Do you miss the baby years?

[flowermallow]

Just this?! I have just really come to appreciate the age my children are at. I have two wonder kids who I love dearly but my goodness I'm so glad I'm past the dreaded baby years. I definitely didn't particularly enjoy the very early years when you had to lug prams/ bottles/ toys 200 outfit changes 'just incase' no sleep, no lie in, constantly worrii when they couldn't talk and they were sick 🤒

I hated the baby and toddler years and am glad my dc are getting older (9 & 11). Looking back at the photos and videos is enough for me.

The funny thing is, it literally goes by so fast. I can still remember lying on the floor of my DD room with the music from baby tv on in the background scared stiff to move incase she noticed and erupted into a fit of whaling. Can also remember the days taking them in for something to eat with my (childless) friend who had booked us in for a really nice lunch in an extremely posh non child friendly Restaurant and them both playing me up something rotten, throwing food, crying, running about.., I think I lost 3stone of sweat that day with the stress of it 😂

Can look back and laugh at it all now but back in the moment I was for signing myself into an asylum lol

Nope not one bit. Mine are young adults now and I love it

Mine are only 4 and 8 months, but I find so far I enjoy each new stage of parenting my eldest more than the last as they age. I'm enjoying this mat leave more than the first but that's partly because my eldest is sharing most of it with me. I'm alone with the 8mo two days a week and I'm glad for those days in some ways but then I'm glad to have my eldest back with me again the days after. Eldest was a very difficult baby though apart from being mostly a good overnight sleeper. Still a challenging child at 4 in many respects tbh. Current baby is not an easy baby but not too difficult either compared with my first, but isnt a great sleeper and I'm also still breastfeeding this time so the physical toll of it all is heavier, I'm sooo exhausted and went through a phase of constant illness but that seems to have resolved after I got put on vit d supplements.

Awww I have a one year old and totally miss that tiny baby stage. Would love to be nap trapped again🥰

OP,I’m still giggling at the thought of your DD going “whaling” - did she have a harpoon?

Two close in age & we're looking forward to primary school years.

I'm over the constant howling, tantrums, nappies, lugging the full house around, taking forever to leave the house etc.

Cherished their baby moments, but I do prefer 3+ when they can communicate, use bathroom, not tied to naps etc.

I shudder at tiny babies now! I've got friends who are holding out to mid 30s/40s before TTC & all I can think is thank goodness the early years will be long behind us!

No I don't! I prefer mine now (teens).

I loved it so much and did it three times in fairly quick succession. I thought I would mourn the end of it. But they grew up a bit and my gosh I love them how they are. So it's fine. I even look at babies now and totally melt but think, no, not again, I really can't be bothered. I will cherish that time but enjoying this too.

Trying to “embrace” the baby years at the moment (7MO) however I have found it’s getting easier the older she is getting- I really hope it stays that way… although there will be ups and downs of that I’ve no doubt! I HATED the baby baby stage… and everyone kept telling me “this is the best time” “oh just wait till she is sitting up/crawling/eating. You’ll miss her just being a baby!”

well… she is like a little rocket from room to room now, we have to hide everything in sight nearly and it’s SOOOOOO much better than the baby baby stage!

I love the newborn bubble 😍 but I can say after my 4th child I don't miss the baby stage!! I've an 8&6 3&2 year old and cannot wait for the all to be in school currently in the middle of potty training Ds2 🙃

No I was not fond of the baby stage, only good thing about it was when you left them in one place they were still there. Today I found my one year old sitting on the stairs 🤣

No! I enjoyed the teenage years.

Not the baby bit at all. However, I LOVED having a toddler and I do miss that, particularly when DD is being particularly 16.

Not at all! I prefer them 15+

Glad mine are both 25+ although looking forward to being a nanny.

Mine are 13 and 11. It's lovely.

But I think I have come to know that I am an ok mum - good in all the ways that really matter and kind of good enough in others. Other mums are better than me in some ways - eg DSs best friends mum who's is very active and always taking DS and her son on paddle boarding adventures. Or DDs best friends mum - very careful about nutrition and good food.

I have my own good points too of course.

When they were little though, I was very fixated on being a brlliant mum and I kind of miss the days when I still believed that was possible.