Why does holding a baby, any baby, feel so wonderful?

[Anonymous]

I have always loved it, since I was young and my daughters are the same. It is the best drug in the world. Our neighbor’s just had a baby and I am reminded of this yet again.

[Anonymous]

I do not feel this way even though I loved holding my own baby. I remember people used to offer to let me hold their babies before I was a mom and I didn't really like it. I worried I'd drop it and didn't want to be spit up on.

She nice becoming a mom I like it a little more but still not as much as people seem to think I should. A friend recently had a baby and every time I go over there her husband hands me the baby and expects me to hold her the whole time. She's cute but I don't want to hold a baby for 90 minutes. It keeps me from relaxing.

I remember when I had my own baby I wanted to hold her all the time. But I just don't feel that way about babies universally.

[Anonymous]

Oxytocin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not feel this way even though I loved holding my own baby. I remember people used to offer to let me hold their babies before I was a mom and I didn't really like it. I worried I'd drop it and didn't want to be spit up on.

She nice becoming a mom I like it a little more but still not as much as people seem to think I should. A friend recently had a baby and every time I go over there her husband hands me the baby and expects me to hold her the whole time. She's cute but I don't want to hold a baby for 90 minutes. It keeps me from relaxing.

I remember when I had my own baby I wanted to hold her all the time. But I just don't feel that way about babies universally.

I’m similar. I could hold mine all day long but I’ve never been one to gravitate toward other babies. It’s not for fear of dropping them, I’m just not really a baby person in general.

[Anonymous]

Babies are adorable. Their soft hair, their smiles, their tiny little hands and feet. Agree, OP!

[Anonymous]

It's an evolutionary adaption that keeps adult humans from killing their infant offspring during the hellish days weeks months of relentless crying and constant demands of care.

Some individuals in a species have more capacity for care of non blood relations than others. Genetic variation, nothing more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not feel this way even though I loved holding my own baby. I remember people used to offer to let me hold their babies before I was a mom and I didn't really like it. I worried I'd drop it and didn't want to be spit up on.

She nice becoming a mom I like it a little more but still not as much as people seem to think I should. A friend recently had a baby and every time I go over there her husband hands me the baby and expects me to hold her the whole time. She's cute but I don't want to hold a baby for 90 minutes. It keeps me from relaxing.

I remember when I had my own baby I wanted to hold her all the time. But I just don't feel that way about babies universally.

I’m similar. I could hold mine all day long but I’ve never been one to gravitate toward other babies. It’s not for fear of dropping them, I’m just not really a baby person in general.

I’m the same. I was extremely bonded to my own babies but before and after that phase have been pretty disinterested in other babies. One nice thing about having my own was I had a brief period where I felt confident to hold and interact with babies in general but it’s amazing how quickly that passed and now I feel like a clumsy oaf again, who actively tries to avoid that exact situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not feel this way even though I loved holding my own baby. I remember people used to offer to let me hold their babies before I was a mom and I didn't really like it. I worried I'd drop it and didn't want to be spit up on.

She nice becoming a mom I like it a little more but still not as much as people seem to think I should. A friend recently had a baby and every time I go over there her husband hands me the baby and expects me to hold her the whole time. She's cute but I don't want to hold a baby for 90 minutes. It keeps me from relaxing.

I remember when I had my own baby I wanted to hold her all the time. But I just don't feel that way about babies universally.

I’m similar. I could hold mine all day long but I’ve never been one to gravitate toward other babies. It’s not for fear of dropping them, I’m just not really a baby person in general.

I’m the same. I was extremely bonded to my own babies but before and after that phase have been pretty disinterested in other babies. One nice thing about having my own was I had a brief period where I felt confident to hold and interact with babies in general but it’s amazing how quickly that passed and now I feel like a clumsy oaf again, who actively tries to avoid that exact situation.

First PP in this chain and yes! That is me too. When my kid was a baby and I hung out with lots of people who had babies I enjoyed holding their babies and felt totally comfortable. Now my kid is 7 and I again feel inept about it.

And I babysat a lot when I was young and am good with little kids (toddlers and preschoolers and elementary kids -- tweens and teens still intimidate me). I just don't feel comfortable around babies and in general do best with kids once they can talk (though again not true with my own kid who I really enjoyed as a baby).

[Anonymous]

I have always loved holding babies — even when I didn’t want kids.

I still love it and miss having babies available to do just that! Too young for grandkids, too old to have friends with fresh babies!

[Anonymous]

Evolution for the win!

[Anonymous]

I looove babies! Drop off any baby at my house and I’ll be so happy to just hold it and care for it all day. Once they turn into toddlers though I don’t want to see them again until they’re in kindergarten. I have friends who feel the exact opposite way, this is why humans were meant to live and raise children in groups lol.

[Anonymous]

[list]

Anonymous wrote:It's an evolutionary adaption that keeps adult humans from killing their infant offspring during the hellish days weeks months of relentless crying and constant demands of care.

Some individuals in a species have more capacity for care of non blood relations than others. Genetic variation, nothing more.

Yup. Oxytocin makes us want to care for these creatures who won’t be able to contribute any productivity for years.

[Anonymous]

It’s the potential the new life has, the hope for the future. It’s the innocence, a baby has no malice. It’s the vulnerability, when you hold a child you are its protector. It’s the peace a child has when their immediate needs are met, because they lack the worries that accompany the concept “future”. It’s a reminder of when you were vulnerable, innocent, peaceful, and had unlimited potential.

They’re also cute.

[Anonymous]

Maybe I’m psychotic, but I don’t think it feels so wonderful. I don’t hate it, I like it just fine but I don’t feel full of what apparently you all feel full of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I’m psychotic, but I don’t think it feels so wonderful. I don’t hate it, I like it just fine but I don’t feel full of what apparently you all feel full of.

Fully half the people in the thread feel as you do.