Moms Talk: Is Baby Chatter a Social Do or Don't?

This week's Moms Talk discussion comes from a recent Miss Manners column that appeared in the Washington Post. A reader who recently ran into a friend and her friend's newborn son asks whether it's entirely necessary to use "baby talk" when meeting an infant for the first time.

The reader goes on to explain that her mother cooed to the baby, while she simply turned to the newborn's mom to ask how she was doing.

She started talking about her baby. I stood there with a smile on my face and agreed that her son was cute. When leaving, I told her “It was nice to see you.”

After we were out of earshot, my mother jumped all over me, wanting to know why I was so rude. I couldn’t understand it. I believe I was polite, but no, I did not fawn all over the baby. I pointed out to my mother that while I asked how she was, she didn’t ask how I was doing.

According to Miss Manners, the reader should have at least made some effort to goo and gah over her aquaintance's new addition.

Miss Manners is not asking you to do a full kitchy-kitchy-koo. However, it is customary to declare all babies adorable; that is the tribute we pay to the future.

What do you think? Is it an unspoken social rule that everyone, even mere acquaintances, declare all new babies cute? Moms, do you find it rude if someone fails to fuss over your infant?