Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

10 month old DH said i am being lazy.

806 replies

ILoveFatFaceSocks · 10/04/2026 23:18

When DD (10months) wakes, I change her and then give her milk. I then pop her in her playpen where she happily plays with toys. I then make a coffee and watch some TV - play pen is infront of TV (well TV in on wall, playpen is infront of couch). I sometimes just watch her and occassional look up at TV sometimes I will watch the TV. I enjoy having my morning coffee and she is happy playing. After 30mins / 1hr or so I then take her through to kitchen where I give her actual breakfast, porridge, yoghurt, etc.
DH wfh and when walking past livingroom popped head in to say hi. He looks shocked thst I had a coffee and was lying on sofa watching TV. He asked was mummy having a day off and that the play pen isnt for me watching TV and that im being lazy. I was so annoyed. Is he right?

OP posts:
Wherearemybaubles · 11/04/2026 07:50

vintedandminted · 11/04/2026 03:03

I mean this as advice not criticism, your problem is you need to baby train sleeping. Your little one needs to be sleeping now 7 till 7. She needs to be self settling. If you had a good sleep pattern you would have time for self care, watching tv, food prep ect. This is where you need to concentrate your efforts. Make sure she is having regular solids to keep her full and start dropping day time naps. It sounds like she's in charge all day long not you.

What does that have to do with anything? Will never understand this obsession with people who sleep train to evangelise everybody else. Sleep training really doesn't work for most babies. I'm sure OP is doing whatever works for them. Also, babies sleeping 7 to 7 is a fallacy. Some do, of course, but most don't. It's a capitalist need so parents work and participate in the system, but biologically speaking, we know that people (that includes babies) have different sleep needs and different biological clocks.

aCatCalledFawkes · 11/04/2026 07:48

vintedandminted · 11/04/2026 07:36

I am a nan. With 4 children and 7 grandchildren. Maybe got a little bit of experience? What is wrong with a good sleep routine? Happy baby,Happy mum. I'm not suggesting anything cruel ? But a baby that contact naps several times throughout the day is not going to sleep all night. The OP would benefit from a bit more more self time and a solid sleep plan would allow this. A contact napper turns into a velcro toddler. OP states in one of her posts that baby used to sleep 11 hours so she's just got out of practice but what do I know ? New young mums know best. I'm just an old nan speaking out of my arse.

TBF I also think you advice is really dated. You don't need to train a 10mnth baby to sleep through the night by stopping it from napping. That just sounds miserable and doesn't sound happy for Mum at all.

OneNewLeader · 11/04/2026 07:48

Most people will agree you need time to yourself and your 10 MO should be learning to play on their own. I suspect the point of difference is having a TV on rather than say music or silence. Your child may be distracted by the TV and this would count as screen time. Also, if your DH is unhappy about this, talk to him, don’t engage in pass agg interactions, ask him and involve him.

Kittybway · 11/04/2026 07:47

Op are you going to tell us how often your dh looks after your child alone? I presume by the way youre avoiding the question its never? I think its time he started having entire days to parent by himself.

Also every single parent i know IRL watched/watches TV with a coffee first thing in the morning. Enjoy it while you can!

ChristmasStars · 11/04/2026 07:47

ILoveFatFaceSocks · 11/04/2026 02:24

The playpen has been amazing. I mean we have pretty much lost our livingroom but she gets to crawl around safely and she can pull herself up safely too. Its just amazing how one little person has so much stuff 😂

You're doing a great job.

The playpen is great, and it's fine for you to watch TV while she's playing in it. She doesn't need interaction with you the whole time. She is building independence, an ability to play by herself, autonomy, following her interests.

Ignore the naysayers. I am sure they never played constantly with their children.

I also wouldn't leave her in there with a monitor while you cook. I would get DH to entertain her at this point. It doesn't sound like he does anything with her so here's his opportunity to show you how it's done!

Nowimhereandimlost · 11/04/2026 07:46

I thought you were going to say baby wakes at 5am or something...8am really isn't late. An hour of TV is too much imo. But I think the phone in the highchair is more of a problem. No need for that - so she cries if she doesn't have it? So what. Sometimes you have to put up with a bit of discomfort if you know you're making the best choice for her.

Mulledjuice · 11/04/2026 07:45

vintedandminted · 11/04/2026 03:03

I mean this as advice not criticism, your problem is you need to baby train sleeping. Your little one needs to be sleeping now 7 till 7. She needs to be self settling. If you had a good sleep pattern you would have time for self care, watching tv, food prep ect. This is where you need to concentrate your efforts. Make sure she is having regular solids to keep her full and start dropping day time naps. It sounds like she's in charge all day long not you.

this is nonsense

Wherearemybaubles · 11/04/2026 07:44

Hadenough32 · 10/04/2026 23:20

He's wrong. Just enjoy it whilst it lasts. Time to relax with a baby/ toddler is few and far between.

Agree! Life with kids is so hectic, enjoy the little pockets of time when you can sit and enjoy a hot drink. These moments help you have a "full tank" for the rest of the day. Also, I guess that you may not have a lot of me time, or time for hobbies or socialising, so this is your moment to relax! Fuck him 🤭🫢

Applecup · 11/04/2026 07:42

All these amazingly perfect parents out there. I find it hard to believe how good you all are. I sometimes gave my toddler toys in the cot while I went back to bed for half an hour after a bad night with her. Thankfully no mumsnet back then. I did what I needed to do. Child has grown up independent and successful. Just do what works for you.

Nopersbro · 11/04/2026 07:41

Go into his home office at some random time while he's working and start commenting on how haphazardly and inefficiently he's doing his job. Ask him if he's taken the day off today and forgotten to mention it. Call him lazy. Make ridiculous, impractical suggestions about how to do his job better. Tell him you're going to repurpose the office into a nursery or a guest room since he's only pretending to use it. Make sure he gets the point that you're intentionally belittling him and trying to undermine his confidence; talk a little baby talk if you have to.

He'll stop being an arsehole (or at least think twice about doing so vocally) when it becomes more uncomfortable than fun for him.

vintedandminted · 11/04/2026 07:36

Biscuit94 · 11/04/2026 07:19

This is such bad advice. It's perfectly normal for babies to wake up in the night, not all babies are the same. Similarly they need at least two naps until around 14 months.
It sounds like something my nan might say.

I am a nan. With 4 children and 7 grandchildren. Maybe got a little bit of experience? What is wrong with a good sleep routine? Happy baby,Happy mum. I'm not suggesting anything cruel ? But a baby that contact naps several times throughout the day is not going to sleep all night. The OP would benefit from a bit more more self time and a solid sleep plan would allow this. A contact napper turns into a velcro toddler. OP states in one of her posts that baby used to sleep 11 hours so she's just got out of practice but what do I know ? New young mums know best. I'm just an old nan speaking out of my arse.

Owly11 · 11/04/2026 07:34

So he thinks you are not entitled to have a relaxed start to your day? Idiot! It's good for everyone to have a chilled start to the day, if you are relaxed your daughter will be relaxed. I hate the modern world and the idea that if you are not on the go the whole time you are being lazy or wasting time. I suggest going away for the weekend and leaving him in charge and see how he gets on. Also I recommend reading (and getting him to read) a book by Naomi Stadlan called 'What mothers do especially when it looks like nothing'.

Nottodaythankyou123 · 11/04/2026 07:31

I did something very similar with DD1 - she’s 5 now and isn’t a screen addicted zombie as some posters would have you believe that even the presence of a TV would do. She doesn’t watch much at all really, mostly playing with toys, colouring, reading, or outside. In moderation, and with engaged parents who read to them and play with them etc, it isn’t detrimental at all.

EnglishRain · 11/04/2026 07:29

It’s the screen time I don’t like. It’s teaching her bad habits. My child is 5 and there is no TV in the daytime unless it’s school holidays or a weekend for a little bit and then it will be in the afternoon when we’ve done something.

I am not a playpen fan either. Better to make a room childproof and let them explore. I have three dogs and when DD was a baby I had an activity table to plonk her in for 20 mins if I was cooking and going to have my back to her for a bit, and a travel cot that I could put her in to answer the door for a minute. But she would never have been in it longer than that and it wasn’t a daily thing. I am probably more anti screens than most. I used to watch a series when she napped or read, but as soon as she was capable of staring at a screen it was gone if she was around.

thepariscrimefiles · 11/04/2026 07:28

ILoveFatFaceSocks · 11/04/2026 00:45

But lots of people complaining DD is in a playpen at times....

Honestly, some posters just automatically tell the OP that she is being unreasonable, no matter what the situation. You are clearly devoted to your baby and give her lots of positive attention, taking her to baby groups, reading to her etc. You sound pretty chilled and as though you are enjoying motherhood and a relaxed mum is much better for a baby.

Your husband is out of order telling you that you are lazy. How much time does he spend alone with your baby? Has he ever done a whole day on his own?

violetcuriosity · 11/04/2026 07:27

I took every second I could get to sit and chill when mine were babies 😂

Biscuit94 · 11/04/2026 07:24

AlwaysHungry123 · 11/04/2026 05:40

what a load of rubbish! OP please don’t listen to this advice. Sleep training traumatising your child doesn’t guarantee 7-7 sleeps, in fact I know 1 child who slept 12h regularly, most children wake up during the night.

Exactly...
My babe is on solids 3 times a day etc and still wakes up 🥴. I'm not going to let her cry it out. It's literally banned in some countries as it's plain cruel.

It's not normal for a 10 month old to be sleeping 12 hours. It's the exception. This advice really annoys me tbh.

It makes mums think that babies doing something which is developmentally normal is their fault.

CocoJone · 11/04/2026 07:24

And when, exactly, does your DH do any parenting?

Reassurancells · 11/04/2026 07:22

I’m old and mine didn’t really get tv because I couldn’t stand kids tele

However, what I will say is that you and DH need to sit down and discuss parenting and what you both think is the way to approach things and come to an agreement

your baby is 10 months and you have years of parenting to go and you need to be a United front.

BlueberrySummerCloud · 11/04/2026 07:20

Absolutely ridiculous
Who made your DH in charge?
Mine would ask if I needed another coffee not making nasty digs
I always start the day with a peaceful coffee and gasp when my DC were little we had an hours " quiet time" after lunch where I read the newspaper and drank tea, they either napped or quietly played

Honestly this man needs a bloody good kick up the arse and so do some of the snarky posters just having a bash.

Parenting is hard work, life is what you make it and you sound like a fantastic mum
Part of being a good mum is saying no I need a rest
Obviously not dismissing their needs but trying to rest/ have quiet etc when you need it
It does children and husbandsno good whatsoever to think you are 24/7 365 on tap and not a person with their own needs

Ignore him Op, just a bad day or whatever, unless he is controlling in other ways
You sound like a lovely mum, have confidence in yourself !

Sowhat1976 · 11/04/2026 07:20

I don't think you ate lazy. I think you make your day work as best as you can. Having a coffee in the morning and watching a bit if TV is fine as long as you balance it out with your days activities. The days are long with small children. I don't think a bit of TV while you cook is a problem. I'd suggest you maybe put a timer on and really see how much screen time she's getting in a day because we tend go underestimate it. If you aren't doing it already you could add messy play to your day. We did painting with yogurt coloured with food colouring. Playing with cooked pasta, I did farm animals on a bed of rice crispies or edible mud made from cocopowder, cornstarch and water.

I think DH calling you lazy is unacceptable. How much time is he solo parenting? I reckon you should start going on the weekend and leave him to parent all day so he can see what parenting a young child all day involves. My H always had a new found respect when he was doing it. Its very easy to comment when you're not providing the labour.

Also, what every you do you'll feel guilty. I didn't go back to work and I feel guilty that my kids are not seeing positive work ethic from me or that they are seeing old style gender roles in out household. My friendscfeel guilty because they don't have enough time and feel like they are always overloaded.

Biscuit94 · 11/04/2026 07:19

vintedandminted · 11/04/2026 03:03

I mean this as advice not criticism, your problem is you need to baby train sleeping. Your little one needs to be sleeping now 7 till 7. She needs to be self settling. If you had a good sleep pattern you would have time for self care, watching tv, food prep ect. This is where you need to concentrate your efforts. Make sure she is having regular solids to keep her full and start dropping day time naps. It sounds like she's in charge all day long not you.

This is such bad advice. It's perfectly normal for babies to wake up in the night, not all babies are the same. Similarly they need at least two naps until around 14 months.
It sounds like something my nan might say.

FlyingUnicornWings · 11/04/2026 07:17

ILoveFatFaceSocks · 10/04/2026 23:32

Rest of day is reading, walks, either with just me or other mum friends, sometimes softplay, maybe babygroup (twice per week), sometimes visiting family. I will sit in her playpen with her at other points in day and read to her or play with her toys with her. If she is happy playing in playpen what harm is me having a coffee and catching up with some TV? In same room? As said, if she looks at me and wants interaction I stop watching TV and I speak to her, play with her etc. And she comes straight out if she is being grumpy.

Absolutely no harm what so ever, enjoy your morning coffee and tell your husband to pipe down!

babyproblems · 11/04/2026 07:16

He’s obviously a twat. Ignore him.

That said, I wouldn’t have the tv on and a 10mo sat infront of it. We aren’t in the UK but there is a strong line of advice to have zero screens on around children under 3! Putting baby to play in play pen whilst you do something else is completely fine and normal!

Jrisix · 11/04/2026 07:08

I think it's fine. If she only contact naps you get no breaks all day. I'm sure your husband gets time to have a coffee, rest, stare into space etc during his working day. You need the same and baby is in a safe space playing happily. I didn't do screens until baby was older but I didn't have to, because she napped in her cot so I had time to rest and prepare food.