Boy or Girl. . . Hmmm?

Not Sure,Try These Baby Compliments.

Has this ever happened to you? You are minding your own business, maybe purchasing a bit of food at the grocery store so you can replenish your malnourished refrigerator, when you see the cutest bundle of joy happily sitting in their booster seat in the cart directly in front of you. You make googly eyes. You coo and beckon for the little one to imitate you. Lost in your own world of baby, you suddenly realize the baby’s mom or dad is watching you with guarded interest. Quickly, you pack away your gurgly baby sounds, smooth your clothing and prepare to compliment the mother on her beautiful baby boy. Only, hold up! Wait a minute! It’s not a boy, but a baby girl.

A decade ago it was easier to distinguish a little boy from a little girl; boys wore blue, girls wore pink. Not anymore. Determining the gender of a small baby is not as easy with an array of color choices available in clothing and changing attitudes that do not automatically assign gender based on color. Society is evolving and because society is evolving, refusing to categorize babies,it makes it difficult for well-meaning people to use the proper pronoun when commenting on how adorable Baby X looks when he/she is chewing he/she’s cheek.

What to do? This post is in no way political. I am not writing to discuss the societal implications that could result from classifying babies. Nope! If you are looking for that sort of wisdom, it is time to move on and turn on The View. However, I would like to offer you some go-to compliments that you can use anytime you are unsure of a baby’s gender. Feel free to write them down, bookmark this article on your smartphone or scribble these classic lines on your arm. Whatever works so that in the future you will be prepared and able to offer a compliment eloquently and, most importantly, without offending anyone.

1. Keep it simple

What a precious bundle of joy you have!

2. The double compliment.

How adorable. Your baby looks just like you.

3.The name angle.

Babies are precious gifts. What is your little blessings’ name?

4.Offer your own perspective.

I remember when my children were that little. Babies always remind you how fast time flies.

5.Honesty is still the best policy.

All babies look the same to me. Is your little one a boy or girl?

Have you ever felt embarrassed or chastised for assigning the wrong gender to a baby when complimenting them? Do you think we place too much emphasis on gender roles?