baby
noun
ˈbeɪbi 
ˈbeɪbi 
1 a very young child or animalThe baby's crying!a newborn babyMy sister's expecting a baby = she is pregnant.She had a baby last year.a baby boy/girlbaby food/clothesa baby monkey/blackbird2 (informal) the youngest member of a family or groupHe's the baby of the team.3 (disapproving) a person who behaves like a young child and is easily upsetStop crying and don't be such a baby.4 (slang, especially North American English) a word used to address somebody, especially your wife, husband or lover, in a way that expresses affection but that can be offensive if used by a man to a woman he does not knowIdioms
be your/somebody's baby
(informal) to be a plan or project that somebody is responsible for and cares about because they have created itleave somebody holding the baby
(informal) to suddenly make somebody responsible for something important that is really your responsibilityHe changed to another job and we were left holding the baby.throw the baby out with the bathwater
(informal) to lose something that you want at the same time as you are trying to get rid of something that you do not want
Usage note: ChildrenHaving a baby/childwant a baby/a child/kidsstart a familyconceive/be expecting/be going to have a baby/childmiss your periodbecome/get/ be/find out that you are pregnanthave a baby/a child/kids/a son/a daughter/twins/a familyhave a normal/a difficult/an unwanted pregnancy; an easy/a difficult/a home birthbe in/go into/induce labour (especially US) laborhave/suffer/cause a miscarriagegive birth to a child/baby/daughter/son/twinsParentingbring up/(especially North American English) raise a child/familycare for/(especially British English) look after a baby/child/kidchange (British English) a nappy/(North American English) a diaper/a babyfeed/breastfeed/bottle-feed a babybe entitled to/go on maternity/paternity leavego back/return to work after maternity leaveneed/find/get a babysitter/good quality affordable childcarebalance/combine work and childcare/child-rearing/family lifeeducate/teach/home-school a child/kidpunish/discipline/spoil a child/kidadopt a baby/child/kidoffer a baby for/put a baby up for adoption(especially British English) foster a child/kidbe placed with/be raised by foster parents