Why do we love infants/babies so much?

Question

I am 30 and have 3 kids, my youngest 3. He is growing so fast, when I see him or watch him my eyes get misty. I'm a guy but I'm not ashamed to admit it. Ever since my 2 child I grew more and more keen or in tuned to smaller children's needs, well, specially mine. I get pissed reading about child abuse or neglect, even fear for children in 3rd world countries who suffer from war or poverty Then my son was born, even before he was born and in his mothers stomach I grew attached to where I was always worried about him. Now I am a stay at home dad (thanks to child support taking away a business license I had and I pay child support for my oldest of another relationship *sigh*) I try to soak up as much as I can with my son, even though I am busy most the day and its spent cleaning up after everyone else or after him cause he's like a tornado. He has a speech delay and it makes it tough to understand him at times and it frustrates him to where he throws fits when he wants something, he goes to speech therapy btw. I always pat him on the back, or grab him and hug him so much he gets annoyed of it but I can't help it. I get the OCD thing where I dread that anything can happen to him or us. I'm always on the alert for my kids, I make sure nothing is around for him to get into or hurt or for his siblings to accidentally hurt him with. Ok well anyways, that question I often wonder, why does something as important as him or as sweet as a baby give us (or some of us) baby fever? Why do we dread or are scared of child rearing yet they makes us almost unresistant to wanting another one? I want another boy (of a family of mostly girls and only 2 boys put together) yet I know financially will not be able to do it yet, or mentally.

Answer 1

I think your feelings are natural hon.

My sister has just had twins after a really horible pregnancy and just seeing the way she and her hubby just sit and look at them in such wonder is beautiful.

Don't be worrying about these feelings..there are plenty of children who would love to have a Dad like you.

Answer 2

Kids eh? You just don't know what love is until you have children. Then you know what it's like to be willing to die for someone because you love them so much. I tear up all of the time when looking at my kids esp when they are playing together. You are very normal.

As for getting upset about the news and stuff, I would gladly pull someones eyeballs out for touching my kids. And then I'd shove em where the sun doesn't shine.  

Answer 3

Because babies are love in its purest form.  

Answer 4

Because they're so sweet and innocent and cute.

Answer 5

We love babies so much b/c we are animals...human animals.  Just like in nature we are driven to protect, to love, to nurture.  It really is just science.  

A professor in college once used the phrase 'cuted up.'  She explained that human babies, in utero, are ready to be delivered physically much earlier than they come and they spend the last month getting 'cuted up' so that their parents will want to care for them.  It is the same with many mammals; babies are much cuter than their older counterparts so that parents yearn to care for them when they are incapable of doing anything for themselves.

I don't understand abuse/neglect either but I know it is a disease.  Our culture is twisted these days and ALL parents MUST learn that kids need their attention and time more than abercrombie and fitch...even though they might not say it...it's the parent's responsibility to make it happen.

My toddler is obsessed with playing in a cardboard box and that didn't cost me a thing.  

Answer 6

I don't. I think they're gross, but that's just me.

Answer 7

Because they are so sweet and innocent. We love watching them grow and exploring their new little world and watching them learn along the way. Their love for us is so unconditional also. They are definitely God's special blessings to us. Enjoy your lovely family. They grow up so fast.

Answer 8

because they are soo innocent and sweet and they do the cutest things!

Answer 9

they are soft to touch, and such innocence

Answer 10

I think we're addicted to their innocence.

Answer 11

So we don't kill them when they scream, yell, etc.  I mean when they're a baby they demand everything and use their cuteness to survive.