Why do people say "babies are so portable?!"

[Chooleyo]

I'm on my second baby and I haven't found either of them remotely portable. Both have been extremely susceptible to overtiredness and would scream the place down if you missed their sleep cues. My eldest would only nap in his cot in a dark room so he wasn't portable at all - wouldn't sleep in the carrier, pram or car seat. My youngest (12 weeks) will ONLY contact nap so you'd think he would be more portable as he sleeps in the sling but he will not entertain being in the sling between naps - tries to fling himself out and screams his head off. And hates the pram. And hates the car seat. If we do go out I have to put up with him screaming between naps and then lug my gigantic boobs out to try to feed him while he flails about and refuses to latch on.

Who are these unicorn portable babies? I was under the impression from impassioned babywearers that newborns just sit contentedly in the sling all day between peacefully dropping off for naps. Nope.

Because once they get older and even more opinionated, then can also physically refuse to move and you can’t just make them.

I feel you 😂

Yes I agree completely! People saying babies are easier than toddlers - I found the complete opposite. I think some people just have easier babies. I am not one of them - solidarity with you OP!

My children are much easier now, and are very happy sat quietly with a book, thank god.

Wait till they're 11 and have opinions.

I mean they do scream but you can physically pick them up and move them.

Not really possible with most toddlers and definitely not once they hit pre-teen.

Some babies really will sleep anywhere. One of mine did. She hasn't been easier at other points though.

My eldest is nearly 9 and has plenty of them!

This.

3yo and 16mo both running in different directions in the park/airport/national trust place/supermarket.

When they were younger they were easier to contain making them portable!

My 2nd born used to just pass out wherever they were plonked or playing until about 6m. I didn't bother sorting a nap schedule for baby2, just went with the old 'oh well if tired then they'll sleep.'

Some people are just lucky
I had a very portable baby, it was indeed very good luck and made my lifestyle very easy.
My DSis didn't have the same with my DNH, they needed routine, slept only in their cots and had structured meal times.

Now they are all a lot older my DS will push and push at night still before going to bed, hours upon draining hours, whereas my nephews can have supper, showers, teeth and bed asleep within 15 mins.

It's swings and roundabouts I'm afraid.

You will pick up some other great behaviours from your children that the nice portable ones definitely don't do.....maybe they'll be excellent at potty training....another major fail here.

My cousin had one. I think she was the chosen one in her generation. There was probably another one born somewhere in the world around 2015.

My first one was and she was also happier when she was out and about. Second, not so much. It’s the luck of the draw I think.

Both of mine just screamed if tired (well DC2 still does) and they could keep it up for hours without dropping off. So I really had (have) to put the effort in to get them down on time.

Actually my eldest was a dream to potty train. Didn't even really have to train him, he just decided he was done with nappies one day and started using the loo.

And although he would only nap in his cot he was a champion napper which was great as I had a lovely break in the day. Carried that on until he was nearly four.

Yeah mine was like yours. Only liked napping in the dark in his cot. Then he was a ridiculously easy and bidable toddler so my experience was he got loads easier to hang out with as he got older.

If you have a quiet baby you can pretty much carry on as normal/go about your business/take them anywhere. They can just slot into your life - particularly if you’re breastfeeeing and don’t need to worry about the next feed etc. Babies require little in term of stimulation that they won’t get just from being close to you as you go about your daily business.

My first was like this (not to boast - just for balance she was also the worlds worst sleeper, so definitely NOT a dream baby).

My second baby was loud and screamy (allergies). Taking her anywhere was a nightmare.

It doesn't on which baby you are talking about. Ds1 was a portable, predictable, happy and content child. Take him to loud places. If it is nap time he will sleep.

Ds2 cried no matter what you did. Only time he used to not cry was when his mouth was busy drinking milk. He only slept when I was either carrying him or feeding him.

Ds3 was somewhere in the middle until he got his cmpa diagnosis. I stopped cow milk and he slept and smiled more.

Oh this was me too! Would only nap in his cot but then did so for two hours reliably until he was 3 and a half. So it had advantages but did mean I had years of needing to rush home for 12.30 or all hell would break loose!

My first was a nightmare sleeper so was portable in the sense that he would eventually drop off in the pram when he physically couldn't stay awake anymore. He wouldn't sleep at home or ever at night for 2 years.

My second was sleep trained asap for obvious reasons and is in no way portable. I have become one of the people I used to judge for living my life around nap times and being chained to the house but it's just not worth lugging an over tired baby round with me

I had one portable baby, my second, would sleep anywhere, would just fall asleep if tired. This came as a shock to me because my first was a nightmare to get to sleep and would scream and scream in the pram or sling rather than sleep.

I'm sorry to be that mum, but mine were portable.

I had twins that slept anywhere and any time, were happy in the buggy or the floor or wherever. We didn't travel but I remember visiting family when they were 6 weeks old and going out for dinner - they slept through the whole evening in a loud restaurant. Their little brother was just as easy - but by then they were 3 and not so easily corralled!

My DD was pretty portable as a baby. She would nap/sleep on the go so we just got on with things. Now she's 3.... less portable! The level of defiance is incredible 🤯

Every baby is different though. DD slept between feeds, each increase in feed increased the sleep, and she would sleep anywhere. If I went out she slept in the car or her pram/pushchair. If I wanted to go out I went out, I didn't have to work anything around a schedule as we didn't have one. I didn't breastfeed so took bottles everywhere so feeding was easy.

My friend's baby would only sleep in her cot and had to go down at set hours of the day so she was chained to the house.

Oh mine are only sleep on the go babies! So staying home for us is a disaster no napping just grumpy kids

so going out is way easier haha

can’t win really it seems

My daughter was portable and would nap in the car or pram during the day.
Problem was evenings if she didn't get home in time to be fed, because she would be asleep at 7 and that was that. If she wasn't fed before about 630, she'd just refuse it and I'd have to wait for her to wake again to eat. And she wouldn't have a proper sleep without her evening bath, so would just fidget and whine until she woke herself up.

I am 100% fine being chained to the house. I'd rather have the peace and quiet and I'm a hermit anyway 😅