Since I've been working more closely with parenting programs and babies, I've been very sensitive about using the word "good" to describe babies. When I hear people ask if a baby is "good", my skin crawls because it infers that a baby can also be "bad".  Babies can never be bad.

I understand that by using "good" people mean that a baby is quiet, passive, undemanding, etc.  But surely people can think of other ways of asking or talking about a baby's personality, habits, temperament or behaviour.

Perhaps I am even more sensitive about the issue because Simon does not fit into the quiet, passive baby mold. He is very vocal, active and animated. He seems to be able to clearly display his emotions when he is happy, excited and content, and as well as when his needs are not being met.

And that is not "bad" at all.