To "baby" a sweetheart or a loved one...what does that mean exactly? (girl, lover)

[Phoenix2017]

To "baby" a sweetheart or a loved one...what does that mean exactly, in concrete terms? (And no, I'm not talking about the "adult baby", or infantilism, discussed recently on this forum either )

I mean, I guess I know on a *conceptual* level, what it might lean towards: possibly overindulging, or overpampering someone excessively? But I'm still not completely clear about what the more concrete implications are. What is "babying" to someone, could potentially be "just being nice/caring/affectionate", to someone else.

I have seen the word in this context used both in a negative and a positive sense, although the perjorative meaning has tended to dominate overwhelmingly, in the instances I saw.

Thoughts please?

[JerZ]

Well, as you say, what's "babying" to one person isn't babying to another. My MIL does not think it's babying to make her husband carry her purse (shudder). However my best friend thought it was babying, and not in a good way, when her family cooked and cleaned for her after major surgery. So it depends upon the person and the context.

[CancerianMoonPrincess]

I interpret it as being nurturing to your lover. However there are times where one will treat them like a toddler and that's not a good thing. A prime example of this was on one episode of Bridezillas where one bride actually treated her fiancée like a toddler by telling him to do something and counting to three if he didn't do it.

[LuckyGem]

Originally Posted by Knight2009

To "baby" a sweetheart or a loved one...what does that mean exactly, in concrete terms? (And no, I'm not talking about the "adult baby", or infantilism, discussed recently on this forum either )

I mean, I guess I know on a *conceptual* level, what it might lean towards: possibly overindulging, or overpampering someone excessively? But I'm still not completely clear about what the more concrete implications are. What is "babying" to someone, could potentially be "just being nice/caring/affectionate", to someone else.

I have seen the word in this context used both in a negative and a positive sense, although the perjorative meaning has tended to dominate overwhelmingly, in the instances I saw.

Thoughts please?

I think you nailed the definition. Overindulging, catering to someone, a lot of TLC, baby talk, cutesy cutesy stuff, "mothering" someone.

I think it can make someone dependent on you. In small doses it's perfectly o.k. in my book.

[onihC]

A girl can call me baby, oogie woogie, etc. it's nice but I rather pay attention to her actions. If her actions are all good then her calling me this or that takes a different meaning.

[darrensmooth]

Originally Posted by LuckyGem

I think you nailed the definition. Overindulging, catering to someone, a lot of TLC, baby talk, cutesy cutesy stuff, "mothering" someone.

I think it can make someone dependent on you. In small doses it's perfectly o.k. in my book.

I was going to add an s to mothering (smothering) because thats what it seems like to me

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by Knight2009

To "baby" a sweetheart or a loved one...what does that mean exactly, in concrete terms? (And no, I'm not talking about the "adult baby", or infantilism, discussed recently on this forum either )

I mean, I guess I know on a *conceptual* level, what it might lean towards: possibly overindulging, or overpampering someone excessively? But I'm still not completely clear about what the more concrete implications are. What is "babying" to someone, could potentially be "just being nice/caring/affectionate", to someone else.

I have seen the word in this context used both in a negative and a positive sense, although the perjorative meaning has tended to dominate overwhelmingly, in the instances I saw.

Thoughts please?

When you look at them and get all those warm feelings---you just can't help yourself--you want to take care of them.

He/she might be 'difficult' or imperfect but however he/she is it suits you.

lol--like the smaller kind. Whatever it is that the person needs/wants you want to help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjNX_gayY1E

[Phoenix2017]

Originally Posted by JerZ

Well, as you say, what's "babying" to one person isn't babying to another. My MIL does not think it's babying to make her husband carry her purse (shudder). However my best friend thought it was babying, and not in a good way, when her family cooked and cleaned for her after major surgery. So it depends upon the person and the context.

Thx for your feedback

[Phoenix2017]

Originally Posted by CancerianMoonPrincess

I interpret it as being nurturing to your lover. However there are times where one will treat them like a toddler and that's not a good thing. A prime example of this was on one episode of Bridezillas where one bride actually treated her fiancée like a toddler by telling him to do something and counting to three if he didn't do it.

Some excellent points there -- thx!

[Phoenix2017]

Originally Posted by LuckyGem

I think you nailed the definition. Overindulging, catering to someone, a lot of TLC, baby talk, cutesy cutesy stuff, "mothering" someone.

I think it can make someone dependent on you. In small doses it's perfectly o.k. in my book.

Thanks LuckyGem...interesting...

Lol...I agree that used correctly and with appropriate moderation, it can be a very cute and endearing thing