'what's It Called?'

[sandyRoe]

Taking the dog for its afternoon constitutional I met a neighbour walking her grandchild in a pram.
What's it called didn't seem right, somehow, so I waited until she volunteered his name.
What's the proper way to frame that question?

[Peter Pedant]

Oh a new baby ! what is the child's name ?

no one does "it" nowadays. Non gender words are
Baby, infant, child, offspring, little one

[jno]

ask 'boy or girl' first (assuming it isn't swathed in blue or pink clothes), then you can ask 'What's her name?'

I agree with retro, asking 'What's your grandchild's name?' may involve unwarranted assumptions; it may not be a relative at all, neighbour may be a babysitter.

[Baldric]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/belfast-mum-29-set-to-be-the-youngest-granny-in-the-uk-31068444.html

[mrs_overall]

How about saying "and what is this little sweetheart called?"

Don't ever say what I said once. A woman was telling me her daughter had just had a baby. I stupidly said "what make is it?"
In my defence, I had just had a swig of cough medicine.

[cupid04]

Don't assume if it's dressed in blue that it's a boy!

[sandyRoe]

Is colour coding not done anymore? Probably save a lot of agonizing if I just crossed the street when I see anyone I know with a pram.

[Mags22]

I go with Gness and ask the baby knowing full well it's mum/gran will answer !

[Arksided]

After asking... I often get told "She's your niece you idiot" ;-)