Dog people who have children...hard to break those old habits? Good Boy!

[Shodan]

I also don’t see a problem. Dogs and small children are pretty much on the same intellectual level. They also respond to behavior-shaping and lots of praise and reward-based instruction. Children are just harder to house-train.

Congratulations, though, daddy.

Regards,
Shodan

[Phlosphr]

@Heart_of_Dorkness

Woo-hoo! Welcome, welcome, little man!

I know, right? And no pictures?! I’m far more disturbed by that than by you talking to him like a pet; that’s just natural. I agree: it’s not that you’re talking to the baby like a dog, it’s more that you’re talking to the dog like a baby, and it’s totally not a problem.

Our little guy is one (today! hooray!) and we still call him by the cat’s name, and vice-versa. I assume that will happen forever. I know my mom used to call us by everyone else’s names; one memorable time, my mom was looking right at me, and I patiently waited as she went through about 10 or 12 different names, including my sister, my father, our cats, her sister, and even one of her cats from when she was young, before she finally laughed, “Oh, you know who you are! Just come here!”

And I have found that the baby-talk has “matured” a little along with the baby, both in tone and content. I also used to feel weird calling him by his given name; he was always “Buddy” or “Bunny”. Now, I still use those, but most often, it’s his name or his nickname.

Now as I was saying: let’s see some cute!

Sorry to you both - but with how some others reacted to the homebirth thing I kinda kept it under wraps…at least a little.
I’ll upload pics when I can - bit busy now. I’'l just say everything was perfect including how long Mom was in labor and the health of the little man! Zero problems all A+

[psychobunny]

Just wanted to pop in to congratulate you on the baby. Although I was one of the home birth (semi)-detractors, I am still happy for a healthy baby and mommy and I want pictures and the whole glorious story. Did you and the wife get your bath and your soothing music?

Also-sounds like you are relating to your kid just right. Trust me-he will learn his name eventually-they almost always do.