Life

Single and REALLY Want Babies? Use This Site

by Carrie Murphy

Do you know that you really want babies? Like, soon? Then this new website, founded by a former actor, might be for you (well, if you live in Denmark, that is). Babysklar.nu (aka "Baby ready now") is a dating website specifically for people who want to be upfront with potential partners about their desire to have children.

Emmanuel Limal told the U.K.'s The Guardian:

"I couldn't seem to meet anyone willing to prioritise starting a family and struggled with when to mention wanting kids any time I met someone new. It's the ultimate dating taboo.Then one day I read a profile from a 38-year-old who said she knew it was 'really bad to admit' but she wanted children. And I just thought: 'You shouldn't be ashamed of this.

And thus, Babysklar.nu was born (and hopefully, many other babies as a result of the site's existence).

Apparently the response has been overwhelming, with 50 signups in the first hour. More men than women have joined the site so far, and people seem to think Babysklar.nu might help to solve the problem of Denmark's declining birthrate. The site may possibly be expanding to France and the U.K. later this year.

It seems like there are new niche dating sites all the time, doesn't it? I wonder if a site like Babysklar.nu would do well in the United States. I'm sure some people feel shy about sharing their desire to have a family with potential partners, especially on online dating, so I imagine it would be helpful to have that "biological clock" conversation out of the way up front (or avoid it altogether by writing I WANT TO GET PREGNANT WITHIN A YEAR on your profile). Still, I can't help but think that some of Limal's reasoning for starting the site is a little off. He says:

"I got frustrated with everyone trying to sell themselves as really active, always travelling or with a long list of hobbies but no mention of children. "On some sites, there was an option to click saying: 'I'd like kids someday,' but you would read the person's profile and think: 'You will never have time!' If someone's going to the gym eight times a week and travelling every month, they are not putting a family first."

Hmmm, I think it's totally feasible that someone might want to hit the gym, travel, have a life and also be willing to make time for parenthood. Prioritizing yourself doesn't preclude prioritizing your family, especially before that family even exists. Limal's somewhat limited ideas about family life aside, I'm sure Babysklar.nu will help some baby-crazy singles to find each other and make new little Danes. And who can argue with that?