what's the age where a man can call a little boy a "cute kid" serious question. i think you can get away with it when you're a grown ass adult with your own kids. when people flaunt their children in your face it's really the only think to say. it's the "lol" of that situation.
Yeah I'd say like 26, but you have to be established in your career and have some publicly-known, healthy relationships with adult females. If you're 28 with a part-time job and living in your parents' attic, the comment is suspect.
Funny thing is, it has an expiration date, too. Once you get past like 50, then you break through to the other side, into Sandusky territory and the comment becomes potentially creepy again, regardless of status.