Would you mention kids in dating profiles?

[Shadowcats]

If you are looking to date [for the first time in a decade], do you mention you have a child (a 2 year old) in your [tinder] profile?

I feel like matching is on looks and personality from a bio - baggage is a later convo.

YANBU - no mention
YABU - mention them

Can't vote but I'd not mention them in my profile

Sorry, I read the voting as the other way. Long day! They shouldn't be mentioned, and definitely not on Tinder.

I stuck a profile pic of me and my two kids on my tinder profile as figured no point in hiding it. I did go on a date... then another then another .... five years later we are still together with a baby!

Why wouldn’t you mention that you have a young child. He or she is going to find out eventually, so why would you ‘trick’ them with only looks and personality?
They might feel tricked otherwise.
Wouldn’t it be awful to meet someone that you really felt a connection with who suddenly decided that they didn’t want to take on a family?

Nope. I'd be worried who I may attract.

I'd mention being a parent, but towards the end of a profile, no ages or photos.

I suppose having a child is an aspect of my life, but I’m looking to meet someone who is interested in me/my personality. Not whether I do or don’t have a child.

I’m not looking for a new father and I worry that’s how it would come across.

I would mention them. When I did old and was still separated - ex pulling his heals on the divorce I said I was separated as I didn't want to go through the process of chatting to someone who would disappear once they knew I had this baggage.

My fiancé I met on old and he mentioned his daughter and step children and that didn't bother me.

Also I used match.com - yes you pay but atleast you know if the men have paid they are a bit more serious

I didn’t mention them because I didn’t want someone who liked children too much. In the end I met a bloke IRL anyway

If you are after no strings: mention

Relationship: mention

It's a balance, you don't want to say "my children are my life" or attract people for the wrong reason, but genuine single men including single dads will want the truth early as it's a positive side for many.

My partner of 18 months (from OLD) doesn't have DC and gets on very well with my two. He's not their dad, but he's a positive addition to our family. If not on your profile you should say fairly early in chat as some single men may have no interest in being around children.

I think if you want a relationship, yes, you must mention.

If it's Tinder - no!

Some people want to date people with kids and others don't. You're wasting people's time if you don't mention it, including your own.

Some men will specifically seek lone parents to date, because it gives them access to children.

So no, I wouldn't mention it.

Definitely don’t mention DC

When I first did OLD, I didn’t mention it on my profile, I’d been chatting to a guy and I mentioned it before we met up for the first date and he cancelled saying he wouldn’t have even spoken to me if he’d known.

Nope, I wouldn't mention it. Not because they are "baggage" but because I would always be extra cautious about who may show interest. If I liked them and wanted to go on more than a couple of dates then I would bring it up.

There are many men who will actively target women with children. Much safer not to mention until later.

Christ don't use Tinder for dating. You'll get eaten alive.

I think if I was using something more, we, serious like Match I would mention him. But I’m looking for something more casual and fun at the moment (and if it develops to something else then that’s fine too).

I’ve not mentioned my DS in my profile but now I’m not sure if I should have included him somewhere. I always felt like I could just mention it whilst messaging before meeting. Is that misleading?

Those saying don't mention it, how does that work out when chatting before dating?

I dated two men who didn't tell me they had DC before a date. One said "she's under 12mth so doesn't count", the other "My ex ran off with them". I felt lied to and didn't see either again.

No chance. Not everybody is using online dating for above board purposes. That said, I'd never use online dating anyway.

I don’t mention it, but on bumble you can answer some questions that then show up on your profile and one is if you have kids. So it does show at the bottom of the profile.

I didn't, but after speaking on the phone and arranging to meet up I did say. I didn't want to spring it on him later.

I'm now married to him and he's been an amazing father to my DC for 13 years and to our other two DC. 😍

gingerchaos that’s part of my worry mentioning it. I feel like I’m making a very large advert saying ‘I’m alone with a small child’

The other thing is that actually I cringe at most of the men profiles I’ve come across with children. It’s always their opening statement ‘proud father of x children’ - lovely, but you are looking for dates so showcase what’s great about you (interests, hobbies, etc), not who is an extension of you.