I like baby animals, but not babies

I thought I didn't like babies because I didn't think of myself as a very motherly person. After raising a couple litters of kittens and now this needy newborn, I feel motherly.

When I see a baby kitten or puppy or any other animal, I feel that motherly instinct kick in and convince my boyfriend, "but we need to save it! it NEEDS me!" When I hear a kitten or puppy crying a lot, it doesn't bother me. I want to help it. When a baby cries, I want it to shut up and get away from me.

Babies make me feel awkward and... ew. I don't gush over them like I gush over kittens and puppies.

Is this normal? Does it change for most people? Or am I wired wrong or something? Does anyone else just like furbabies more than human babies? :P

Never mind

I completely agree with you muttlover!

baby humans make me feel awkward and irritated. I don't know how to react around them, I don't find very many of them cute. But the worst is when the parent looks at you expecting a reaction to their child, commending them on being "adorable" or some other ****... no thanks. But I'd gladly kick it for you. 

I seriously hope they establish a law that you cannot bring a child into a grocery store/walmart etc.. until it is at least a certain age. OR that the workers have a right to ask you to leave if your child starts crying uncontrollably. WORST. THING. EVER! 

but I loooooove all things fluffy!! perhaps that's the difference.. nasty hairless pink things don't do it for me

Awww....I love your ID pic Rosieii!

Now...I would NEVER EVER say that about a baby picture....

does that say enough on where I stand on this topic?

It's not that I don't like babies, it's that they're too freaking fragile and prone to kill themselves. That soft spot on their heads, the way their neck can't support their own head, the super uber sensitive skin, the idea that without actual breast milk you're basically condemning them to lower IQ points and stuff, the idea that for the first few months they basically have no immunity... damn. And I'm pretty sure if you drop one it would be very very bad :P.

When people bring babies, I just cautiously and anxiously watch them from across the room, hoping nobody asks me to hold them. I do make eye contact with random babies, and try to smile to them, because they usually smile back, or get that gushy shy shucks face.

Now from toddler age up to teenagers, I love them. Well, the well raised ones. I can't stand spoiled kids who boss around their parents.

Animals? They're cute when other people have them, but right now I don't have the mental energy to take care of one.

Infants are my FAVORITE!  Up until about a year old.  Then they are cute but a LOT of trouble until about age four.  I have a three year old now, so we are right in the thick of TROUBLE.

Kittens are cute- from a distance and only if they live with someone else.  Most of them have a psycho, evil stage that lasts for at least a year or two.  Puppies are cute and fun to play with- but I'm not hip on poop or pee on the floor, so I would rather just get a nice grown up from the pound that has the constitution to be outside with the rest of the critters most of the time. 

My favorite baby animal is a goat.  Kids have the funniest personalities and energy that never quits.  The trouble they try to get into is hilarious.  Our goat is due in less than two months.  I'm hoping for triplets- but will probably just get twins.  UBER cute! We only get to keep them for 8 weeks before they leave for their designated new homes-- perfect arrangement!

I've always felt odd and awkward around babies. I think they are cute, but after 1 minute, I'm not interested. Now, I love hanging around kids that are 3 and up. They are interesting and funny.

I know this sounds strange, but when I'm playing or talking to a child, I feel like they know what's going on in my brain. Like they can sense if I'm happy or sad or if I'm nervous or comfortable. Those big eyes look into mine, and I always hope they see good in there. Kids are just emotionally in tune...that is until they become teens and their emotions go bonkers.

I love puppies and kitties. I've still cried over a kittie that was sick and died. Those things are just so adorable and sweet.

I love them all except for baby rats/mice and snakes. Perhaps my dislike of the adult rats, mice, and snakes contribute to my dislike of those.

Children are definitely my favorites. I don't mind changing diapers and such at all. I remember visiting the orphanage and they flocked to me and we played and played. I would help clean and feed them. Then we played some more. It is amazing to see how quickly they improve their motor skill when they are young. When I look at a child and throw him/her a ball, I love to see the look in their eyes when they suddenly realize that to catch the ball, they must focus on the ball instead of locking eyes with the thrower.

Original Post by cajunrider:

I love them all except for baby rats/mice and snakes. Perhaps my dislike of the adult rats, mice, and snakes contribute to my dislike of those.

Children are definitely my favorites. I don't mind changing diapers and such at all. I remember visiting the orphanage and they flocked to me and we played and played. I would help clean and feed them. Then we played some more. It is amazing to see how quickly they improve their motor skill when they are young. When I look at a child and throw him/her a ball, I love to see the look in their eyes when they suddenly realize that to catch the ball, they must focus on the ball instead of locking eyes with the thrower.

 So..I should stop laughing when my friend's 4 year old catches the ball with his face?

Original Post by raychelc:

Original Post by cajunrider:

I love them all except for baby rats/mice and snakes. Perhaps my dislike of the adult rats, mice, and snakes contribute to my dislike of those.

Children are definitely my favorites. I don't mind changing diapers and such at all. I remember visiting the orphanage and they flocked to me and we played and played. I would help clean and feed them. Then we played some more. It is amazing to see how quickly they improve their motor skill when they are young. When I look at a child and throw him/her a ball, I love to see the look in their eyes when they suddenly realize that to catch the ball, they must focus on the ball instead of locking eyes with the thrower.

 So..I should stop laughing when my friend's 4 year old catches the ball with his face?

 

 No. Just keep throwing the ball.

I can totally relate. I absolutely adore baby animals, kiittens and puppies especially (puppies more), even adult animals though, and I even get all "awwww cute little lizard running around my walls" so really, any animals (even mice/rats) but even more the fuzzy puppies.

But humans..MEH. Babies, to me, just seem...I duno..."ick". I mean once in a while I'll see a baby and I'll think aw cute (not to sound racist but, asian babies, seriously cute) but keep it away from me or I will just start hating. Babies start cooing or crying and I get instantly very irritated, yet when puppies whine or bark I think it's adorable and want to help it immediately.

I guess i'll be the one to say that I LOVE babies. Love them. I cried when i held my close friend's baby for the first time. I get totally overwhelmed by that "I want one" feeling when I see someone with a baby, or when i see my coworkers baby pictures.  I love kids too. Especially the 6-10 age. Kids that age seem to gravitate towards me, i think because I don't patronize them, and i like a lot of the same stuff they do haha.

I also gush over puppies and kittens. Puppy breath and puppy bellies are the best thing ever. And kittens are so cute I can barely stand it. But I have absolutely no interest in raising a puppy. I think they are so precious, but the amount of work they take...no thanks. Puppy teeth freakin HURT and house training is not fun. I'd much rather adopt an adolescent dog!

To those who have children and preferred baby animals to human babies, did any of you nurse?

I ask this because I absolutely did not have that bond that everyone blathers on about with my first baby; fierce protection, yes, but I wasn't madly in love with her at first site.

It wasn't until I had a baby that nursed, and nursed well, that I had that weak in knees adoration feeling.

Also, as time progresses and I realize that the odds of me getting pregnant and staying pregnant again are slim, that gooey affection for babies in general is dulled. I think it's a defense mechanism. 

I really only find myself going nuts over my best friend's baby. Other babies are cute, but I have no burning need to hold them. They always catch my eye though.

About puppy breath - that is something I will always crave, so sweet.

 Rosieii - I love your picture!!!

When my coworker brought in  her several-week-old baby I hid in my office until she was gone because I didn't want her to make me look at it.

I've been told I'd make a good mom because of how I act with my cats. But you see, I can leave my cats at home for eight hours on their own and they're not dead when I come home. So...not quite the same thing.

Baby animals are amazing. I love my furbabies more than I'd ever love a human baby. I don't know about "normal," I think it's just different for everyone.

I have a friend in the military who has always been adamant and upfront about her lack of maternal feelings. I respect that.

I would rather someone acknowledge it than have children that they resent.

I dislike babies/children of any type. Don't get me wrong, fur babies are really cute and I will definitely coo over them (unlike human babies) but I don't like the neediness, mewling, and uncontrollable poop and pee.  I prefer animals and humans once they are mostly up grown and somewhat functional (teenagers and older).

I raised both my dogs from tiny puppies, and I love them to death but it was frustrating, and I vowed to never do it again.  I enjoy them much more now that they are trained adults.  Whenever I adopt another dog, it will be a young adult.

Babies are just, gah.  They are rarely, if ever, what I would consider cute, and I definitely don't want to hold one.  My youngest niece is now a toddler and she's OK - I'll carry her around and play with her a little bit, but I do feel awkward - like I am probably doing it wrong or something.  I have this feeling that everyone else is "better" with kids than I am, which makes me not want to interact with them at all.  I will pass by the little kid and play with the dog 100% of the time if I go somewhere that has both!

i do kind-of like brand-new babies. like, in the first week when you can hold them in one arm and they sleep all the time.

after that, i'm not terribly interested until they get close to 16. 15-turning-16 is awesome.

toddlers are okay for an hour or so, if they're not too sticky or slobbery or whiny.

come to think of it, i feel the same way about puppies as i do about toddlers: fun to play with, but i wouldn't want to take one home.

Original Post by thehappyfish:

I've been told I'd make a good mom because of how I act with my cats. But you see, I can leave my cats at home for eight hours on their own and they're not dead when I come home. So...not quite the same thing.

I get the same thing regarding my dogs!  Oh, your dogs are so good and well-behaved - you'd make a great mom!    I don't respond to those kind of comments, but it does amaze me that people can make the comparison.  That's pretty effin' stupid!

Original Post by pgeorgian:

my maternal feelings ebbed and flowed for a long time. i can pinpoint varies times in my life when i desperately wanted to be a mother (16, mid 20s, early 30s), but i'm glad it's over now and i'm glad i didn't have any.

 ditto - now I think I'm old enough to know better. My sister is expecting her first at 38 and I can't help but wonder why .... now that I have 2 dogs I'm perfectly content with them and have zero desire for kids.

Babies are fun for a few hours, but only if you know you can give them back when they start puking :)

I'm the same way, for the most part.  I baby the CRAP out of my animals and would do anything for them.  And I adore puppies and kitties in general, to the point where I almost made my boyfriend go pick up a sewer kitten last night that he found.  He wouldn't do it because he didn't want to get rabies or aids or whatever.

Babies of people that I don't know usually either annoy me, or just don't phase me.  When it's someone I'm close with (I don't mean just a casual aquantence, I mean a friend or family), I usually care much more for the kid.  One of my closest friends had a baby 3 years ago, and I love the girl and ooo and awe over her.  I think it really just depends.

Original Post by carmenxox:

I completely agree with you muttlover!

baby humans make me feel awkward and irritated. I don't know how to react around them, I don't find very many of them cute. But the worst is when the parent looks at you expecting a reaction to their child, commending them on being "adorable" or some other ****... no thanks. But I'd gladly kick it for you. 

I seriously hope they establish a law that you cannot bring a child into a grocery store/walmart etc.. until it is at least a certain age. OR that the workers have a right to ask you to leave if your child starts crying uncontrollably. WORST. THING. EVER! 

but I loooooove all things fluffy!! perhaps that's the difference.. nasty hairless pink things don't do it for me

 I wonder if some of the "ick" feeling people have about babies is because they remind you of your own mortality and adulthood.  You were a cute baby once, and now you're not.  You resent that they're cute when they act like a child and you're not.  You're old and much closer to dying.

Personally, I'm pretty indifferent about people's babies until they're old enough to play.

I could do without kittens, but I love puppies.