Did anyone actually enjoy the baby stage?

[No17CherryTreeLane]

Based purely on my own circle of anecdotes, there doesn't seem to be many who did, said it was "boring" , preferring when child was a bit older and "had character" 😁
I, on the other hand, loved the newborn and baby stages.
For me, it was the easiest stage - they stayed where you left them, they didn't sass back and ask "why?" on a continuous loop!

What is/was your favourite stage of your child's development?

The baby stage has been really hard for us every time. Toddlers are hard in a different way but very difficult. My favourite age is 4-5+ and I have to say, I am adoring having teenagers too but maybe I've been very lucky with mine.

We're back in the baby stage along with teenagers and it's lovely with more help but still a repetitive slog some days.

My little girl is 8 months and I found her much easier as a newborn than this current stage! Like you say, I could put her down somewhere and she wouldn't move. She slept loads, didn't need constantly entertaining and we just cuddled all the time. She's not into cuddles now, she just wants to be on the floor exploring and putting everything in her mouth 😂

God YES!!! All of it. They all had their own issues (DS1 was a failure to thrive, DD had hip dysplasia, DS2 was/is perfection until it comes to food) but my god I loved it and would go back. I loved every stage up until age 7 I’d say. 7 for DS1 was hard! He’s more or less nice again now he’s 9. Obviously tween and teen years to come!

The baby scrunch, the sitting on the sofa, the tiny cries (sounds enormous to the parents but others barely notice it), the holding them in one hand, the simplicity of their needs. The long days (not being dictated to by school runs and clubs!), the co sleeping, the teeny clothes, the paternity leave! Just how small and simple everything was - the baby and also our life. Ah. Fun times.

I hated it. I went back early from maternity leave. DS is a tumultuous teenager now, Waaay better.

I've loved every stage for different reasons. Newborn I loved the hugs and closeness, she slept so well those first 9 months (that then changed and her sleep was awful until she was 11).

But I loved seeing her starting to explore as she got older. I then loved when she could communicate more.

My least favourite age was 3-4 I think, where she tested her boundaries so much.

I don't know if it's because it's more recent but I would say her teens has been my overall favourite, I am getting to know her as a person and seeing her develop herself and I can see the adult she will turn into.

But every stage has had its pros and cons

I'm 10m in, and there have been two particularly hard spots (4m regression bad for 4 weeks before starting to improve and 6-7m when weaning was awful and he was learning to crawl).

Otherwise though I've loved it for the most. But my son has always been pretty interactive, a medium speaker, and I quite enjoy bumbling about by myself. Plus I've been able to keep active with my side hustle during naps.

I found newborns the easiest, that’s despite complicated deliveries.

I loved every stage. I did bottle feed which I do think makes things easier especially when I had 5 year old, 2 year old twins and a new born other people can help with feeding then you can have break. I never got bored at being at home all day with them. Always looked forwards to half term and summer holidays.

When I look back I'm like aw yeah it was lovely having a little baby and I do remember it as a wonderful time. But when I really REALLY try to remember, actually I realise I spent quite a lot of time crying and worrying about SIDS and examining them for signs of illness, buying infacol because they wouldn't stop crying etc.

I did. I did like to get out and about by around 3 months though, especially in the mornings.

I loved it. I have a very easy baby who got into good eating/ sleeping routines. That's not to say there wasn't bumps along the way with illness and sleep regressions. Babies are portable and can't argue back so we travelled a lot and spent a lot of time out of the house doing groups and seeing friends.

However, I have loved all stages but for different reasons.

The new born stage is so magical. And if it's your first it's also the easiest, even if you're getting no sleep because you don't have to be up and busy anyway - you don't realise that at the time tho. Toddler and new born on the other hand is tricky!

My first was the worst, even now he needs a lot of input with everything 😄 partially his personality and partially of our own making as we did everything for him. Still absolutely loved it all though. Numbers 2 & 3 were easy as pie!!

I felt like 8-9 months old was my best time so far. Couldn’t walk and make a run for it and was happy to stay in the pram to look around, could do lots of lovely walks in the summer on maternity leave.

I loved it all three times. The baby who did sleep, the baby who didn't and the baby who slept when not ill (about 50% of the time)

Cuddles and So tiny. It doesn't last for long.

I'm currently in the trenches with my 9 week old who at 5/6 weeks started fighting her sleep for all of her daytime naps only way I can get her to settle is on me and she is tired again by the time I feed and change her so I literally can't do anything all day, I thought the newborn stage would be the easy bit but I'm exhausted 😩 as well as that she up until recently and even some bottles still will Only take 2 oz. I hate wishing the time away as I tried so long for her but looking forward to her being 6 months +

I loved the baby stage with both of mine. The slow days, cluster feeding with a box set, maternity leave. My youngest is 3 and this stage is HARD work! I remember my DS and niece being similar at age 3.

Yes, I loved it. Just lovely. When they can’t move or speak 😂 And I loved just carrying ds around, the baby clothes. The sheer love

I hated it. I count my two maternity leaves as the two most miserable periods of my life.

I loved it. I love this stage too, 2 - 3. I find young children brilliant.

I wonder if that means I'll hate the school/teenage years. I'm not so used to those.

I'm only 10 weeks in but (by and large) I love every minute of it. Blessed with a newborn that loves his sleep and will take either breast or bottle, and appreciate how lucky that makes us.

I'm sure we'll have stages in the future that aren't so smooth!

I liked the 3 months plus baby stage though didn't mind newborn. To be honest I just carried on doing what i wanted to do with mine, they fitted right in. Adults now so perhaps rose tinted glasses

Absolutely loved it.

I sometimes miss it - it was physically hard but emotionally easy. A cuddle and a feed fixed all their woes.

I didn’t love colic, didn’t love thrush, didn’t love sleep deprivation, but I absolutely loved babies.

A cuddle with a baby, or a smile, is a delight.

Well I must say I'm glad to know I'm not the only weirdo 😉
I'm sorry to hear some of you had such a tough time of it.

Love the baby stage which is a shame in a way as it’s the shortest! Not so keen on toddlers but DD was a bit of a demon and we went into lockdown as she turned 2 so hoping things might be easier with DS.