2020 baby - bored on maternity leave

[Gummybear2]

Hi all,

Let me just clarify that I love my baby beyond words but I have to admit....maternity leave during lockdown is becoming so boring. Anyone else?

It is definitely a loooong day at home with a baby at any time but especially during lockdown. I have a 12 week old. I try and stay busy as much as possible. I'll go for at least 1 walk a day to try and get out...it's not easy though xxx

I agree, I have a 14 week old and miss going to the little classes at the childrens centres the way I did with my elder daughters... hand prints and bells just aren't the same with out other mums. I've always found the group's give a bit of routine that I miss after working full time. I feel for first time mums in particular. When you're alone in a house all day things can really get a bit much. It's nice to get out and make new friends, to compare (nicely). The phrase "oh, mine does that too" is such a relief, priceless particularly in those early days, it helps put small worries into perspective and gives such support. I'm still friends with mums I met when dd1 was born and she's 9 now and loves photos of herself playing with babies she's now at school with.

Yes I agree! First lockdown on mat leave was horrific but this one is somehow worse. DS is slightly older (7 months) now and needs consent entertainment, it’s hard. We haven’t managed to do anything I wanted for us on MAT leave, no baby classes/swimming/visiting family and friends. Feel like we have missed so much. But he’s safe/loved - I have to keep reminding myself that this is the main/most important thing at the minute.

I had my baby at the very beginning of the 1st lockdown and its been incredibly dull. I went back to work early in the end.

10000% agree 😩but I also think he's brought so much happiness and joy during such an awful time so I don't think I would change the timing

Fuck yes.

Back to work next week and I can't wait.

I had my son at the start of March it’s been a pretty shit 8 months I’ll be honest.

When lockdown eased over summer it was still so shit. I hadn’t gotten to grips with getting out and about with a baby at all and people had ZERO patience. I felt very judged like ‘why would you bring a baby out?’ funny looks all the time. Not to mention nobody could help me, like meeting a friend for coffee they couldn’t ‘grab my changing bag’ or ‘just hold DS super quick whilst I nip to the loo’

I thought I was depressed for a bit but now realise I was grieving the experience I should have had. We had waited and planned DS so we would be able to enjoy it, career/finance wise and honestly wish I’d not bothered and had him a year earlier now.

It's been bloody awful! I do think that lockdown to a certain extent helped me bond with my ds as there was no one else around to help. The rest over the summer was wonderful to get out and see people, and lawd my baby loved even just going to the shops! This time, it's much much harder and so boring! Hopefully, after the vaccine news, there is light at the end of the tunnel for us all.

Yes. I had so many plans to get out and meet people. We moved to a new area in October 19 and dd was born with n February so that hasn't happened and I know nobody.

It's definately not ideal. I had my baby beginning of March. I feel lucky I have made a few mum friends though. It's just harder to meet them now its winter as its so weather dependant and the only thing you can do at the moment is meet for walks. If I stay in the house all day like others have said it's hard to entertain him. I'm lucky that my Mum is retired and I'm in a bubble with her so I go to hers most days if not meeting friends for a change of scenery and there are different toys for my baby to play with.