To say that buying a puppy is NOT like having a baby.

[annoyedfr]

After TTC, 9 months of a difficult pregnancy, a traumatic 48 hour labour which ended with me having sepsis and baby in SCBU, 2 weeks inpatient stay, 2 years of developmental worries, all this on top of the entirely normal unbelievable stress/responsibility/cost of having a baby and child ... WIBU to tell my (wonderful but in this instance thoughtless) friend that getting a puppy is not like having a baby? Because she has not suffered birth injuries to have her 'child', a dog is not a lifelong commitment in any sort of the same way as a baby (if it were as ill as my daughter they probably would have put it down tbh rather than watch it so ill for so long and wonder if it would live and if so what quality of life it would have), and dogs do not need anywhere the sort of attention and input as an actual human child?

I didn't bite the first time she said it. I bit the third time.

It's not the only time I've heard it and it's become a bit of a bugbear.

AIBU?

@MrsWinters

Why do people have to be so competitive and need to win an argument. Just let her experience be valid, I am not sure why you or anyone else needs to beat others in the dog versus child debate. Some mothers are bloody awful, and don’t love their children. Some dogs fill their owners lives. It isn’t a competition, she’s had it tough, her puppy fills a void for her, allow her to have this- why do you need to win?

Agreed.

Love is love. There's no such thing as superior or inferior.

It's not a competition. If she's your friend, I would just let her have this...you don't have to prove you're right. Which you are, but in this case, it really doesn't matter.

@implantreplace

Yes, had a family dog throughout childhood and also pre children with boyfriend.

Loved it? Hell yes.

Drop in the ocean compared to love for my children. Would o have died for either of the dogs? Not. A. Chance.

Would I die for my children? In a heartbeat

Presumably you recognise that some people die trying to save their animals, and some people neglect and abuse their kids?

Haven't read all the replies but I think it depends on the baby and the puppy! I had a baby who was really hard work and didn't sleep and I had postnatal depression on top. At the time I also had a puppy who was actually very good. Baby was far far worse!

Forward wind 14 years and now have a teenager and another puppy and this puppy is an absolute dick! I wouldn't say like a baby but more like a very boisterous toddler. Eyes in the back of my head!

I think a puppy is very similar to having a toddler, and if your friend wants to make that comparison, fine.
Why would you want to knock your friend?