After about age two or three, I stop telling children how cute/adorable
they are, and instead focus on other nice things to say ("You behaved so
well at the restaurant!" or "That was so nice of you to share your ice
cream with her!"), but I do enjoy making the comments to the parents ("She
is too darn cute!" or "He's so handsome, you're going to have to change
your phone number when he gets to high school").

It just feels so good to compliment a parent on their kid, no matter what
it's about.