Do babies really get easier after 1 year?

[Helena1993]

I have a 8 month old and while she is getting easier in most ways (sleeping better, weaning isn't too bad and a little more fun because mobility is slowly increasing) I wonder if I may ever enjoy motherhood. Babies are just plain boring to me...

If you think it gets easier. Why?
If you think it gets harder. Why?

I don't think it necessarily gets easier but for me it got much more rewarding. I found the first year extremely dull with both mine, I'm not a fan of babies and went back to work pretty early with both as I craved more mental stimulation. I've enjoyed each stage more and more, as they become more communicative and interested in the world around them. Yes you have tantrums and arguments to deal with, but as they get older they understand more and you can reason with them! Mine are nearly 4 and 7 now and life is exhausting but fun. Plenty of people hate the baby stage, it's just not the done thing to admit it. Hang on in there, things will get better.

as they say - everyone is different which applies to both kids and mums.

But OP you just sound tired and sad.

I want to encourage you to reach out to someone for support. Or try and get along to some groups and find other mums. Funnily enough moaning together about no sleep makes it more bearable. You sound as if you are really low, and that is not good for you or for your baby. Are you getting any support from GP with your depression?

Personally I found it all changed once they could talk back, and that sort of starts at about 18 months - 2 years. It becomes more about person to person interaction and less about just being the carer.

Watch what you wish for though, I now have teens......

I find it hard to react to my baby's needs when I don't know the reason she cries. I think I can probably deal with tantrums over pointless things than trying to guess what's wrong all day and night.

And I just feel like it's absolutely boring to be with a baby that can't communicate properly. I need some action. Some adventures. Some playing. But I should probably be careful what I wish for.

Sleep... Oh....my...god... Sleep...

Easier can also mean just more enjoyable.

Baby is starting nursery at 1 year. And I'm in therapy. So that helps. I think I'm just absolutely NOT a baby person. They are cute and.. That's it. Really.

I love my DC, but wish I had known being a mum was 90% cooking and cleaning. I hate it 😒 life has changed so dramatically, I think I'm still grieving for my old life. I wish I had a better idea what it was going to be like, I realise now I was totally clueless. I find it so exhausting and my baby is so easy and has been from day 1.
I don't think it gets easier or harder, just different. Some stuff is easier but others harder.
It is pretty amazing though when your baby comes up and hugs and kisses you and calls you mama.
Everyone says it, but try and find some time for you. That is really important.

How old is your child?

DC1
0-1 ok, loads of puke and not great to bad sleep but she was a baby 🤷‍♀️
1-2 bit tricky but nice age, poor sleep slowly got better
2-3 hell, sleep went down the toilet, neurodivergence emerged and it was HARD
3-4 bit better as more understanding of her and her having more understanding, sleeping through in her own bed mostly at last.

DC2
0-1 chilled potato baby who dropped of to sleep on his own and sleep for hooouuurrsss at a time
1-2 🤷‍♀️ toddler, nice age some tantrums but he moves now which is harder

It sounds like you’ll enjoy toddlerhood much more. I was just thinking yesterday how much easier it gets when they can go on the ground outside (9 month old and so rainy out there! All she can do is the swings otherwise she’s in the carrier/pushchair).

It gets better once they can move around as they are less frustrated. It gets better once they can talk as they are less frustrated. I recommend introducing some signs as the baby will be… less frustrated! They’ll be able to communicate with signs way earlier than they can talk.

I think toddlers are way cuter than babies, which goes a long way to ease the strain. Their little voices etc ❤️

Toddlers will sit and watch telly for a bit and babies won’t.

You can do drawing, play doh etc with toddlers. Which may not sound thrilling, but it’s a more varied day than with a baby.

Hang in there.

Soon to be 18 months. I love this age because he's lots of fun, giggling and playing but I think it's the food that kills me the most. No matter how much I prep etc, he eats so much (which is a good thing), but I'm basically constantly cooking which I hate. I'm lucky because he's a good sleeper. I think also, someone told me that the first 3 months was the hardest so I thought that, but if anything I found it harder and harder. At least a newborn just eats and sleeps so those first few months I found quite easy. And I think it's all cumulative, so now I've got 18 months of exhaustion built up. And now I think gosh soon it'll be potty training, then making school lunch etc. I honestly think because I'm so tired I'm just finding it all quite overwhelming (and no end in sight!)

IMO 6-12 months is the hardest and most boring. It was just a constant round of cooking, feeding and washing the floor because they crawl everywhere. Once eating proper food and walking it was soo much better. Both mine slept through from 12 weeks ish, so sleep deprivation was relatively short lived.