about. When my boy was a newborn a lady called him ‘sexy’, That was something I was a bit offended about.

I have used the term to describe both genders – it is not related to appearance. All babies are gorgeous!