Curious - Do You Respond?

[Ariana]

I answer through the kid! So if she said “johnny did you sleep today” I answer “no grandma I was too cranky to sleep” or whatever passive agressive remark I can come up with at the time and then I laugh! I am lucky that I have only dealt with this with one parent and they are gone

[hwichlaz]

I think most of the time they are actually talking to the child. We're supposed to talk to them as if they understand us and will answer. It's how they learn to interact appropriately. I got a very delayed 3 year old off her bus today, and asked her all about her day as i was carrying her inside and hooking her up to her feeding pump. I don't expect an answer, but i think it's part of showing her respect.

[Indoorvoice]

I don't answer. If they have a question for me, they ask. I have a parent who would talk to his baby like that, and when dcb didn't answer (obviously) dcd would turn to me and say "so DID he have a good day today?" and then I would answer. It took several weeks to catch on. I don't care if he wants to talk to his son obviously, but if he wants answers from me he can ask me as if I'm a person.

[flying_babyb]

I answer through the kid! So if she said “johnny did you sleep today” I answer “no grandma I was too cranky to sleep” or whatever passive agressive remark I can come up with at the time and then I laugh! I am lucky that I have only dealt with this with one parent and they are gone

I do this daily with a few kids. One mom does it daily but she truly waits for the kid to answer (he babbles at her) then she will look up and ask me directly how his day was

[AmyKidsCo]

Now that I have a minute everyone is asleep.

This is a huge pet peeve of mine. ::

I stand with awkward silence until they make direct eye contact with me. This usually prompts them to stop the baby talk, I assume it is my expression, IDK. I then greet them as if they have just arrived and ask for their signature on the sign-out sheet. Conversation flows naturally from there. Most get it pretty quickly.

Me too. I don't answer for the child, I wait it out.

Another pet peeve is when I ask the child a question "Good morning, how are you today?" and the parents answers.

Edited to add that I think it's a lack of respect for the child. We wouldn't like it if someone asked us a question and our spouse or friend jumped in to answer, so why do it to children?

[Baby Beluga]

Me too. I don't answer for the child, I wait it out.

Another pet peeve is when I ask the child a question "Good morning, how are you today?" and the parents answers.

Edited to add that I think it's a lack of respect for the child. We wouldn't like it if someone asked us a question and our spouse or friend jumped in to answer, so why do it to children?

Yes to both! I feel like if as adults we are not asking children these questions, they children will never learn the ways of conversation.

Yesterday she asked him the same thing. For the first time I said "DCB, are you going to answer Sally? She asked how your day was."

Of DCB didn't answer, he doesn't know to yet. But for the first time ever she looked at me and asked me directly how DCB's day was happyface

Hoping this worked. I certainly don't want the adult thinking I a rude by not answering her. But at the same time she is asking the child and not me, therefore I am not going to answer.

[ardeur]

I honestly assume the parent is talking to the child (a healthy thing) even when the child is too young to answer. We are encouraged to talk to our babies and I see more and more parents doing this.

So no, I don't answer and the parent always turns to me if they need to ask ME a question.