When does having a baby get just a little easier!!

[Pam0077]

Hi
I'm posting for some reassurance really, DS is seven months now and has been a fussy, hyper baby with reflux and colic (now passed thankfully.) I keep asking friends when life gets a teeny bit easier eg not trying to stop DS crying, crap naps and now protesting when put in pram. I was told six months was life changing, not for us! My mum assures me twelve months old is a turning point. I just wanted your experience. I know it never really gets 'easy' with a child but this baby relentlessness is grinding me down and I really need some light at the end of a dark tunnel!!! X

I feel EXACTLY the same Pam some days are just a drag. I also panic as everyone keeps saying how this age is just the best age, enjoy it, as once they can walk/talk etc, it's game over, and I feel like I'm really struggling with this age I just can't de with it getting worse!!!

And I feel so bad as DS is just lovely, but it's all just never ending!!!

Deal not de...

I don't think parenting ever gets easier as they grow certain issues like reflux or sleeping get easier but then new worries arise such as fussy eating temper tantrums then school and friendship problems . Parent hood is one never ending cycle of different problems or worries

Don't feel guilty, Pam, I honestly barely remember 4-8 months with either of mine, lack of sleep, what seemed like relentless feeding as you're spending time on both solids and milk, the baby getting frustrated as he/she is on the cusp of doing loads more but not quite yet. Added to that, I found that by 6months everyone expects you to be coping and have worked out what you're doing and the novelty of a new baby has worn off for them so the sort of low-level support of people asking how you're doing etc lessens. But of course, if you are having a harder time of it (and having had one with reflux and one without, reflux definitely makes the early months much harder) and not getting sleep, you have been dealing with it not for a few weeks, when everyone is keen to help, but for half a year. Of course you don't enjoy every minute of it. It really does get better. I'm sure you're doing a brilliant job.

All those who are looking forward to babies talking so they can tell you what they want ... not sure how to say this gently but don't look forward to it too much!

Once they get to that point, they then don't stop telling you what they want, and more pertinently, what they DONT want, in almost every waking moment. There will be no room for doubt, I promise.

My eldest wasn't too bad and could usually be persuaded to cooperate. But my son, goodness, I am now qualified to conduct hostage negotiations in any major hijacking incident you care to name. I have NEVER known a child so good at telling you what he wants .... :-)

To be fair to him he is very good at saying sorry though, whereas my eldest would rather die than utter that word.

So glad I found this, love my little monster to bits but its been hard work at night, days he's a delight! My mum said 12 weeks to me and I found myself staring at a new born photo at 2/3/5/6 in the morning thinking that I liked him more when he was new coz no one's babies were sleeping and being new was an excuse! My lo is 8 months and every now and then I look back and think that although overall its not easier some things have changed for the better, seems one thing improves as another gets worse but its all progress! Xxx