# Childfree Folks: Ever Get Baby Fever? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506 "2011-11-29T23:32:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/41 "2011-11-30T17:29:53Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > ☹ Have you considered foster care at all? I know it’s not a solution for everyone. My own daughter has considered it, but doesn’t think she could handle returning the child. > > I was only able to have one child. I wanted more and even at 55, would take in foster kids if my husband wouldn’t leave me. Thank you sweetie. I really do wish we could, but unfortunately, we’re just not stable enough. Definitely not financially (where I’m worried we won’t even have enough money for utilities this month), physically for my husband, or mentally for myself. It would just never work. And of course, there’s still my mother to consider. Her lunacy will never change. ☹ So like I said, I’ll just keep telling myself it’s for the best and hopefully, the tears will stay at bay and I can check into volunteering some with children. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/42 "2011-11-30T17:37:59Z")
> [@Patience\_Jones](#): > > These are awesome, and made me giggle and giggle! > > For some reason, I’m only interested in infants. And only interested in caring for them for a limited amount of time. And then joyfully giving them back to their parents. > > I, too, wanted to be sterilized when I was young. No go. And oddly enough, when I was considering an ablation a few years ago, the doctor gave me no problems at all, but the nurse was near tears at the thought that I might have it done without ever having had children. Very uncomfortable situation. > > Anyway. Anyone with a baby under about 6-9 months, send it along to me. I’ll have the babe back to you in thoroughly cuddled condition at the end of the evening. Some people both male and female seem to have no comprehension of someone who might have absolutely no interest in having kids. I do know that it is supposed to be ‘hardwired’ into us, to want to have kids - obviously some of us were off playing craps behind the building when it was handed out … I have NEVER wanted kids, and mrAru is understanding. He like kids but never pressured me into adopting or fostering. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/43 "2011-11-30T18:08:31Z")
When I was 22 I had a young co-worker who was having bad pelvic cramps. She told me she was terrified that it meant she couldn’t ever have kids. I thought about this and it hit me that I knew I was never going to have kids. I had done some babysitting in high school and after and already had a pretty good sense that I wouldn’t do well with kids every day, long-term. I’m just not interested and even if I did, I don’t have what it takes, the kind of stamina and patience to deal with immature little people. Okay, I’ll admit that I sorta have very brief fantasies about having kids… in much the same way I have fantasies about being romantically involved with movie stars. 😃 But they’re always best-case scenarios: _my_ kids are always bright and healthy and well-behaved, not like those screaming brats that you see in the supermarket. Yeah. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/44 "2011-11-30T18:13:28Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > In the last year or so I’ve begun to theorize that there’s a very strong biological component that our moms and magazines never warned us about. \ I am not sure how you missed it, but I was always told that the biological clock would tick and I would feel the urge to procreate. I’m pretty sure I had seen that concept in magazines back when I read them. So far, none of that is true, and I am 37. It sounds like some people have the urges, and some just don’t. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/45 "2011-11-30T18:22:14Z")
My first college roommate insisted that he would never marry and never have kids. I mean really insisted. When we pressed him, he conceded that MAYBE he’d marry but would never, ever, ever have kids. A few weeks ago he found me on facebook. He’s divorced and has two sons. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/46 "2011-11-30T18:31:12Z")
Oh, god no! Children are Evil. I have to deal with several hundred of the little buggers every day. Having ones at home too would lead to headlines and recriminations. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/47 "2011-11-30T19:11:17Z")
I’ve had episodes of Baby Fever\*. Fortunately, they became far less common once I’d completed my pediatrics rotation in med school. \*I estimate I was sick for at least a third of the time during this rotation due to exposure to the hellacious germs of cute little tykes. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/48 "2011-11-30T19:22:50Z")
No kids. Never wanted them. Never pregnant. Never wanted to be. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/49 "2011-11-30T19:40:48Z")
Never have, myself (I’m 37 next week), but I’ve heard of it happening to a couple women I know. It passes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Patience\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Patience\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patience_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/50 "2011-11-30T20:00:34Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > A friend of mine volunteers in a hospital nursery. Her job there is to hold babies. That’s it. Hold babies. Might be worth looking into the availability of a similar opportunity in your area. This is a great idea, thanks! And thanks to everyone for the responses. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/51 "2011-11-30T21:46:17Z")
Nopity nope, but I’m still young. The thing is, my desire not to have children isn’t so much rooted in not wanting the children, but not wanting certain things that go along with them. I’m an introvert with social anxiety that doesn’t do well in situations I can’t control. I would go nuts having someone I had to be responsible for 24/7. If I can’t reason with someone I panic. I’m still waffling over being able to commit to a cat! I have a little niece I get to spoil and it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/52 "2011-11-30T22:48:03Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Some people both male and female seem to have no comprehension of someone who might have absolutely no interest in having kids. > > I do know that it is supposed to be ‘hardwired’ into us, to want to have kids - obviously some of us were off playing craps behind the building when it was handed out … I have NEVER wanted kids, and mrAru is understanding. He like kids but never pressured me into adopting or fostering. I think this is part of what makes the conversations between people who want kids and people who don’t so difficult; it was through this board that I’ve come to realize that a lot of people really, really want kids - like, yearn for them like I yearn to breathe. Since I’ve never experienced it, I just have to take their world for it, that they feel like that. On the other hand, they have to take my word for it that I _don’t_ yearn for kids like they do, and I imagine it would be hard to believe that something that powerful is not present in other people. > [@silenus](#): > > Oh, god no! Children are Evil. I have to deal with several hundred of the little buggers every day. Having ones at home too would lead to headlines and recriminations. That’s one of our answers to the, “Do you guys have kids?” question - “Oh, no, the courts have agreed that we can’t.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/53 "2011-12-01T03:25:00Z")
I’m 46 and never wanted any and am happy with my decision. It is one reason I didn’t get married until I was past 40 and it is another decision that I am pleased with. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/54 "2011-12-01T14:23:14Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > No kids. Never wanted them. Never pregnant. Never wanted to be. Ditto. That said, I’d give my life for my niece and nephew to save them from a Big Bad (niece is of legal age now, but I still inherit nephew if sis and hubby get hit by a bus), but kids of my **own**? Not no way not no how. I’m very fortunate with my friends and family, none of whom have never pushed the kid agenda with me. They genuinely know better, I think. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/55 "2011-12-01T20:54:36Z")
I never did get the fever. I would never hurt a child in anyway, but I don’t really want to be around them. ---
**Author:** ![Patience\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Patience\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patience_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/56 "2011-12-01T20:56:08Z")
> [@Scubaqueen](#): > > I’m very fortunate with my friends and family, none of whom have never pushed the kid agenda with me. They genuinely know better, I think. 🙂 My mother-in-law nagged us pretty hard early on. Even now, she would likely be devastated to know that my husband has had a vasectomy. She also punishes me for ever showing interest in any child. She takes my interest to mean that I regret not having children, and will tease and nag for the rest of the day. I kind of hate her. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/57 "2011-12-01T21:14:24Z")
Never wanted them. Not even once. I have zero maternal instinct. I don’t like babies. I _really_ don’t like toddlers. I’m not crazy about small children. Once they get to be around 9 they’re okay if they’re not whiny. But…no. And besides, the concept of being pregnant oogs me out bigtime. Do _that_ to myself to get one of _those_ that I have to take care of and clean up after? Not a chance! Any nurturing instincts I have are directed at my cats. They’re cute, they poop in a box, and they purr. And if they get annoying I can shut them up in a room without getting arrested. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/58 "2011-12-01T21:17:03Z")
Nope. I’m 40, and I like (and am good with) kids of all ages, but I’ve never wanted to be a parent. If I ever find myself in another serious relationship I’ll go back on Depo-Provera in a heartbeat. Just the other day I was telling a friend about how one of the guys I play poker with brought his 4-month-old son to the last game, and how I was so happy that I got to hold the baby for a while. My friend is a 43-year-old gay man who gets baby fever from time to time, and his response was, “And that didn’t make you want to have one?!?” > [@aruvqan](#): > > Some people both male and female seem to have no comprehension of someone who might have absolutely no interest in having kids. I also find that, for some people, liking kids but not wanting them simply does not compute. If I love babies I must want to have one; and/or, if I don’t want to have kids it must be because I don’t like them. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Patience\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Patience\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patience_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/59 "2011-12-01T21:18:19Z")
Exactly, **Misnomer**. Drives me up the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506/60 "2011-12-01T22:17:41Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > No, and I never have. I’ll be 51 on Friday and have wanted to be sterilized since I was 19. Same here. 43, and told my mom at age 10 that she’d have grand-dogs, not grand-kids, from me! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childfree-folks-ever-get-baby-fever/604506.md?page=2)