Julianne Hough and Ryan Seacrest

Julianne Hough recently dismissed questions about a possible romantic relationship with Ryan Seacrest by joking about having his baby.

Good diversion tactic? Maybe. Good for your relationship? Maybe not.

When is it OK to joke about having your partner's baby without worrying about scaring him or her off?

Make these jokes too early in a relationship and you might appear marriage-obsessed -- even if you were just kidding.

My advice: Avoid all marriage and baby jokes until you've passed the one-year mark, unless these jokes are told in a setting where an abundance of hunch punch ensures neither of you will remember the deeper undertones the next morning.