Toddler picks up mom’s nickname for dad… and won’t stop using it

It starts like this: Babe. Babe! BABE! The kind of audio that any mom in a long-term relationship is probably immune to at this point. But when a toddler joins in? Suddenly, your nickname is now a family-wide broadcast, and your 2-year-old is out here calling your husband “babe” with the same tone and urgency you do when you’re asking him a question for the third time.

That’s exactly what happened in a viral TikTok posted by Analiese Maldonado (@thisbeachylife_), which has now been viewed over 23.6 million times. The video shows Maldonado’s toddler hollering “Babe!” while looking for his dad, Roberto Maldonado. 

@thisbeachylife_ Oh the hilarious moments of parenting 😅 I miss when he was this little! #fyp #toddler #toddlermom #trending ♬ Comedy Scenes – Comical, stupid, odd, lovely (Drumless)(1441321) – Ponetto

The comments section exploded with parents flooding in with their own mimicry stories:

@Los Google: So they hear & understand everything except the “put that down” sentence. 🤔

@Steven Perez: My 15-month-old calls me “Steve” 😂😯

Carissa Rae 💙 Boy Mom: My friend’s kid called her “ebay” and we couldn’t figure it out until the dad said “hey babe” and she repeated “ebay”

This isn’t just toddler chaos, it’s a masterclass in how kids absorb everything. The language we use becomes their internal script. Pet names, sarcastic banter, sweet nothings muttered under our breath? They’re taking notes.

Related: Mom and dad talk behind their toddler’s back—her reaction is unforgettable

Why toddlers do this (and why it matters more than we think)

According to experts, toddlers mimicking speech isn’t just adorable—it’s a major milestone in language development. Around 18 months to 3 years old, children enter what’s called the “imitative stage” of speech, where they start copying the tone, words, and rhythm of the people closest to them. In other words: if you say it, they will say it back.

And while we often talk about modeling behavior when it comes to eating vegetables or managing big feelings, this moment is also about modeling communication in relationships.

Pet names like “babe,” “love,” or even your household’s uniquely chaotic catchphrases? They teach kids how we relate to each other—how we show affection, resolve conflict, and create connection through language. Even the “funny” mimicry is actually their way of trying to understand roles and relationships.

In fact, research shows the first 3 years of life, when the brain is developing and maturing, is the most intensive period for acquiring speech and language skills.

Toddlers really are watching

This video joins a long list of moments where toddlers reveal how closely they’re watching us and how their interpretation of family dynamics can be both sweet and hilariously off-base.

Whether it’s “babe,” “boo,” “honey,” or “bruh” (yes, someone’s toddler said that too), it’s all a reminder that our kids are listening. Closely. And they’re stitching together their worldview—one mimicked word at a time.

So the next time your toddler calls your partner “babe,” just remember: they’re not just echoing you. They’re learning how to love, connect, and speak their own little version of your family’s language.

Related: Toddler gives viral crumpet order—and mom’s calm response wins the internet