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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For taking my baby away from MIL

429 replies

firsttimemum990 · 16/04/2023 16:50

My DD is 2 weeks old. She's a terrible sleeper at night (as are most newborns from my understanding), and as a result, I've only been getting a few hours sleep at night. DD tends to sleep quite a lot throughout the day. MIL has basically blamed me for this and says that I need to keep DD awake in the day so that she sleeps at night, as it's not "normal". She's also suggested that I give her a bath every evening as this will "settle her" and "make her sleep through the night". I have been ignoring her advice so far, as I know that it is completely normal for newborns to wake during the night (especially since I BF and DD cluster feeds), and giving them a bath in the evening is unlikely to make any difference.

She visited yesterday, and of course, DD was asleep. I went to use the toilet shortly after she arrived, and on my return, saw that MIL had woken DD up and was lifting her in the air and telling her to "wake up". DD, who was obviously still tired, could barely keep her eyes open and her head was flopping all over the place as she was still half asleep. I immediately went over and took DD from her and told her it's perfectly normal for DD to be sleeping during the day and I don't want her woken up. She made a comment along the lines of "well don't moan at me when you're up all night"

DH is now angry with me as he thinks MIL was "just trying to help" and is now of the opinion that we should be keeping DD awake in the day. He's also accused me of treating her like an "outsider". They are making me feel unreasonable for wanting to just let my baby sleep. I am not going to spend my day waking up my newborn every time she falls asleep. I also read sleep is good for babies development, which I've told DH, but he thinks I'm talking rubbish.

Surely I wasn't being unreasonable for taking the baby from her?! I didn't think I was being unreasonable but I think I've let them get to my head!

OP posts:
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BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 20/04/2023 18:42

Katypp · 20/04/2023 18:00

I never said their cries should be ignored, nor did I say they should be forced into a routine.

So tell me what you mean by not following baby's lead

TiredMomOf3 · 07/05/2023 17:05

The baby is 2 weeks old. Literally only 2 WEEKS. My son woke me up every 3 hours for 10 months! Nursing.

Also, what she did to the baby could have seriously hurt the baby. Her head was flopping about?

Why do people have babies with men that still have mommy complexes? You're his wife and he should have stuck up for you and your baby.

Honestly, you need to not be around them, the MIL and FIL . They sound irresponsible. I would have left with my baby the minute MIl did what you described.

TiredMomOf3 · 07/05/2023 17:18

firsttimemum990 · 17/04/2023 00:09

What? A 2 week old baby cannot differentiate between day and night, as many PP's have already highlighted. Also, I'm not sure who all these 'many newborns' who are sleeping long stretches at night are, but it is very normal, (especially for BF babies who cluster feed) for newborn babies to wake frequently throughout the night. My baby is not doing anything that is out of the ordinary. Maybe it's you who needs to read some books/online resources/courses to better understand this phase. Smile

Umm, no babies don't differentiate from day and night at 2 weeks. I am a mother of 3 children. All had different sleep patterns. And I wasn't worried one bit when my son woke up through the night at even 10 months old. Though, it did bug me a lot and I did complain because I was super tired, but people are allowed to talk about the things that annoy them without being put down about it. All these people putting her down because she is "complaining", you're life must be super cheery. You must have absolutely nothing in your life that bugs. But, "normal" people have things in life that they love (like our children) that exhaust them and we talk about it.. but we still love our children! We're just tired and that is completely normal as a mother.

OP: honestly, your MIL should not be around you or your baby. You are the mother. You should not have to deal with a condescending and rude person like your MIL and FIL. I kicked my own family out when they didn't respect my boundaries as a mother. I have 3. 13, 12 and 9 years old. My husband's mom always tried to force things on me, but guess what, she doesn't come over anymore. Because I am the mother, not her.

Also, your husband needs to start sticking up for you. I had many arguments with my husband about his mom and he finally saw the light and sticks up for me. Because you guys are supposed to be partners for life. I would never live with a man that constantly runs to his mommy or doesn't stick up for me with his mom.

Stewball01 · 11/05/2023 12:19

,
Bloody Mils. I'm one but I don't interfere and she has her own dm. Mine was awful. Thank goodness she lived in S. Africa. And her mothering was nothing to be desired. She tried to teach me a very convoluted way to put on the nappy. I told her we'd do it the way we were taught in the hospital. She started to cry and called me a slut. 🫠.
The day sleeps are very important for baby'asp growth. Of your husband disagrees, gell him to read a baby book. Imhad Dr spock.

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