Parenting is stressful. It is a ton of hard work, and the big decisions start immediately. One of the most important things for many people is choosing a baby name. There are so many factors to consider when choosing a name for your child, and a lot of parents fret over the decision. Some will even go so far as to hire a professional baby-naming consultant to help them choose the perfect moniker.
But we get it; parents already face a ton of pressure, and what if your kid hates their name? Or, what if you do?
A mom on TikTok recently gave birth to a baby boy, and suddenly, his perfect name doesn't feel so perfect. Heather posted a video about her infant son, Reed, second-guessing his name. She loves it but she's not so sure it fits a "squishy" little baby. And she is not alone.
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Heather thinks her son's name might sound too grown up.
She explains in a TikTok that Reed is an adult name and she loves it, but she is having a hard time identifying her little baby with his big name. She says the feelings began early on.
"Since the beginning, I am not convinced that I like his name, even though I like his name," she says. "I named him what I call an adult name. I named him Reed, and for whatever reason, I cannot figure out if I don't like the name or if I'm just having a hard time connecting it to him because he's like a little squishy baby."
We immediately started thinking about adult names and using them on babies, and we totally saw where she was coming from.
Heather is really struggling.
She went on to say that even though his name is Reed, she is having a very hard time calling him by that, and she isn't alone. Plenty of parents have experienced the same struggle.
This person wrote, "I felt the same about my 3 year old son but he's grown into his name, Lucas. And now I love it."
This person agreed, commenting, "love the name Reid. Tbh, it took me a while to connect all 4 of my kid's name to their person for quite awhile."
And this parent changed their child's name: "My son was supposed to be Daniel. It just did not fit him at all. We changed his name to Joseph. Fits him much better."
Lots of people complimented his name.
Although cutesy names are fun when kids are little, there is something to be said about an adult name.
"Reid is a good strong name for a boy. You want him to be able to grow into that name so he will be able to use it professionally one day," someone suggested.
And this person praised Heather's choice: "I love Reed! Thank you for giving him an adult name. He'll be an adult much longer than a child."
Some commenters believe he needs a nickname.
Heather could always use a nickname for a while if she isn't totally sold, as this person suggested.
"I think you're absolutely normal to have these feelings. Just saying that I had a Reed in my preschool class and he was a gem of a 5 yo. And is now a still cool 8 yo. You'll find a cool nickname. ," one person commented.
Heather replied, "Thank you, Paula! Reedo Burrito is where we landed "
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She won't be changing his name.
In a follow-up, she explained the name Reed is here to stay. She appreciated everyone's feedback and has no plans of changing his name. Right now, nicknames are working, and she is getting used to associating his big name with a little body.
Heather, no matter what you call him, he's adorable, and we would be pinching those squishy cheeks, too. Enjoy the baby days; he'll be grown up before you know it.
