...to find the whole baby stage generally just a bit...well.....shit?

[bblue]

For sure there are some wonderful bits, like the big grins, but it seems to me to be overwhelmingly mind-numbingly tedious. Lots of crying, lots of not sleeping (for everyone), wearing the same 3 revolting tops in rotation (breastfeeding) and constantly covered in baby sick. I have got an older child too, and while they have their own challenges(!) it definitely gets more interesting. A friend calls it the "baby conspiracy" - i.e. that you'll rarely hear a bad word about having a tiny baby (that's not immediately tempered by "but oh my god they're so worth it, wouldn't change it for the world") but surely it's not just me (and my friend?!). Or is it?

I love the baby stage. You can't beat newborn snuggles.

Why does OP use such vile language to describe her experience. So cheap and tacky.

Oh gosh I LOVE babies. Toddlers...not so much!

Fluffy, I really think hugs with Ds now are better. He grabs me round the neck and shouts "aww". So wonderful. He's a toddler now :)

I love the baby stage - I am happy to borrow them for you until they are bigger if you like?

Sounds good to me, giraffes. If we have no 2 can we exchange for a toddler for the first year?

I had PND so not sure if not liking the baby stage was that or the fact that I don't like the baby stage. DS is almost 4 now and I have to say that from 2 onwards, it's been a scream. He hasn't slept past 6am since he was born, but that is a small price to pay for the joy he brings us. I cant believe how down I was when he was a baby, but things have definitely improved with time. Hang on in there.

I did not enjoy the first three months. I felt like shit and was so lonely. I kept thinking 'why did nobody tell me it was like this?' Now, I bloody loves it. I would not, however, tell pregnant friends just how crap it can be, because I'm keeping up the conspiracy..

The only thing I would say to a soon to be mother is buy some really good nursing bras, go for a walk every day and don't listen to people who tell you their babies sleep through the night.

I have committed the cardinal sin of not reading the whole thread.

But I totally agree. In retrospect, I can admit I hated having a small baby. I actually liked having toddler plus baby though. I always say that, if I have a third, it is because I want three older ones, not to go through the baby bit again. And it must be before DD2 starts school, because I am not going through 9-3 alone with a baby.

Newborn until they can walk is my favourite bit!! My dd2 is 9 weeks and I'm loving every bit of it. Lots of cuddles and her adoring stares and smiles. Dd2 is 5yr and lovely but quite annoying and moany. I suppose it helps that dd's have both slept through from 6 weeks. Sleep deprivation would defo make me see things differently.

Oops, reading and scrolling on my phone and inadvertently pressed Report on someone's post. Not sure if that means anything or whether there is a Confirm Rep ort button afterwards.

Meanwhile, YANBU >.

jolly I don't have any to swap you for I am afraid...if you wanted something to keep you busy while I looked after your newborn then you could write my OU project for me?

Miss it is probably ok, you usually have to write WHY you have reported. And even if you have sent a report then they will look at the persons post and either realise it was a mistake or think you are just a tad over senstive about their lack of punctuation of something

Giraffes, I have my own OU to do I'm afraid, sorry.

We'll have to set up an mn swap shop

YANBU. 0-5 months was like 'Nam but without the good drugs.

Babies are so dull until they get to 6mo+

Ds was a nightmare he's now a funny nightmare

I love the baby stage the second time round.. despite all the sick and whingyness. She does sleep really well though. I wasn't as fond in the first 2 months when we didn't know really worked to settle her, and she was colicky, oh and was prone to getting sensory overload and just screaming.

I hated it the first time round with DD1, but I had PND, thought I was doing an awful job and was quite genuinely terrified of her! It was a long while before it got easier and enjoyable - then the 'terrible two's' hit like a brick wall to the face!

This particular bit is shit. I'm sitting up with 7.5 month DD while she grins, coos, rolls around and absolutely refuses to go to sleep. [hhmm]

Go. To. Sleep! Or at least start looking sleepy so I have some hope.

But I do like it as a general rule. I get so much lonelier/stir crazier than I expected, though.