# I don't get why people think babies and toddlers are funny. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 5, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115 "2013-03-05T20:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/21 "2013-03-06T00:30:19Z")
When did it become “cool” to be a sociopath? I mean, really, the sound of a baby laughing makes you feel PURE RAGE? Something is wrong with you. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/22 "2013-03-06T01:28:51Z")
Kitten videos = funny ~80% of the time Baby videos = funny ~ 20% of the time for me You cant depend on the average person to tell you what is funny when it comes to kids. Fun, adorable, cute? Maybe There are plenty of kids/babies that this applies to, but some kids are just - well kids and average at best - annoying at worst. I’ll stick to cat videos for the most part ---
**Author:** ![Anomie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4491bb/32.png) [@Anomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anomie)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/23 "2013-03-06T01:40:45Z")
Oxytocin is a helluva drug. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/24 "2013-03-06T01:53:59Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > The reason so many siblings are born 3-4 years apart, is that at 2 1/2 they start doing the cutest, most adorable things. > > Rather than remember the hell that is -6 to 18 months, parents think “This is great! We need to have another one right away!” That they then follow through with that plan is proof that, even after 3 years, they still suffer from extreme sleep deficit that inhibits their mental faculty. Holding my five-week old, while my 4-year-old sleeps upstairs. You speak the truth, Wise One. As for me, part of the joy of kids in general is their in-the-momentness. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/25 "2013-03-06T02:16:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > As for me, part of the joy of kids in general is their in-the-momentness. I’m betting this is a big big factor; much of the funny with kids is of the “you had to be there” type, and usually with the videos, you see the 30 second climax of a moment that was 15 minutes building up. It’s the punch line without the joke. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/26 "2013-03-06T02:22:50Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > When did it become “cool” to be a sociopath? I mean, really, the sound of a baby laughing makes you feel PURE RAGE? > > Something is wrong with you. Yeah, I don’t really like animals and cute cat stories leave me totally cold, but I don’t feel PURE RAGE if I hear an animal mewling, and I sure as hell wouldn’t prefer to hear a cat shrieking in pain than purring contentedly or whatever. I have honestly never before in my life heard someone say they prefer the sound of a baby crying to that of a baby laughing. That’s fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/27 "2013-03-06T02:49:04Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Everything my kids ever did I found amazing/interesting/heartwarming/funny. > > Anyone else’s kid? Hell with them. Your kids must be awesome. Mine gets on my nerves regularly. I do love babies and toddlers but they’re also annoying as shit. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/28 "2013-03-06T03:11:16Z")
The other day my daughter commented that most of her day was spent preventing her 18-month-old son from killing himself, and sent me a picture of the tower of toys he built on top on an endtable that he was standing on. I cracked up. I asked her to keep count of his attempts to injure or kill himself…she called back an hour later and said she was already up to 45…and sent me a video. In it, my grandson stands on a overturned laundry basket and flings himself to the ground, laughing delightedly. Then he stands up, thinks about it, gets back on the basket and jumps again, changing his technique, arm position, landing…giggling the whole time. Every time he stands there and thinks before doing it again. The video lasts two minutes, he did this for an hour and a half. It cracks me up each time I see it because he is so happy, and fearless, and really seems to be trying to figure out the best way to jump. The sheer joy on his face and in his laughter cheers me up. I love my cats, too, but I can’t imagine feeling rage at hearing a happy baby laugh. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/29 "2013-03-06T03:25:33Z")
Baby videos… I rarely indulge. I like it when they laugh though. A child’s laughter is our nation’s most precious natural resource, as Monster’s Inc. so dutifully taught us. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/30 "2013-03-06T03:31:27Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > When did it become “cool” to be a sociopath? I mean, really, the sound of a baby laughing makes you feel PURE RAGE? > > Something is wrong with you. Indeed, it’s kind of pitiful. But what’s really wrong is that these two people, for whatever reason, wanna-be-hipster or otherwise, hate baby stuff and know they hate baby stuff AND WATCH BABY MOVIES and then blame the parents for “for making me waste two minutes of my day.” No, genius. The parents didn’t make you waste two minutes of your day. You did that to yourself. I personally hate most music videos. When my friends post them on Facebook, know what I do? If you guessed “watch them,” you’re wrong. > [@Nerdessence](#): > > Yeah, we’re heartless monsters that way. 😃 The self-congratulation is strong in this one. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/31 "2013-03-06T03:34:11Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > I’m betting this is a big big factor; much of the funny with kids is of the “you had to be there” type, and usually with the videos, you see the 30 second climax of a moment that was 15 minutes building up. It’s the punch line without the joke. Nah, not for me. I like watching babies laugh and be silly, no build up needed. What I hate is adults doing things to babies to trick or scare them, or pull pranks on young kids. Not funny. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/32 "2013-03-06T03:37:54Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > When did it become “cool” to be a sociopath? I mean, really, the sound of a baby laughing makes you feel PURE RAGE? > > Something is wrong with you. Yeah, I paused at that too. I am hoping the OP is being obtuse. I hope:dubious: Annoyed, irritated, perturbed, sure but RAGE? That is psychotic. Now baby cries are pretty anxiety inducing. The little vibrating cry of a new born makes my stomach go all in knots, and I am getting ready to have my third child in June, so I am screwed :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/33 "2013-03-06T06:28:28Z")
Real kids are funny as hell. Those stupid fucking E-Trade commercials where there’s a dude saying stuff that an E-Trade customer would say except that IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE A BABY IS SAYING IT AND DUDE BABIES WOULD TOTALLY NOT SAY THAT BECAUSE ADULTS WOULD SAY THAT AND NOT BABIES need to die in a fire. A fire which claims the lives of those responsible (unless, of course, there was ever an actual baby involved, in which case (s)he is blameless but I rather doubt whether that actually occurred), and condemns them to hellfire which burns eight to ten times hotter than the fire which initally caused the death. Not _eternal_ hellfire, of course; that shit is harsh. Call it three years. Anyway, yeah, kids are pretty fucking funny. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/34 "2013-03-06T07:17:15Z")
I just hope you all uphold your convictions and get “fixed.” ---
**Author:** ![romadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@romadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romadea)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/35 "2013-03-06T07:25:06Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/N9oxmRT2YWw/hqdefault.jpg "Emerson - Mommy's Nose is Scary! (Original)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9oxmRT2YWw) This is the only one I’ve ever seen that I really cared for, but I think it’s hilarious. Watch the whole thing, it’s only a minute long. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/36 "2013-03-06T09:04:59Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > When did it become “cool” to be a sociopath? I mean, really, the sound of a baby laughing makes you feel PURE RAGE? > > Something is wrong with you. Thank you, that sums up my feelings perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![Nerdessence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Nerdessence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nerdessence)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/37 "2013-03-06T11:20:58Z")
I’ve never liked babies. I’ve never liked their sounds. I don’t know if that makes me a sociopath or not, but I certainly am the OPPOSITE of a person trying to be cool or a hipster or whatever. I’m dorky, nerdy, and socially inept. I also put smileys after things that are supposed to be _silly_, not taken to heart. It’s the noise itself, how it falls on my ears, that sets me off. Baby and toddler voices are piercing. Perhaps “pure rage” was a bit strong, but I will not deny that I probably feel more annoyed by it than is normal. Cue the “backpedaling” follow-ups. 😉 I’d have to agree with what was said about my husband’s comment, believe it or not. I’m not sure why he messes with Facebook, since he can’t stand 95% of the stuff that goes on there. I quit a long time ago. As far as us being “fixed”, we both are, though we didn’t plan mine. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/38 "2013-03-06T11:58:22Z")
Speaking of baby sounds, 1 theory of why we don’t like nails on chalkboard is it resembles a crying baby. If that were the case, wouldn’t people dislike crying babies too? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/39 "2013-03-06T12:08:16Z")
But most people do dislike crying babies - we rush to them because we feel the need to fix whatever caused the baby to cry. I’m not any kind of “baby softie”, but the need to Fix Baby Now is definitely strong. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115/40 "2013-03-06T13:56:35Z")
Some people really love slapstick comedy for some reason. It’s not really funny to me either, but I think a lot of people would laugh and laugh at that video of the toddler falling just because of the slapstick aspect. I also think that many times when parents laugh at stuff like this, it’s not so much about the kid in the video as it is that they’re reminded of funny/adorable things that their own kid did. A lot of the “funny kid” videos don’t do a lot for me, but in my experience, kids around the age of like 3-6 years old can say some pretty funny things (both intentionally and unintentionally funny). Perhaps you haven’t had a chance to interact enough with kids to see how they can be funny. I do agree, however, that a lot of times when people call kid videos “funny” they really mean more that it’s “adorable”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-why-people-think-babies-and-toddlers-are-funny/652115.md?page=3)