The fourth season of Network Ten’s reality dating show The Bachelor appears to have a bizarre preoccupation with babies.

Almost every episode of Richie Strahan’s season has involved discussion of children – and usually on the first date, no less.

Last week, contestant Tolyna admitted she wasn’t ready for kids at age 31 and immediately got the boot.

During her first single date, fan favourite Olena used her one-on-one time with Richie to grill him on his prospects as a father.

Single mother Alex is concerned her child will put Richie off. Photo: Network Ten

And this week, single mother Alex fretted her five-year-old son would deter the growing chemistry between her and Richie.

“My biggest fear in this moment is that he could quite literally say, ‘I really like you, but taking on someone else’s child is all too much’,” Alex, 24, revealed.

Richie admitted the concept was daunting: “It is a big responsibility. And it’s something that I’m, without a doubt … I’ve got to think about.”

Unfortunately, he wasn’t willing to afford the women on the show the same responsibility. Mere minutes later, the ladies of the Bachelor house were woken by the cries of robot babies, part of a not-so-subtle test of their mothering skills.

Several women looked visibly uncomfortable with the prospect before Richie entered the room holding a faux infant, prompting sighs of desire from the group.

A man with a baby is so sexy. Photo: Network Ten

“Most people don’t realise that a man with a baby to women is such a sexy thing,” said contestant Kiki.

If Alex’s concern is anything to go by, the same can’t be said for women.

For the group date, the ladies, their babies and Richie embarked on a trip to play mini golf.

Nikki expertly wrangled two babies. Photo: Network Ten

Some contestants struggled to keep an eye – and a hold – on their babies.

Host Osher Gunsberg then dropped a bombshell: “They’re loaded with sensors … they’ve been reading your every soothe, every hold, every change, every feed.”

Viewers at home became exasperated with the bizarre challenge, with many arguing it felt outdated and sexist to insinuate women were only desirable if they were good mothers.

https://twitter.com/DeeDeeDunleavy/status/763315253710991361

I hope they make a house full of dudes look after baby dolls to see how they'd stack up as new dads on the bachelorette 😒 #TheBachelorAU

— Polly Maeve (@PollyMaeve) August 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/Rikki_Writes/status/763315356047814656

Megan, if the stupid baby group date means you're out, thank your lucky stars. it was OFFENSIVE AF. #TheBachelorAU

— taryn (@thereafter) August 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/petstarr/status/763322827483123712

Nikki, a 28-year-old real estate agent from Western Australia, was found to have the best parenting skills, scoring herself a date with Richie and leaving the other contestants frustrated.

“I feel as though I impressed Richie enough. My baby was crying a lot, and I didn’t lose my patience,” Kiki complained. If only parenting were that simple. 

Richie Strahan must balance romance with potential parenthood. Photo: Network Ten

During their date Nikki and Richie wasted no time getting to the topic of kids.

“When I walked in in the morning and, you know, I saw you literally feeding the baby straight away ... I was just like,  ‘I think we’ve got a contender’,” Richie told a clearly overjoyed Nikki.

“So, you want to have babies, yeah?” Nikki asked.

Whatever happened to waiting to get to know each other first?

‘I didn’t know who my mum was until I was five’

Keira said she felt ‘forced to confront’ her past by the sudden media attention. Photo: Network Ten

Keira appeared on The Project on Wednesday to address the revelations, breaking down in tears discussing her mother’s experience and her own struggle with her identity.

“I didn’t know who my mum was until I was five,” she explained.

“It sounds strange, but it just is what it is. I didn’t even have birthdays. I think I had my first birthday when I was seven. For other people, it might be really sad. But it’s not, because it’s my story.”

You can read Keira’s full story and watch a clip from the interview here.