What's great about newborns?

[Sharesinpampers]

I'm due DC very soon, a very much wanted baby. But all I can think about is the pure exhaustion and anxiety that I had with my first! I know there were good things, my brain just seems to be filtering them out.

So, kind mumsnetters, tell me what is just brilliant about having a newborn and a toddler. No need to throw in a dose of reality, I'm full of those thoughts already!

Also, the opportunity - nay, the BF's mother's sacred duty - to keep your strength up with muchos and

That lovely milk drunk face. DD2 is 11 weeks and growing much too quickly. I'm sad I didn't appreciate these moments so much with DD1. I always said no more than 2, but am seriously reconsidering!

When they curl up on someone's chest and are exactly the shape of an egg.

They stay where you put them. They don't ask you 59 million questions a second. They don't insist on watching peppa pig or telly tubbies on constant repeat

I love how no one is mentioning what's brilliant about a toddler

Toddlers have their own little personality, they're not like any other toddler and they start getting a sense of humour!

But, newborns oh the smell!!

You can pass them to almost anyone for a cuddle and they won't complain so you can have a pee. Once the separation anxiety kicks in, that stops!!!

You put them in one place...and they stay there!

Almost any cry can be solved with a boob (breastfeeding- not sure bout bottle babies!)

They will fall asleep on you ad you can snuggle them

Feeding them with out getting kicked or punched in the face.

Cute tiny clothes

Loads of present so you dont need to spend much for a long time!

Their 'changling' eyes, all massive and dark - tiny wise little strangers.
The way their legs still fold up (DS didn't actually use the legs on his baby grows until he was 2 months old, just kept his legs tucked up round his torso)
You're so excited to see them grow you don't even realise how amazing that newborn stage is - DS now 15 months (equally amazing in new ways, I should say!) and I'm itching for another reading this thread!

Just jumped back on this thread and read all the other replies. Thank you all - so it turns out there are things to look forward to! I had forgotten some of these with DD...the frog legs, the way they just 'fit' when cuddling. This is my last so going to try and make the most of it

Just fed DS who is 11 weeks.......loving his 'milk drunk' face . Also love his soft skin, baby smell, the way he falls asleep on me and DH, snuffly noises when he sleeps.....I could go on and on!

I already want to do it all again and we've barely got started with this one yet!

I remember the luxury of dc1, thinking I'll get to enjoy this all over again with dc2. Now I'm on dc2 and afraid to say it goes even bloody quicker and there won't be another so the enjoyment is rather bittersweet.

The startle reflex is absolutely hilarious. Like he's doing an impression of a ghost. I've been dressing him in white at nighttime, for my own amusement.

And the teeny weeny fingers and toes are adorable, as are the froggy legs and the massive eyes and the soft soft hair. And the way they grip your finger in their fingers. And the squeaky noises and the pigletty grunty noises. And the quivering lip, and the sneezes. And the facial expressions - especially the "ooh" face!

In terms of actually doing stuff with them, the splashy baths were lots of fun. Other than that, tbh for me the first 5 weeks were a bit of a nightmare (but I did have post-natal anxiety so that probably explains it) but at 6 weeks they are totally amazing. Eye contact, smiles, giggles, that little cooing noise, interaction, real little human personalities. So so adorable.

Kakuna matata - I'm so sorry you missed out.

Rainbow rhythms - hope you're ok?

This thread makes me really jealous! For me the newborn phase was unremitting hell. The best thing about newborns in my experience is they eventually become toddlers!

The smell & they sleep ALL THE TOME! If he or she is anything like mine!

Was chuffed to see this landed in Classics! I'm over six months in now and what a different experience this time round! Had a wonderful ELCS and felt joy at the birth, unlike last time. And she is sooooo cute! It's so much easier second time round and although I'm exhausted with a baby and a toddler there's never a dull, lonely moment. So here's my wee list of what's great about newborns just to reassure anyone who isn't looking forward to their second:

• her soft, soft head
• the smiles
• how much her big sister loves her
• how much the littlest loves seeing her big sis
• the giggles
• how cuddly she is
• the noises she makes as she roots through my top for the boob!
• the big eyes that search for you in the room

Thank you everyone, you offered hope when I was feeling quite worried.

Well done OP! Thanks for coming back to update.