X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parenting & Play by Friso
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-schooler
    • Kids
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

There's A New TikTok Ugly Baby Challenge And We Are Not Sure What To Think

22 Jul, 2021
There's A New TikTok Ugly Baby Challenge And We Are Not Sure What To ThinkThere's A New TikTok Ugly Baby Challenge And We Are Not Sure What To Think

The TikTok ugly baby challenge has taken over the Internet and not in a good way.

Have you ever seen something and thought if there was ever a need for this to exist? It could be an object, a place or even a person. In the digital world, this is usually a trend.

Remember the Tide Pods challenge? Yeah, that is the kind of unnecessary we are talking about. 

Joining that list TikTok’s new cringe challenge that has internet users divided. This is the TikTok ugly baby challenge, something we didn’t know could even exist.

This challenge has users poking fun at “ugly” babies, and for all the right and sane reasons, not everyone is a fan of this viral trend. 

TikTok Ugly Baby Challenge Popular With Parents

tiktok ugly baby challenge

Image courtesy: Screengrab from TikTok / @candicegood225 & @lucybaehr

In these viral videos, mums can be seen sharing photos from their pregnancy with a caption or a voice-over that explains what they wondered their baby would look like.

The video then transitions to an image of the newborn that has a more wrinkly look on the face. Some parents also compared newborns with pop culture figures like Gordon Ramsey and Benjamin Button.

These videos get also get a “Then vs Now” twist as parents share an image of the newborn baby and then transition to a more recent picture of the little one who is now more adorable.

Of course, babies are newborns are less cute when compared to the age of five or six months when they are up to speed in terms of health and looks.

Not All Users Are Happy About The Viral Trend

While the videos may be termed adorable, not all users are finding them cute. Several viewers commented that all babies are beautiful and this was not the ideal way to roast them in lieu of views. 

However, the parents behind this viral TikTok challenge say that it does not insinuate that babies lack cuteness as newborns.

Instead, the video challenges the general assumption that babies aren’t cute in the immediate weeks after birth. 

The notion that wrinkly newborn babies are ugly seems to be common. In fact, a 2018 Canadian study performed at Brock University concluded that adults find babies most appealing when they reach around six months old. 

The study suggests babies have evolved “cute” characteristics including big eyes, chubby cheeks and cooing noises in order to bring out a nurturing instinct in adults that better ensures their survival.

The study though contradicts the larger assumption that babies are cuter at a younger age. That said, the study also noted that baby abandonment frequently occurs during the first few weeks of infants’ lives.

Some of the factors that contribute to babies not being cute enough:

  • Vernix: It’s a thick material that protects the baby from water damage in utero. It naturally comes off during the first bath.
  • Cyanosis: This is caused by blood circulation and causes the little one’s hands, feet and lips to turn slightly blue in colour. Please consult your doctor immediately in this case.
  • Cephalhematoma: This is a benign, moving mass on the side of the baby’s head that happens due to pressure during birth.
  • Caput Succedaneum: A complicated birth can result in the baby having a cone-shaped head. 

Do remember that all of these are temporary concerns that naturally shed over time. 

TikTok Ugly Baby Challenge Hints At A Larger Problem

tiktok ugly baby challenge

Image Source: Unsplash

Parents should be more concerned about children meeting their milestones rather than if they have developed chubby cheeks. This is a cultural problem and something that’s been fed to the masses thanks to a consistent diet of reinforced advertising. 

Babies who aren’t chubby is not an alarm bell for parents. What most parents need to check if their little one falls in the right weight category for their age and size. 

Moreover, genetics, birth conditions and even breast or bottle-feeding are contributing factors to a child’s weight and health. 

3 Signs To Watch Out For In A Healthy Baby

  1. Milestones: The baby meets key milestones including holding their head, smiling, crawling, responding and more. Some babies may achieve their milestones earlier, while others may take longer. No two babies are the same in this regard, so there’s nothing to worry about. 
  2. Soiled diapers: A dirty diaper is a sign of a healthy baby. On average, babies need four diaper changes in a day and when the baby regularly poops, it shows that the little one has healthy bodily functions and temperament. 
  3. Sound sleep: Babies need sleep to grow both physically and mentally and as long as they are sleeping for about 14 to 17 hours every day, they will be well-rested and be healthy. 

As long as your baby is meeting key milestones and shows signs of being healthy and happy, you need to be content. 

ALSO READ:

My Baby Looks So Thin, Should I Be Worried?

Dad Shares Genius Trick On How To Burp Your Baby On TikTok

Theres A New TikTok Ugly Baby Challenge And We Are Not Sure What To Think

Partner Stories
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
What parents can learn from the Boston bombings
What parents can learn from the Boston bombings
The brainy bunch - 6 siblings begin college by age 12!
The brainy bunch - 6 siblings begin college by age 12!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Sameer C

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • There's A New TikTok Ugly Baby Challenge And We Are Not Sure What To Think
Share:
  • Parents File Case Against Son for Failing to Produce Heirs

    Parents File Case Against Son for Failing to Produce Heirs

  • Woman Gets Arrested After Emergency Abortion in El Salvador

    Woman Gets Arrested After Emergency Abortion in El Salvador

  • Singaporean Family Drives Past JB Checkpoint ‘Without Clearance’, Claims Customs Officer Asked For $127 ‘Coffee Money'

    Singaporean Family Drives Past JB Checkpoint ‘Without Clearance’, Claims Customs Officer Asked For $127 ‘Coffee Money'

app info
get app banner
  • Parents File Case Against Son for Failing to Produce Heirs

    Parents File Case Against Son for Failing to Produce Heirs

  • Woman Gets Arrested After Emergency Abortion in El Salvador

    Woman Gets Arrested After Emergency Abortion in El Salvador

  • Singaporean Family Drives Past JB Checkpoint ‘Without Clearance’, Claims Customs Officer Asked For $127 ‘Coffee Money'

    Singaporean Family Drives Past JB Checkpoint ‘Without Clearance’, Claims Customs Officer Asked For $127 ‘Coffee Money'

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.