# Babies are not cute! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 13, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324 "2005-03-13T14:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/21 "2005-03-13T15:47:27Z")
All newborns look like Winston Churchhill. I actually love babies, but I don’t think they’re really gorgeous. I just like how pliable and cuddly newborns are. Of course, my niece or nephew, due in October, is going to be the most gorgeous baby ever born until I have my own in a year or two. And I’d like to hear anyone argue with that 😃 . E. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/22 "2005-03-13T15:49:30Z")
> [@](#): > > For the baby, it is nothing but take, take, take and very little give. How do you get them to hold their poop for six months until it’s time to give? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/23 "2005-03-13T15:51:21Z")
I think they’re cute, but if my sister was on this board she’d be posting an enthusiastic agreement with the OP. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/24 "2005-03-13T15:56:21Z")
I don’t think they’re cute either. I decided somewhere in my teens that babies had no appeal to me. Everyone told me I’d change as I got older and my maternal instincts kicked in. I’m 38 now and the maternal instincts never did show up. It’s not that I think they’re ugly or anything. I’m really kind of ambivalent towards them. To be honest, I’m not all that into toddlers either. Again, I don’t have an aversion to them or anything. I think some of the kids I know are cute and fun, but that’s because they’re cute or fun people. There’s nothing appealing about them to me _just_ because they’re kids. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/25 "2005-03-13T16:13:22Z")
Kids are intentionally cute to their parents to keep from being fed to the Wolves. And there are some UGLY kids out there. I’ll not share my kid photos because this is not a receptive audience, I’ll just add my experience: Before I turned 33 or so, I was in complete agreement with the OP. My wife was similar til she hit thirty. Millions of years of biological drive to reproduce can speak pretty loudly though. I’ve also found that I am almost a completely different person on THIS side of parenthood than I was before I caught the bug, and after I’d caught the bug but before I had the kids. I’m an _infinitely_ more patient and understanding person now. I’m also much more interuption driven. Alas, the full weekends spent in the garage puttering from friday to sunday night are gone. Now 20 minutes out there is a luxury. At the same time, It’s as if all the world’s crying, fussy, unhappy children have gone away. It just doesn’t bug me any more. Now - I’ll not stand my kids doing that in public more than absolutely necessary, but other kids don’t bug me much. Babys smell? Well, the first few months they smell like formula. If they’re clean, they don’t smell badly - but - you’ve gotta get the curdled milk out from under the folds on their necks. I’d expect babies as a population smell as varied as their parents. We’ve permanently changed our laundry detergent to what my wife used on the kids as she identifies strongly with it. So, you’ll have to define smell a little better, I’m sure YOU smell pretty badly at your worst. 😉 We’ve spend three of the last five work days and all weekend dealing with explosive toddler diarhhea, forgive me if your complaining about infants doesn’t hold a lotta weight. I’ve found reseviors of strength and perserverance as a Parent that I didn’t know existed before that. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/26 "2005-03-13T16:24:22Z")
Sorry, I’m not a woman - I hope that doesn’t disqualify me from participating in this thread. I don’t mind babies if they belong to somebody else. I don’t think they’re ugly or repulsive creatures, but I sure do not want one of my own. My wife doesn’t, either. She’s a little more squeamish about babies than I am. In all the time I’ve known her, she hasn’t held onto anyone’s baby. The thing about them that is the dealbreaker for me is that they emit this blood-curdling sound that you can’t turn off, and they do it for years and years. It makes me cringe whenever I hear it. How you parents can survive years of screaming and crying without going insane is testament to whatever it is you have that we don’t. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/27 "2005-03-13T16:34:48Z")
Has anyone here ever really smelled a newborn? They have this delicious scent for the first three months. Yummy. If you breastfeed they continue to smell good until they start taking in solids. (that’s not meant as a slur on formula feeders (breastfeeding can amazingly hard) so plase don’t get mad at me.) ---
**Author:** ![sweetfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@sweetfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/28 "2005-03-13T16:53:30Z")
> [@Unintentionally Blank](#): > > We’ve spend three of the last five work days and all weekend dealing with explosive toddler diarhhea, forgive me if your complaining about infants doesn’t hold a lotta weight. I’ve found reseviors of strength and perserverance as a Parent that I didn’t know existed before that. Oh, I am not complaining about the babies. Since I don’t want any, and never will have any, I don’t need to worry about it. However, I am complaining about the people that expect me to think babies are cute just because they think they are. I am not going to coo and giggle over something that doesn’t invoke that reaction in me. Oh, and explosive toddler diarrhea was way TMI for me. :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sweetfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@sweetfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/29 "2005-03-13T16:58:01Z")
> [@lavenderlemon](#): > > Has anyone here ever really smelled a newborn? They have this delicious scent for the first three months. Yummy. Yes, I have. My niece and nephew and the baby that was dropped in my lap. Delicious scent? I guess it depends on each individual’s olfactory sense. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![dare\_devil007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/30 "2005-03-13T17:02:47Z")
I’m 15 and I don’t think babies are cute at all. Occasionally, I see a toddler and think, “Oh, he/she looks so innocent”, but that’s about it. My history teacher’s wife sometimes pops in with their two-year-old daughter during my history classes and all the girls go, “Awwwwwww…” I stay in my seat with the guys and my girl friends say, “Don’t you think she’s so **cute**??” Innocent and chubby? Yes. Cute? No. I don’t want kids. I don’t even want to get married. ---
**Author:** ![sweetfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@sweetfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/31 "2005-03-13T17:06:23Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > Sorry, I’m not a woman - I hope that doesn’t disqualify me from participating in this thread. Of course not! 😃 > [@](#): > > How you parents can survive years of screaming and crying without going insane is testament to whatever it is you have that we don’t. Or something. This is why I have the deepest respect for my parents. They put up with four of us, although it was their choice, and I guess they were happy with that choice. Why? I can’t say. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/32 "2005-03-13T17:06:29Z")
I can more than understand someone not wanting kids, or wanting to deal with kids. It rather took me aback when I realised that we’re being USED by kids, kittens, puppies, whatever. They’re cute so they get FED. It’s a racket I tellya! If they weren’t sute to someone, they’d starve…which just shows to go ya: some people have no taste. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/33 "2005-03-13T17:08:18Z")
I don’t think most of them are particularly cute, and I don’t really want them around me. Sometimes the hens at work will bring in their babies to show them off and I try to run and hide. I don’t like how they smell and I don’t have any desire to see them, much less hold them so they can drool or puke on me. Of course, my daughter was a beautiful baby, so I was fine with her. Weird how that turns out. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/34 "2005-03-13T17:16:13Z")
> [@sweetfreak](#): > > This is why I have the deepest respect for my parents. They put up with four of us, although it was their choice, and I guess they were happy with that choice. > Why? I can’t say. :dubious: I think your parents, like most parents, did get something from it, at least in the very short-term. It was the longer term that made them question their cost-benefit analysis of putting on clothes and going to the drug store or not. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/35 "2005-03-13T17:21:45Z")
Wow! This thread is so enlightening. As a 43 year old male who dislikes children, I was afraid that I would never find a woman to love me. Now I am thrilled to see that there are a fair number who share my feelings to one extent or another. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/36 "2005-03-13T17:28:40Z")
Babies, over a week or so old, _are_ cute. I don’t want any, and I don’t even want to hold them, but they are pretty cute to admire from afar. As are puppies and kittens. Of the three, I only want a puppy. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/37 "2005-03-13T17:31:56Z")
> [@jinwicked](#): > > I made the concious decision never to have kids when I was around 17 (getting up there – just turned 25 and not even an eensy hint of changing my mind) and I can’t say I find babies in general to be cute at all. and > [@sweetfreak](#): > > At the age of 13 I decided I didn’t want children. I am now 33, and still don’t want them. Wow, where were all you no-baby women when i was a single guy in my late twenties? I lost one long-term girlfriend because i didn’t want to have kids, and had at least one other relationship get off to a non-start for the same reason. Anyway, now i’m 35 and am married to a fantastic woman who also doesn’t want kids. Life is good. I must say, though, i do like babies, especially if they’re being all cute and fun. I just don’t want kids of my own. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/38 "2005-03-13T17:47:56Z")
> [@Elza B](#): > > All newborns look like Winston Churchhill. I came in here to say just this. You beat me to it. Great minds… ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/39 "2005-03-13T17:53:02Z")
Well, _our_ baby looked exactly like General Hammond from _Stargate_. So there. Most newborns aren’t gorgeous, but they are adorable anyway. I babysat one little guy who looked like a drowned rat for the first 6 months, and then transformed into a really cute kid. Most get cute a lot sooner than that, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324/40 "2005-03-13T17:57:13Z")
I’ll add that the act of chilbirth really bends a kid outta shape. Ours were c-sectioned and got to bypass that whole watermelon thru a nostril thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babies-are-not-cute/294324.md?page=3)