Newborns

[babyblues21]

Is it just me or is the newborn stage really hard. I mean like really, really hard, with very little back in return. I love my 6 week old baby, I really truly do - but when does this get easier and more enjoyable?! I find I'm just overwhelmed and irritable most days.

It’s the worst. At 6 weeks when they start smiling you at least get something back. I think it gets progressively easier on the whole with the occasional blip but there is a sweet spot when they can chat, walk and maybe even use the potty before the tantrums start.

I got to 3 months before it started getting easier but I had a difficult birth to recover from.

I also really hate the newborn phase. I think from 5 months I started enjoying it a bit. Then it just got better from there.

It is very tough. I still find it hard at four months. However my LO gets more and more interactive each day, with lots of smiles, so it is getting easier. I'm hopeful it will continue to get better the older she gets. The proper newborn phase is so tough, but doesn't last forever.

Hardest thing I’ve ever done! I was naive as to how hard it was actually going to be and was totally overwhelmed too!
I’d say about 3 months I felt at my happiest with my LO and able to enjoy him to my fullest.

OMG I truly and deeply hate the newborn stage. (Well mine is just out of it - 15 weeks and I can say it’s sloooooowly getting better, not there yet. )
I cried nearly every day that I have to care about something that reminds me of a literally potato, no feedback whatsoever.
I just wished it all turned out to be a bad dream and someone will come and take him from.
Like I said it’s slowly getting better now that he’s smiling, bubbling and gurgling and grab the toys.
I seriously consider this to be my only child because I just physically and most importantly,mentally, can’t go through that phase again. Like ever.

My partner however thinks different sigh

DD is 5 weeks and 5 days and I've just started to really enjoy it, we seem to have breastfeeding sorted and today she did her first smile and is starting to look around at things and be very alert. She seems to have suddenly come to life and it's lovely!

Oh it's so hard. Honestly it gets easier and way more fun. DD is eight months now and it gets better by the day. Around 12 weeks I remember turning a corner.

Congratulations on the arrival of your little one! But also...I feel you!! I suspect a lot of the people who tell you to cherish every minute etc etc haven't gone through the stage themselves in a long time, or at all! At 11 months in I feel like my baby and I have a very "personalised" relationship, as she does with each different person in her life, and that kind of unique love between her and I, and the (non verbal) in jokes we have together, the funny quirks of their personality that have started to reveal themselves etc makes a world of difference. The very early stage is super intense, and aside from the shock of it all, the 24/7 care, and so on, the mother will still be physically recovering herself. Be kind on yourself, ask for help when you need it, let the house get untidy if it means you get some rest etc. The fun bit is coming, and it does get much much better I promise

I found weeks 6-10 were really hard then started to slowly get easier. Taking the 4 month sleep regression into consideration, I’d say she got much easier from 5 months when she could sit up in the highchair and watch me (I’ve always thought she found being a baby a bit boring!). She’s nearly 7 months now and an absolute joy, she’s at a really enjoyable stage. For us, the sleep still isn’t great, but it’s better than it was and her routine is a bit more structured

The newborn stage was always the hardest for me. I’ve had three and although it gets progressively easier as you go along, for me, six months was a turning point when I felt I came out of the newborn tunnel. So you’re not alone in finding it hard but it will get easier.

I found step changes at roughly 2 month intervals. The first two months were complete hell and it got progressively better after that. When she could sit up unaided at six months things got a lot easier.

Tbh I wouldn't say I 'enjoyed' much about having a baby until she could walk at 13/14 months. Now she can talk a bit it's genuinely fun some of the time (and exhausting!).

Hang in there - these are the hard yards. Do anything you can to survive and know that it will get easier.

The first week and a half of DS’s life was the happiest of mine... then it all suddenly went downhill and honestly has only got better in the last month or so. He’s 5.5 months now and life with him is so much easier and more enjoyable.

I found the first 6 months really hard. Looking back, all dd wanted to do was hangout, cuddle and breastfeed but I found the expectation placed on me to go to baby groups, baby massage, baby sensory, walks in the pram etc etc really hard.
She'd just scream through everything and I'd end up sat there feeding her the whole time. I gave up in the end and was much happier for it. Now she's up and about walking, it's much better and we can do things and she enjoys it.

Oh love I’ve been there not long since. I was really unhappy and so was my baby until about 10 weeks - four months now and I’ve found things have just got progressively better. We still have bad days of course, and the nights are still tiring, but on the whole she’s more contented and I’ve grown more confident and competent. It’s a huge adjustment for you, hang in there x

Newborn stage is rubbish for a lot of people, don’t beat yourself up. I struggle with the lack of routine especially. For me walking onwards has just got better and better - eldest is now 3.

DD2 is 5.5 months and so close to sitting, which does make things easier, but I’ll be hoping that she’s a crawler and doesn’t remain stationary until cruising at 9 months like DD1 🤦🏻‍♀️

Sorry OP, i love the newborn stage. All they want is to be held, a clean nappy and a breast available 😆

First 4 weeks worst month of my life. Got better by 6 to 8 weeks, a lot better now at 18 weeks now that he laughs and plays with toys!

What I would say is you'll find every weekbthere is a new challenge (omg he won't go to bed till 1am) that disintegrates the next week (omg he goes to bed at 7pm every night but won't nap during the day) - try not to get bogged down by the week by week issues - none of it ever lasts! It's just about survival!

I honestly thought the newborn stage was easier than say 5/6 months. When they're immobile and can be plonked anywhere versus when they're rolling and wanting to be up. They'll happily sleep on you rather than fighting you.

I would say about 4 months for me. Don't get me wrong, the smiles from 6 weeks felt amazing, but it wasn't until 4 months that he started sleeping more than 2 hours at a time and my hormones finally seemed to chill out a bit, then I was able to really enjoy him as I felt a bit more human.
Don't worry OP, it will get easier 💐 congrats on the LO!

@babyblues21 I absolutely hated the newborn stage! I think I started to see a glimmer of hope at around 5 months and it's been getting better ever since as he's got more independent. I still don't love every moment or anything, but more good than bad these days (9 months). Fingers crossed that continues!

Another one who doesn't love the newborn stage, I'm pregnant with number 3 and can't quite believe I'm doing it to myself again. It does get better though. Wait till they start trying to speak or get up to walk, it really is wonderful. You're six weeks in, cut yourself some slack, it's OK to be irritable x