Are you interested in other people's babies?

Allegretto I’m 65 and the only babies I’ve ever held is my own daughter and 2 CH. I just don’t like them!

Occasionally I see a cute child/baby who needs cooing over but, on the whole, I am not particularly interested in other people's children. I would never be rude, I will always ask about them and I am always kind about them but they don't really hold my interest.

On the flip side, I actually lost a friend as I was too proud of my children! Although I tried to temper my enthusiasm for them in her company, it was too late. The funny thing is I absolutely love her boy but hey ho.

Totally agree!! I've never had children (am married) and never wanted any - too old to have them when I got married. Always find they get in the way of adult conversation and want to be centre of attention.

I wonder why it bothered her that the woman was not interested. Does that really matter? She has to accept that not everyone is the same....

Babies feed into my social anxiety, I feel so silly trying to talk to them. I understand people are proud of their children/grandchildren though. It’s people who expect everyone to love their dogs that baffles me.

I absolutely love babies and children. I worked with them for about 42 years. I was an NNEB when I first started work and I loved it. After my own family (4) I started childminding that I also enjoyed. I did the school run etc. I always had a baby or two to look after. Then in 2015 I suffered a cardiac arrest. No children in my care at that time, thank goodness. Now I just enjoy my grandchildren when they visit.

No, not very interested really, but I 'fake' interest in the grandchildren of close friends. Of course, my own GC have been the most fascinating ever, though I can enjoy their company even more now that they are teenagers. However, when my first GGC arrives in the summer, I will, of course, be obsessed!

Sorry but I just can't muster up any interest in other people's
babies apart from my family babes, they all look the same as if churned out of a mould.

I do like looking at them if only to see if they take after their grandparents in looks. I like to imagine what my friends were like when they were little.

I felt strangely inept when my first GGS was born and was reluctant to hold him in case I dropped him. Three more DGCs later I'm happy to have a cuddle of anyone's baby and once they can smile back I enjoy interacting with them.
I find the stage from about 9 months to about 2 years old completely fascinating as they seem to pick up new skills from one day to the next. I help run a Toddler group and love watching them play.

FannyCornforth

No. And please don’t show me a flipping scan.
It can be very upsetting

Whoa! I can top that. About 17years ago a poor darling lass in my office had a stillbirth tragically sad. BUT she had pics of her darling boy and for some reason decided to plonk one down right under my face on my desk at work without warning saying "this is (name withheld)" I was frozen with - I don't know what exactly? Shock? Sadness? Terror? I have suffered two miscarriages one quite late but don't tell work colleagues so my reaction of saying how sorry I was seemed a bit weird. Well out of order/ thoughtless /immature and ill advised was the way I now see her stupid action. Assuming that it was suitable for airing to all and sundry at work? I always thought she should have been seeing counsellor and off work longer but no- she knew best. Except she didn't and I still have the tragic pathetic little image seared into my brain. So heartbreaking.

I love babies and children, and I'm always genuinely interested in my friends children & grandchildren. Sometimes I ask if they have pictures & they're a bit shy but are then thrilled cos I've remembered details and are they're happy to share.
I volunteered for HomeStart helping families with little ones, it was sad how some mums didn't know how to enjoy their children but it can be learnt & encouraged. Fair enough that not everyone is interested, I'm lucky that I am.

I like my own grand-children of course and am interested.
When I am in shops or even in church there is always a young child or toddler with it's mother or father. It fascinates me when the child starts looking into my face and holding the gaze
they usually then start smiling or trying to hand whatever toy they may be holding. I will always start smiling back or give them a little wave and then their mother or father will also start smiling. I like little babies and toddlers they are cute.

Buttonjugs

Babies feed into my social anxiety, I feel so silly trying to talk to them. I understand people are proud of their children/grandchildren though. It’s people who expect everyone to love their dogs that baffles me.

Yeah, kids are ok if they're interesting but dogs? I always find them a bit YUKKY! Like I could never change someone else's baby's nappy! Aaargh! My sis was an NNEB and it never bothered her but I find it utterly repulsive.although I could absolutely look after a baby that I deemed neglected and needed protection and love.

Honestly I'm really not interested in other peoples' babies either, other than my own grandchildren. Occasionally a really cute baby might appeal, but five minutes with it would do me.
I can look at people's photos for a couple of minutes but after that they've lost me.

I wouldn’t expect others to fuss my grandkids that’s my role. As you said she spoke to child she didn’t ignore him. So not sure what else she expected. You can’t be too careful nowadays. I worked in a place many years ago one of my staff used to bring her husband into shop. Who I looked on as friends my son would bring my granddaughter in for me to babysit once I finish my shift She and him would chat and play with her. And talk to my son granddaughter was about 2 at time. Well cut long story short she was put into jail for messing with kids. I felt sick when found out. She never touched my granddaughter that way. I’m very cautious who goes near my grandkids since then. These ppl don’t walk around with T-shirts on.

In a way, I AM interested in other peoples' GC. 3 out of the 4 that I have are not blood-related to me. 2 are from my adopted DD, and one is from an egg donation. Only my youngest son's little boy is actually 'genuine family'. It doesn't make the slightest difference, though. I think the world of all of them.
As for other people's GC. I rarely actually see any of them, but would take a polite interest, as I do when they show me photos. Grandparents who talk about nothing else but how wonderful their GC are, are best avoided! I try not to be a bore about my own, even though they are amazing, talented, brilliant etc! ?

Under six months old babies are boring little squiggly things which I can't find any enthusiasm for and I do apologise for feeling this way and make no secret of it. Thus I am never invited to meet a baby until they are of an age where they respond properly. ie, around six months. My own offspring I coped with better as instinct kicked in and I did do all the relevant things you're supposed to do with your own babies and grandbabies. At least I think I did.

Over six months they interact and are turning into little people so I then enjoy their company.

I once worked with a bloke who, when an employee came in proudly bearing a new offspring would mutter "Babies are best barbecued", and remove himself from the office until they'd gone.

I'm not interested in other people's babies either, though I did like my own and I like our family babies. But give me a stroppy teenager anyway and I'm in my element.

I do like children, Beswitched, including babies, and I’d have acted like you in that situation. I wouldn’t expect everyone to, though.

I don’t have GC so far, and this thread has been a helpful warning not to bore people if I do!

No. Not in the slightest. Someone just played me a video of her grandchild opening her presents. Why would I be interested? ? I wasn't. Boring.

I like children / babies but do get fed up with some people constantly showing photos on their phone, of Grandchildren,I love mine, but hardly ever show photos of them, maybe because they are adults now.

I don't find infants particularly appealing, but love children from the toddler stage onwards. I am happy to talk to them and play with them, when I meet them,

On the other hand, I find it boring to have to look at photos and hear endless anecdotes about other peoples' children or grandchildren, holidays, cars, pets and so on.

I listen politely and try to look interested at the photos.

I also try not to inflict my relations, pets and experiences on others, as why should they be more interested in mine than I am in theirs?

It depends how well I know them, if I know the children of my friend well and have a kind of friendly relationship with them then I'd be likely to pay interest/ attention to my friends grandchildren too, but if not there's no real reason to be anything other than polite and show a passing interest, but maybe that's just me!

Prefer other peoples pets but will ' toler' sorry accommodate when necessary.