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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Panicking a lot that this will mean DS is going to be very, very difficult

101 replies

polloi · 09/05/2023 21:20

I am a first time mum and have been on my own with ds since he was 4 weeks old. Had no contact with the father since. This is relevant because father’s absence has had no impact on my ability to cope with ds who is now 9 months. I expected to be unable to manage.

Before anyone comments that this is a ‘stealth boast’ as I’ve seen referred to on here before, I can assure you that it is not. This is a real concern I have especially now it looks like I am bringing ds up alone.

He sleeps, wakes only briefly in the night and settles within a few minutes. He’s had one evening ever of crying longer than 30 minutes. We were out on a walk today and an elderly couple began chatting. They kept saying they couldn’t believe how placid he was, asking me if he was always like this and it was so unusual. He was just looking round, unfazed.

He does cry sometimes but it’s brief. There is eye contact but sometimes he will ignore me completely. I might show him
something on a walk and it seems like he doesn’t know I am there. I can leave him to play for 20 minutes without him seeking attention.

Have I done something wrong? I hear so many stories of babies being tricky and crying a lot and developing needs for certain toys etc but ds isn’t like that. He will go with the flow and I have googled it over and over and I keep being told that basically he will have issues as he grows and be extremely hard to manage. On an emotional level I am not ok at the moment and I honestly don’t know what I would do if I end up having to manage a very difficult child on my own. I can’t relax at all as I feel he is just too laid back and suddenly he’s going to get bigger and like Google says, massive difficulties will start. Has anyone got experience of this and how I can prepare? I feel so alone and worried maybe I have caused this as I didn’t go out much after the break up with ds’s dad.

OP posts:
Sissynova · 09/05/2023 21:22

No one can tell you what kind of child he will grow into. The personality of a 9 month old isn’t really an indicator for their personality at 9.

WolfFoxHare · 09/05/2023 21:24

He sounds like a happy contented baby. There’s no reason to think he will be difficult when he’s older. Don’t borrow trouble - just try your best not to think about it and to enjoy how calm and chilled out he is. He sounds lovely and you sound like a great mum.

ArseMenagerie · 09/05/2023 21:26

My friends have a baby like this. He’s fine! Enjoy x

Mutabiliss · 09/05/2023 21:27

What on Google is telling you this? Is it a reliable source, or is it US drug websites and internet forums?

Babies all have different personalities, if he's meeting his milestones and seems happy I would stop worrying about something that is unlikely to be a problem.

herbygarden · 09/05/2023 21:27

He sounds like a lovely, happy baby, some babies are just easy going - maybe he'll be a nightmare teenager to make up but for it, but just enjoy him and try not to worry! Xxx

mynameiscalypso · 09/05/2023 21:29

He sounds a lot like my DS who is now 3.5. He was a very easy baby and, generally, an easy toddler. He has his moments but generally is very laid back and happy. He's quite self-contained, will concentrate for hours on an activity and is a delight most of the time. I think it's just his personality really. You sound like you're doing a grand job.

VivaVivaa · 09/05/2023 21:29

Im confused. What precisely have you been googling to come to the conclusion that he’s going to be difficult? That he sleeps well, is generally quite settled and can entertain himself? Is it autism you are worrying about? Because all of those traits can be (and often are) completely normal in a 9 month old with a chilled out, content personality. I think you should enjoy him and try not to worry. Some easy babies stay easy, some easy babies become more difficult. Likewise some challenging babies calm down and some stay highly strung forever. You have no idea where he will lie on that spectrum currently.

Nottodaty · 09/05/2023 21:29

My first it was tough for the first 12 months, as a toddler she was really easy. Then I had my second as she was a chilled baby - I thought I was owed it after how hard the first one . At 18 months she grew horns and was a (fun) challenge!

Enjoy the moment as it could change or not!

MMMarmite · 09/05/2023 21:30

What websites have told you this? On the face ot if, it doesn't make any sense.

GulliverUnravels · 09/05/2023 21:34

He sounds like my sister. My mum used to have to wake her up in the night to feed because she was getting engorged, but my sister wanted to sleep through from a few weeks old. Also a very placid, contented child. She grew up into a very lovely, gracious, easygoing adult. Nobody's perfect of course but she never really went through a rebellious stage in her teens either. She's firmly the favourite, golden child in my family - DBro and I were tearaways who prematurely aged my parents - but I can't resent her for it because she's too nice!
My DS was also like your son in some respects - but not the sleep. That was awful. But generally very happy and obliging, people used to comment on what an easy baby he was. Even throughout the "Terrible Twos" he was just docile and charming. Then 3 hit and all hell broke loose! But people tell me 4 gets easier.
Basically, who knows what your son will grow up like? But right now he sounds lovely. Enjoy him!

EveryWitchWaybutLoose · 09/05/2023 21:36

He sounds like my brother who was a happy gurgly smiley baby. He was gorgeous. And he’s now a happy gentle smiling man. He’s lovely.

notsurewherenotsurewhy · 09/05/2023 21:37

He was just looking round, unfazed.

He does cry sometimes but it’s brief. There is eye contact but sometimes he will ignore me completely. I might show him something on a walk and it seems like he doesn’t know I am there. I can leave him to play for 20 minutes without him seeking attention.

IME this is fairly unusual for a 9mo and I would wonder about autism or other SEN. But clearly it's also within the bounds of normal. Most importantly I'm sure you haven't caused anything - your baby just is who he is.

I think children certainly have varied personalities, and one of mine (primary school aged) has consistently required much less from me than the other. Not anything like as chilled as this though.

Isthisexpected · 09/05/2023 21:38

It sounds like all is going well and you are doing brilliantly. Some babies just have a chilled temperament which can make the harder times so much easier.

Northernsoullover · 09/05/2023 21:40

Sounds like my youngest. He slept pretty much through the night from birth and fully from 3 weeks. He never got upset as a baby and was extremely placid and happy.
He's 17 now and not afraid to show emotions. He's just lovely.

determinedtomakethiswork · 09/05/2023 21:40

He sounds adorable. If you are worried then speak to your health visitor or GP. Please don't google. It will only make you panic. You could be completely alright and Google would make you feel like you were dropping down dead.

BriarHare · 09/05/2023 21:40

I was lucky enough to have 2 incredibly placid babies who grew into calm toddlers and inquisitive but never boisterous children that then breezed through their teens. Not all children are full-on.

RoseslnTheHospital · 09/05/2023 21:41

He's 9 months old, and you sound like you are meeting his needs very well. So he is a happy content little baby. That's nothing to worry about. You may find that as he starts to walk he becomes more frustrated or get upset, but you may not 🤷🏼‍♀️

Is he engaged when you look at books together, or sing songs or when eating with you? Does he laugh when you do silly things that he likes?

sevenbyseven · 09/05/2023 21:41

DD1 was a very easy going baby and is now an easy going teenager. Of course she's had her moments over the years but I definitely wouldn't worry!

GracePalmer33 · 09/05/2023 21:42

I don't understand... what information online says that a laid back baby will turn into a very difficult child? What are you reading? It makes no sense.

Whereismyfairytale · 09/05/2023 21:43

I have a two year old OP, he sounds similar to yours, he has always been very laid back, very content, a happy, smiley, socially charming little thing, so many people have commented on his lovely nature, he’s still the same, as he’s getting older I feel it’s his personality, he’s just a sweet natured, laid back, content soul. Wouldn’t change him for the world. You enjoy your baby, stop letting your joy be overcome with worry, he sounds just fine😊

Taq · 09/05/2023 21:43

I have 3. One of mine was like this as a baby and I worried too, but she’s the loudest now!

SpaceJamtart · 09/05/2023 21:43

Websites can't predict your childs personality.
My babies were chill, very calm and easy and they were chill and easy toddlers and are now chill and easy children.
Just enjoy the baby you have now it will be okay.

Taq · 09/05/2023 21:45

GracePalmer33 · 09/05/2023 21:42

I don't understand... what information online says that a laid back baby will turn into a very difficult child? What are you reading? It makes no sense.

I had more than one comment from others about my quiet baby that it meant she might have ‘something wrong with her’ or ‘my friends aunties sisters baby was like this and he’s autistic.’

There wasn’t anything wrong with her but other people’s comments do worry you as a mother.

jellybe · 09/05/2023 21:45

Sounds like my youngest. He's still pretty chilled at 6 goes mainly with the flow etc. stop googling and enjoy your happy baby x

Boxbedbank · 09/05/2023 21:49

I had one like this. Was diagnosed with asd (high functioning) but has been little problem.
I had another like this is still no problem as a teenager.
I had a 3rd child who screamed and didn't sleep, was what many would call a nightmare baby, went onto be hard work, diagnosed with asd. Is now a young adult and is still harder work than my two teens combined.
So being a happy relaxed baby doesn't mean you get, a problem child later on or vice versa. Please don't worry. Maybe talk to your hv if you are concerned.