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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

New baby - to have lost a bit of faith in my partner?

99 replies

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:10

DP and I have just had second child, DS just turned 3, DD 7 weeks. We are constantly bickering over little things but it all stems from me losing faith in him doing what he says he's going to do, because there have been multiple occasions where he hasn't.

The biggest one - on multiple occasions (at least 10 times in the past 7 weeks), DP has failed to get up in the morning with our DS. We are sleeping in separate rooms as I am breastfeeding and co sleeping with the baby, so it is DP's job to have DS on the monitor (on his phone) and get up with him in the morning. It is always for a different reason, e.g. his phone charger fell out, he forgot to turn the volume up, he forgot to put the app on. 1 or 2 times is excusable, but more than that and I feel that it shows he doesn't care or can't be bothered to ensure that he's going to be able to hear DS. Now every time it happens (3 times in the last week!), I get really angry really quickly because I'm just like, how can you not care enough to make it work?!

Not sticking to the morning routine that we'd agreed. Obviously stuff is up in the air when the baby is newborn but after a few weeks I said I'd like a bit more routine for DS, e.g. eating breakfast at the table, getting dressed, playing, otherwise he was just watching TV for over an hour and eating cereal on the sofa in the mornings We discussed and agreed on a morning routine multiple times and it got done maybe once or twice before DP just didn't do it any more and I had to remind him or have a big blow up about it and we'd have the same conversation again.

Not checking things in fridge before he gives them to him, e.g. he put a yoghurt past its sell by date in his nursery lunchbox, fruit that was clearly off.

All these things and others that I can't even think of right now have massively shaken my trust in him. It makes me feel like he doesn't think things through and is happy to just wait for things to go wrong, and I see that as a lack of care and it really upsets me. Now I am on high alert so feel like I am constantly nagging or picking up on things.

Other little examples - watching too much TV - we've agreed on half an hour in the morning and up to an hour in the evening, but I have 0 faith that if I didn't go in in the morning and ask how much TV he'd had that DP would turn it off after half an hour.

DP put the pram in the car the other day so it fell out when the boot opened. Not the worst thing in the world but it was just yet another example of him not thinking things through. He's always sorry but for me there's no point being sorry if he's not realising that the problem is not the individual things themselves, but the lack of thinking through the consequences or caring.

AIBU to be annoyed and losing faith in him, and getting annoyed really quickly now when he does any tiny thing 'wrong'?

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 17/07/2026 19:13

How good a parent was he with DS before you had the baby?

40notouttoday · 17/07/2026 19:13

You sound stressed and like you need some sleep.

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:14

40notouttoday · 17/07/2026 19:13

You sound stressed and like you need some sleep.

Haha I definitely am stressed and definitely do need some sleep 🤣 but am I being unreasonable then? I'm honestly not sure

OP posts:
minipie · 17/07/2026 19:14

Let me guess, you did most child related things when you just had one child?

If so then DP hasn’t really had the practice so is on a steep learning curve. Only time will tell whether he wants to learn and gets better quickly or if he really just can’t be arsed.

Bear in mind you are also tired and going to be ratty for that reason. The pram in the boot thing for example I think is just a one off error. The repeated failure to get up in the morning or do proper breakfast etc for the 3 yo is worse.

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:16

sittingonabeach · 17/07/2026 19:13

How good a parent was he with DS before you had the baby?

He's a really good dad, but has always had issues with getting up in the morning even before the baby. I've normally done the bulk of the care for DS which is where the difference has come in. I'm well aware that I'm struggling with the role change and letting go of control (for want of a better word) but just wanted some opinions on whether it's unreasonable to feel the way I do.

OP posts:
NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:17

minipie · 17/07/2026 19:14

Let me guess, you did most child related things when you just had one child?

If so then DP hasn’t really had the practice so is on a steep learning curve. Only time will tell whether he wants to learn and gets better quickly or if he really just can’t be arsed.

Bear in mind you are also tired and going to be ratty for that reason. The pram in the boot thing for example I think is just a one off error. The repeated failure to get up in the morning or do proper breakfast etc for the 3 yo is worse.

Thank you, that's a really lovely balanced answer. Definitely the hormones and tiredness aren't helping my reactions to things!

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 17/07/2026 19:17

What is your definition of good dad if you did the bulk of the care?

RoseField1 · 17/07/2026 19:18

Not getting up in the morning - YANBU. everything else, you are being a bit micromanaging and unreasonable.

40notouttoday · 17/07/2026 19:19

I'd say you're basing your views on what you'd hoped of from him. It's not unrealistic but from what you've said not what he's ever proven he'd do.
I have three kids. My husband has never got out of bed with them. It fucks me off no end. I get angry occasionally about it. I think 25 year old me would want to smother him in his sleep. Will he change? Probably not. Will I LTB also probably not he's a very good Dad.

sittingonabeach · 17/07/2026 19:19

minipie · 17/07/2026 19:14

Let me guess, you did most child related things when you just had one child?

If so then DP hasn’t really had the practice so is on a steep learning curve. Only time will tell whether he wants to learn and gets better quickly or if he really just can’t be arsed.

Bear in mind you are also tired and going to be ratty for that reason. The pram in the boot thing for example I think is just a one off error. The repeated failure to get up in the morning or do proper breakfast etc for the 3 yo is worse.

The older one is 3, unless dad is out working 24/7 there is no excuse that he hasn’t at least done some of the drudge work involved in parenting

hellofrommyothername · 17/07/2026 19:19

Not getting up with him in the morning, especially if you are then having to get up with him while breastfeeding in the night = unacceptable

i wouldn’t care so much about TV time myself but then I am the more lax one about that in my marriage!

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:22

RoseField1 · 17/07/2026 19:18

Not getting up in the morning - YANBU. everything else, you are being a bit micromanaging and unreasonable.

This is what I need 🤣🤣 thank you

OP posts:
NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:23

sittingonabeach · 17/07/2026 19:17

What is your definition of good dad if you did the bulk of the care?

Just is lovely, kind, caring, does more than me around the house, takes him on outings, to groups, always did nursery lunches in the mornings anyway, etc.

OP posts:
NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:24

40notouttoday · 17/07/2026 19:19

I'd say you're basing your views on what you'd hoped of from him. It's not unrealistic but from what you've said not what he's ever proven he'd do.
I have three kids. My husband has never got out of bed with them. It fucks me off no end. I get angry occasionally about it. I think 25 year old me would want to smother him in his sleep. Will he change? Probably not. Will I LTB also probably not he's a very good Dad.

This is really helpful, thank you :)

OP posts:
Simonjt · 17/07/2026 19:26

So were the previous nursery lunches out of date food?

Is he doing as much parenting of your oldest as he did when oldest was a baby?

DogAnxiety · 17/07/2026 19:27

The reason you think he is showing you a lack of care is because he is. You need to tell him exactly that in a calm and reasoned moment. It’s not just because men are like this or bevause he hasn’t had enough time to practice! He just can’t be arsed.

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:29

Simonjt · 17/07/2026 19:26

So were the previous nursery lunches out of date food?

Is he doing as much parenting of your oldest as he did when oldest was a baby?

No, so maybe those instances were just him being tired.

I'm not sure what you mean by the second question?

OP posts:
DaisyChain505 · 17/07/2026 19:30

Weaponised incompetence. If he continues to do things badly you’ll stop asking him to do them full stop. He knows what he’s doing.

Simonjt · 17/07/2026 19:30

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:29

No, so maybe those instances were just him being tired.

I'm not sure what you mean by the second question?

Sorry, probably not writing well.

The amount of parenting he does now for the three year old, is it a similar amount he did for that child when they were a baby?

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:36

Simonjt · 17/07/2026 19:30

Sorry, probably not writing well.

The amount of parenting he does now for the three year old, is it a similar amount he did for that child when they were a baby?

No I did the bulk of the care when DS was a baby as I was breastfeeding and co sleeping, so there was less he could do, but he did everything else.

OP posts:
petiteoeuf · 17/07/2026 19:39

I think it’s absolutely fucking outrageous the amount of men who “can’t” get it together enough to wake up with their kids in the morning 🤷‍♀️

gamerchick · 17/07/2026 19:39

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:23

Just is lovely, kind, caring, does more than me around the house, takes him on outings, to groups, always did nursery lunches in the mornings anyway, etc.

So just deploys weaponised incompetence so you'll do the shit bits then?

Tell him you know it's deliberate and it's not sexy and you will end up resenting him and then hate him if he doesn't pack it in.

Nottodaythankyou123 · 17/07/2026 19:40

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:29

No, so maybe those instances were just him being tired.

I'm not sure what you mean by the second question?

I’m not sure he can use tiredness when you’re co sleeping with the baby in a seperate room.

I suspect he’s just not used to having to do the actual grunt work of parenting and it’ll take a little while to adjust!

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:42

Nottodaythankyou123 · 17/07/2026 19:40

I’m not sure he can use tiredness when you’re co sleeping with the baby in a seperate room.

I suspect he’s just not used to having to do the actual grunt work of parenting and it’ll take a little while to adjust!

Yes this was my thought too - he shouldn't really be much more tired than before because he's not really getting up with the baby in the night, only very occasionally if I can't settle her and that's only been pre-midnight actually.

How long is reasonable to wait for him to go up the learning curve?! 🤣

OP posts:
minimalistic · 17/07/2026 20:06

NorthernMum2021 · 17/07/2026 19:16

He's a really good dad, but has always had issues with getting up in the morning even before the baby. I've normally done the bulk of the care for DS which is where the difference has come in. I'm well aware that I'm struggling with the role change and letting go of control (for want of a better word) but just wanted some opinions on whether it's unreasonable to feel the way I do.

Your DS will be happier if you keep a calm house. Watching TV and eating cereal on the sofa really isn’t a problem, he’s just enjoying his morning.
Sending out of date food to nursery is a bit much though, just start with sorting this issue out. Maybe share getting up with DS too, it’s a bit much to ask your H to do all 7 days, I assume he’s going to work too?

When my two were young (same age gap as yours), I got up week mornings (whilst on maternity leave) and my H did the weekends.