...To ask if anyone enjoys the newborn baby stage?!?

[Flamingo1980]

I'd be genuinely interested to hear stories from people who truly loved the newborn stage. It seems to me that childless people believe it's magical and you should 'enjoy every minute' and people who have had babies mostly seem to agree that it's hell on earth.
During my newborn stage I thought it was wonderful, but with hindsight I can see now it was dreadful but in comparison to most I think I actually had an easy time... So I don't know what to think.
Did anyone truly love it and if so what was it that happened or didn't happen to make that happen?

[ImperialBlether]

I think it's wonderful, but I do think I was a bit mad at the time!

[SexDrugsAndSausageRoll]

Me!

And it's. Not rose-tinted, I have a 5 week old dc5.


But then even the practice nurse called me crazy openly...

[switswoo81]

I loved it. Had been a long time coming.Baby was content and placid, liked sleeping a lot and my lovely mum stayed with me to help out.my fab friends travelled from far and wide so I just felt so special. I look back at those days with such fondness. Especially now she has learned to stand and is a ball of trouble!

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Hmmm. I don't mind the newborn stage. And there was something quite emotional when I knew it was the last time.

I'm not a fan of babies generally though. Give me a toddler any day...

[SoDiana]

No. I was in shock. Single mother. Exhausted. Starved. Sleep deprived. Maybe if you have a supportive partner and family it is different.
I hated it. But loved dd obviously. It was that love that made it harder. I was not used to being responsible for another human being, never mind a tiny defenceless one!

[Lndnmummy]

Mine was terrible, as dreadful as that sounds. The main reason why I have stuck with one (so far). It was a really dark period in my life.

[SexDrugsAndSausageRoll]

Seriously though, I think what helps is not following rules. I feed on demand, co-sleep and snuggle up my bundles. My haven't all been easy, but overall I have the opposite of pnd, some hormonal high for six months

[Pipestheghost]

I loved it.

[WatchedFrozenWayTooMuch]

I love it. I never feel so happy as when I have a newborn. I feel so relaxed too. My hormones seems to settle too more than any other time.
Yes I am fully aware I am the strangest person ever

[Fratelli]

I loved it so much! I have a 9 month old now and I've loved all of it. Newborn is the easiest though and because they're new you can just look at them for hours! It goes so quickly too!

[Battleshiphips2]

I loved the newborn stage but I loved the later stages even more. Once they're about 10 weeks old you can start to see little glimpses of character coming out. The other week I watched my 8 yr old ds playing with his 10 week old cousin and it was lovely watching them laugh together. My DN was mesmerised by his older cousin and just kept giggling at him. I'm
Pg with ds2 at the minute and looking forward to seeing ds1 playing with his own little brother like that. They are cute as newborns but it's far better when they interact.

[LadyStark]

I love it! That intense love and intimacy of their reliance on me is amazing.

[Ineedtimeoff]

I was very lucky to have a year off on maternity leave and didn't have to worry about money. It was bliss. Exhausting but bliss. We just suited ourselves, up at 5.30am and out walking the dog by 6am. Coffee and cake in a café by 10am. Lovely home made lunch. Plenty of time to clean the house and keep on top of things. Life was never so good. Working mum to a school aged kid, not so easy.

[magpie17]

It depends what you mean by 'newborn baby stage' really, all babies are different. My DS is 4.5 months and bar the first couple of weeks I have loved it! The first couple of weeks were hellish trying and failing to breastfeed, sleep deprivation, hormones raging, recovering from the birth, stitches etc etc but since then it has been lovely.

I will concede that I have an 'easy' baby though, he rarely cries, sleeps brilliantly at night and is a good eater with no health issues. I also hate my job just now, so a year off is a godsend! If these things were different then I might not enjoy having a newborn at all.

[EponasWildDaughter]

Hmmm.
1st time - harrowing.
2nd time - better, knowing what to expect.
3rd time almost enjoyable (very very easy baby).
4th time (with 16 year gap!) ... similar to the second time; know what to expect, know it passes quickly, try hard to enjoy it, but still glad when it's over in all honesty

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

No. I have had 2 newborns who didn't get the 'babies sleep all the time' memo. Wide awake from day 1, awake probably 14 hours out of 24. I found it hellish to be honest.

[EponasWildDaughter]

I'd call ''new born'' apx. first 10 weeks personally.

[Crazybaglady]

With my DS who just slept contently and just laid there wherever we went... And slept in until ten every morning, yes.

With my polar opposite DD, no.

[BumgrapesofWrath]

I loved the newborn stage (apart from the screaming at 2am nonsense!)

I think it was lovely and far easier than having to deal with a stroppy 5yo

[TheSpottedZebra]

I found it tough, and I had easy births, no PND, lots of help etc etc. I just found it tough!

But then I found other stages better, and other people find them harder. Eg toddlers, I find them magical and fun, but my sister couldn't wait for that bit to end.

We should have teamed up, really.

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

I struggled first time. Young mum, crap dp, baby who wouldn't breast feed (got there in the end). I was just shell shocked I think.

I'm 35 weeks with dc2 and very hopeful it'll be better this time.

[Claireshh]

I loved the newborn stage. Teething and non sleeping six month olds on the other hand....

[Donge13]

No I hated it, I found it boring and exhausting. I absolutely loved the toddler stage even though that was more exhausting!

[CaffeineBomb]

I adored it! I had a very good sleeper though. Plenty of cuddles and that fantastic newborn smell. Getting broody again now!!

[LegoRuinedMyFinances]

I loved the newborn stage. You put them down and they stay there. Bliss. Equally they don't talk. Double bliss.

They do get bigger though - then they learn to walk and talk. That's when I found parenthood became harder

Don't worry if you are struggling with this phase. Some babies are less easy to settle and it can be a lonely time for many parents as it takes you out of your old life.