Just finding it so hard

[JKDcot]

Hi
I’m a FTM and my boy is 5 months. It’s so hard. I’m so tired. He doesn’t sleep well at all. He is teething and constantly grizzly and now refusing to eat for 8-9 hour stretches.

I stupidly went to visit a friend who lives hours away on my own and it was a nightmare journey. He cried the whole time and all the time I spent there I worried about how to get him home and just had a crap time.

Why am I so bad at this? Why do I feel so down and useless. It’s just so much harder than I imagined.

My husband is very good and supportive but I feel so embarrassed and like I’m falling apart. Don’t know what I’m asking. Just feel really sad

You're not bad at it! We've all done a journey or trip out we've regretted or hated because it all went wrong. Throw in a baby in a pandemic and it's definitely not much fun!

There's loads of change at that age and it's bloody hard work - teething, sleep regressions, learning new skills - my DD was an absolute grump for months. Are you giving plenty of pain relief for teething? I'd try to get a decent rest at the weekend if possible, take a bit of time for yourself and see how you feel. Make sure your OH knows how you are doing and how he can support yoh. Always worth a chat with your GP or HV if you feel you're really struggling.

It is incredibly hard! Believe me, you are not the only mum who has found it really hard, no need to be embarrassed or think that you are doing something wrong.

I found the first 6 months so tough with both of mine, for me it started to get easier after that. My youngest is now 2 and a half and, apart from the odd tantrum, it is so much easier than the baby stage. Hang on in there, you will get through it and it will get easier.

Honestly, do whatever you need to do to make things easier. Forget the housework, sleep whenever you get the chance, don't be ashamed to ask for help. And don't put pressure on yourself to do things like long journeys or big days out. Some people find the baby stage really easy and breeze through it, they can take their baby all over the place and to 4 baby groups a week. I didn't take mine out for more than a walk around the neighbourhood or a quick whizz round the local shop unless DH was with me when they were babies.

Go easy on yourself, you're doing fine!

Please don't think your bad at this your really not ❤️ I found 4-6.5 months so so tough!! My little boy is now 9 months old. From about 7 months he's been such a joy his napping has increasingly got better and he's now crawling and instead of me leaving the room and him whinging for me he can now follow me around it's so cute 😍There really is light at the end of the tunnel, each month comes with new challenges with babies I think but sending you lots of hugs, 💐and 🍰xxxx

Thank you all for your kind comments. I think I’m just mainly exhausted and then worried as he won’t eat. Just when you think you’ve got it under control it all changes