So many babies in the family now. Just boring.

[RoarerBoringAlice]

I know I'm being unreasonable.

But it's how I feel.

I am the eldest of 6 siblings.

My youngest is a young adult.

Ive done the baby bit. My brooding is over and done with.

I had my children earlier than my other siblings, they all started late, I started early.

So they are all in full bloom of their young families.

Being 5 of them all having 3 + kids each it's just seems like an ENDLESS parade of new babies.

All of whom I love of course, its not the babies that bore me but this trend that was not about when I had my kids is ever present, gender reveal parties, baby showers, naming ceremonies...

Arghhh. I have to just smile and sit through the same shit over and over. It's either a boy or a girl. It's not that exciting.

I never felt the need to have this constant attention when I was pregnant.

People visited the baby when it was born.

If you were lucky you got a baby grow and a balloon.

Now it's arranging meals out with decorated tables and games and confetti cannons and it just does my bloody head in.

Of course I would never say this to anyone in real life.

But christ. It's fucking trying to get through over and over again.

Excuse me?! A baby SPRINKLE?!
I’ve heard it all now.

'StarUtopia

I'm envious. I have just 2 kids. Would have loved more. Only one sibling and he's unmarried, no kids.

My kids would love cousins.'

This ^

I honestly don't know anyone who had a naming ceremony, baby shower or gender reveal (we have a christening but I assume that's ok because we're religious?!). I actually think I wouldn't go to a gender reveal if invited, but luckily it hasn't ever come up.

Really boring. Is there prosecco?

They are sentient potatoes. I prefer puppies

If I was ruder (and more honest), this would be my go to response when someone asks if I want to hold their baby.

Prepared to be flamed but I don't find newborns cute at all. They don't get cute until at least about 6 months old I'd say. Animal babies are far cuter imo. My dog was SO much cuter as a baby than any newborn I've seen. All look the same to me 🤷

I love the whole circle of life and celebrating /commemorating what happens along the way. Adopt me OP and I will go to the baby showers for you, they are full of such hope and naivety it makes my heart ache. (Also we can have an adoption reveal shower. It will be a proper surprise when you reveal a middle aged mum )

YANBU OP. My workplace is a never-ending baby fest. Any given year there are 4-5 pregnancies and 2-3 dads-to-be, and oh my God it gets old so quick. I’ve been there nearly 6 years - that’s 36-48 babies I’ve had to feign interest in.

On the plus side there are also some pets but I have to mither for pictures of them as everyone wants to show off the baby ones.

I like human babies better than animals, although I agree they're more interesting once they can interact, and I don't think handing babies around like parcels is a good or natural thing - I'm happy to hold a newborn if the parents need their hands fre are think it's a small compliment to be trusted with someone else's baby, but I don't especially want "a turn" at cuddling other people's newborns - I find that all a bit peculiar, babies aren't toys. I'm happy to babysit and interact with older babies and toddlers who choose to interact with me - children are fascinating and funny.

None of that has anything to do with gender reveal parties, baby showers and ceremonies. There isn't even a baby for the first two, it's still a foetus!

Yep. All these baby showers...where did all that come from? I never know if I’m supposed to buy a baby shower gift and a gift when the baby arrives and a gift when I go and visit...it’s all present grabby really

Urgh, YANBU.

I’ve managed to avoid a naming ceremony, though. WTF!?

Maybe they want their pregnancy to feel a bit special? Hear me out here...

My best friend after a struggle got pregnant with her first, a long awaited baby for her and she was incredibly excited etc. She is however one of 6, and she felt let down a bit by her family. Her first child was something like the 5th baby to be born in 3 years in her immediate family, when you factored in cousins then much further behind. Obviously as her first baby this was incredibly special and exciting for her but frankly everyone else was a bit bored of it. For her it was a huge deal and everyone was acting like she was getting a pet fish. Her telling her parents and siblings she was pregnant, to the birth was all a bit meh or "oh yeah your sister did that".

I think she had a baby shower etc almost to remind her that a baby is still something to be celebrated.

Im not saying that pregnancy is some rare unicorn thing that everyone should drop what they are doing to marvel at but surely its not unusual to want to celebrate a bit, even if you're one of many?

I know people will be full of, my parents didnt even look up when i told them i was pregnant. Why would any one else care? But just like i each wedding is special for the couple but not unique for the attender, surely some support doesnt go amiss?

I agree that gender reveals and baby showers are a bit OTT.

But naming ceremonies are fair enough. It's sort of equivalent to a christening, which almost everyone used to have!

This thread has made me realise that I love babies, it's just adults and social events I dislike Well, I love babies up to the age when they crawl away when you put them down, that's when they become hard work. When they stay when you put them, they're great

I'm thinking of starting a thread to gauge interest in Kitten Showers/Cat Showers for when people get new cats. I would be totally up for those parties.

I'm thinking of starting a thread to gauge interest in Kitten Showers/Cat Showers for when people get new cats. I would be totally up for those parties.

I would attend these 🥳

I have to say I totally agree and I am one who started my family 8 years ago and am currently on my third pregnancy so it's been a 'thing' through all of my pregnancies. I'm one of those who think you celebrate the baby when it arrives by going to visit and taking a gift then. To me it always feels like tempting fate a bit to celebrate to that extent beforehand. But to each their own...I am OK with other people celebrating in this way if that's their thing.

This thread has made me realise that I love babies, it's just adults and social events I dislike grin Well, I love babies up to the age when they crawl away when you put them down, that's when they become hard work. When they stay when you put them, they're great smile

I think that's exactly the point where they become interesting, and before that I find them pretty unrewarding, to the point that it's a major reason why I'm hesitating over trying for a second. With that in mind, could we establish some sort of swap system?!

The whole antenatal thing genuinely makes me feel queasy. My second son was stillborn at 34 weeks, if there had been lots of celebration, pictures on social media and a house full of gifts it would really have rubbed my nose in it. It all feels like tempting fate to me.

Yeah I don't get the gender reveal buildup and name secrecy either. I told everyone it was a girl and then pointed at my bump and said "meet XXX" once we were agreed on a name.

I didn't think anyone would be too interested or dying to find out, even though they were all really happy for me.

Incidentally I did have a baby shower. All my girlfriends came to my mum's house and we stuffed our faces and lay on the grass in the sun. They are a longstanding group and it was loads of fun. My stepdaughter came too and it was a good opportunity for us to hang out and have a nice time. And to be honest, getting some tips for what lay ahead was great plus people gave me some gifts saying things like "this was a lifesaver for me'.

The last baby shower I was invited to was of someone I didn't know that well. I was then presented with a gift registry or told I could just give money. I declined the invitation.

LisaSimpsonsbff I'll come round and hold the baby, just don't throw any parties!

A friend of ours has just had 9 golden retriever puppies. Now, that’s something I could go for 🥰

Do not go and see the puppies! It’s impossible to see a litter and not have one. Don’t let me see them either!

@Alsohuman, I KNOW! My husband told me, she’d had 3 girls and 6 boys last night and I’m immediately wondering where our old puppy crate is 🤔 I have this though and she’s very much an only child!

Completely agree with you. I'm one of 4 girls. All had babies later on so we still have relative young children under 10 so still recently been doing the baby thing. None of us felt the need for a baby shower (hate the idea of them) we just announced gender and name once they were born and enjoyed as a family guessing what it would be! As sisters we enjoyed clubbing together and picking up bits and making baby hampers of clothes and accessories etc but this was entirely our own doing and not expected.

YANBU OP. My workplace is a never-ending baby fest

Surely a colleague having a baby is totally different to your own family having one?!

As for puppies and kittens...I have zero interest. If a friend got a new pet, I'd happily never be introduced to it.

@formerbabe, and that’s me with other people’s babies. Of course, I loved my own and my nieces/nephews but others....nah. My sister cannot pass a baby in a pram without stopping and getting all broody. I think I have a gene missing. Or, maybe I’m just very well tuned in to my evolutionary biology.