...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?

[TPel]

I thought it was horrific. I had a traumatic birth - my consultant made a house call it was that bad! My DS was high needs and EBF and there wasn't MN - or even the Internet then.

I was so traumatised I haven't had a second sadly.

[SquinkiesRule]

I loved it. So much so that when I was a foster parent, they sent me all the newborns.
I loved the 2am or so feeds too, so quiet and peaceful in the house just me and baby awake and rocking in the chair.

[mintoil]

I loved it! I would say they were the happiest days of my life, and I have had a pretty marvellous life really.

I was so full of joy and love. I ebf which I think made my life a lot easier than some of my friends who always seemed to be stressing about sterilising and temperatures and stuff.

I felt like I was in this amazing cocoon of me and my baby and I loved it all. I loved it when they were toddlers too - I laughed at toddler tantrums and sailed through that bit.

Teenagers - totally different story. I have honestly struggled, especially with DD.

[Chottie]

I loved it both times.

But, I was young, healed easily and had loads of support from DH, DM and extended family. There was always someone to help out, tell me how well I was doing, make cups of tea etc.

When I look back, after reading some people's experiences on MN, I was so fortunate.

[Jw35]

Absolutely! I've loved every minute so far of my 11 month olds life :) the newborn stage was gorgeous! So great I'm doing it all again :) x

[MummaV]

I loved the new born stage. Dd is 7 months now, crawling and into everything. No more being able to watch tv, do the housework, have a proper lunch etc unless she is napping which is rare!

Having to chase after her 24/7 is infinitely more exhausting. She won't stop for a cuddle anymore so is constantly on the move.

[Senpai]

The newborn stage was amazing in that DD was my first child and I loved having a baby. The maintenance, not so much. It was pretty boring and I wasn't sure how to keep a small baby entertained.

[Moomintroll85]

I much prefer DS now he's 16 months old and I can play with him, have fun and watch him develop into this lovely, funny little person.

I didn't love the newborn stage but had a horrific birth, difficult recovery and then got this weird awful flu for two months so maybe my judgement is clouded by all that.

But apart from the lack of sleep it was easier. When I used to put him down he'd stay there, no food being flung everywhere and I could go out all day and he'd sleep in the buggy the whole time. Now... not so much

[BarbarianMum]

I loved it the first time. Partly because birth gives me a huge hormonal high (the opposite of the baby blues) and partly because I got to sit, hold and worship this wonderous creature I made without interruption. Oh and I was delirious with joy not to be pregnant any more (pregnancy was vastly over-rated imo).

Second time round with a toddler in tow wasn't quite the same, esp as we moved 3 weeks in.

[CishAndFips]

My DD is 4 weeks tomorrow and hand on heart I'm loving every minute. I don't know if it's because I'm more relaxed as she is our second or if it's because she's an easy baby or a combination of both. I love gazing into her eyes as I feed her, the way she stares at me like I'm the most interesting person in the whole world, the little noises she makes when she sleeps and that intoxicating newborn smell.

[Sallystyle]

Loved it!

If I could have a baby and keep it as a newborn forever I would.

My 5th baby was a nightmare, I can't even explain how awful that time was, she would never sleep longer for five minutes, she cried and cried and cried (reflux) and I was seriously sleep deprived and if she fell asleep on me and I moved my arm she would wake up. I tried everything. It lasted three months then she turned into the happiest baby ever.

My other four were very easy thankfully. They woke up for a feed every few hours, went straight back to sleep.

So my frozen in time newborn would have to not be like my fifth.

[blytheandsebastian]

I found it the best of times and the worst of times. So both.

[megletthesecond]

No. I'm too much of a worrier. Couldn't relax for a second.

[BumWad]

Loved it.

Even through being born at 32 weeks, reflux, difficulty breastfeeding you name it.

Bliss

[PlummyBrummy]

I was too stressed to enjoy it the first time round. DD2 doesn't sleep either but I'm aware of time passing quickly so I'm making a concerted effort to enjoy it more - and she's a lot easier than DD1 so it's less stressful. That said, the feeling of lulling to sleep a fat little milky baby in the crook of your neck in the dark wee hours is one I'll hold onto all my life.

[Baconyum]

Best age 0-6months! Dd slept more then than she has at any time since! I've only the one as I couldn't have more after dd but I've also been a nanny and cm and love the very little ones.

[ElizabethG81]

I loved it, but have always preferred newborns to older babies or toddlers. I had twins, who were far from "good" sleepers, had a c-section and was/still am a lone parent, yet it was the most blissful period of my life so far.

[LockedBox]

I loved it and I love having a hold of a newborn now as well.

I think I was massively fortunate in that my hormones were great and I fell completely, utterly and totally in love with both of my children the second they were born. My first birth was awful and my second was traumatic as well but the moment I had those little sods in my arms I was gone. Again, I consider myself blessed for this as I know this isn't the case for everyone.

[almondpudding]

I loved it; it was the happiest I have ever been.

I knew straight away it would be gone in a flash, and it did.

Teenagers on the other hand, does anyone love being the parent of teenagers?

[MrsBartlettforthewin]

Me. I love it! Even with the sleepless nights and sore boobs I love the snuggles and the early morning feeds when you feel like your the only one awake in the world. Just love it.

[guajiraguantanamera]

I hated the first few weeks. Cried every day for about 3 months. It's easier now he's 8mo and I sometimes think "was it so bad..?" But I'm never doing it again so I'll never find out! Lol

[NeedSomePeaceAndQuite]

I absolutely loved it and my DD was not the easiest baby. Woke every two hours until she was well over a year old, always wanted to feed to sleep.

I'd love to have another baby but I'm not sure Im ready to do the toddler stage again or ever

[Enasharpleshairnet]

I was exhausted but it was a special time. I loved my babies and found them fascinating! Less so a few years later when they want to talk Pokémon at length.

[DickDewy]

I look back on it as a blur.

It's over in a flash and I was happy, but hormental. I loved all the visitors but you couldn't pay me to go back to those broken nights.