For those that didn’t enjoy baby stage, when did it get better for you?

[Zaphiera]

Literally as the title says. Please don’t judge me but I really really don’t enjoy babies, I’m 11 months in and still struggling. I know it’ll be amazing when she can walk and communicate a little bit instead of whining but I’m wondering when I’ll enjoy parenting a bit more. I’m hoping once summer hits, she’ll be 18 months and we’ll be slowly on the same page a little bit more.

For those that didn’t enjoy infancy, when did it really start to change for you?

Im a baby stage lover! My 14 month old still doesn't walk or talk much and is still very much a baby and I love it! She sleeps 13 hours a night, has a 3 hour nap at lunch time and is so lovely to be around. I must say she started nursery in October and for the first month was a totally different baby as she as ill constantly. Toddler stage is hard! When they become unreasonable sods.

I really didn't enjoy the first months because of the sleep starvation. I started co-sleeping at 8 months as I couldn't keep waking up so many times and it did help a lot but I still found the daytime like repeating same things day after day.
My DD is 19 months now and it's more enjoyable as she can play by herself, shows me what she wants from the fridge, understands what I tell her, shows me when she wants to go to bedroom. It's so funny to see how she has sense of humour and she jokes with us, rolls her eyes if someone is misbehaving.

Hated the baby stage as I had a sleep refusing, colicky/refluxy dc. It improved at 18 months in all honestly, that was the first time they ever slept through the night and I found some sanity. More reliably slept at 2. 2s were when the tantrums started though.. but 3 has been nice as can communicate more and actually have little convos with them and see their personality coming through much more. It's still hard but in a different way. Still a thousand times better than the baby days though!

I’m struggling at 4 months (also finding it tough) and scared by some of these responses saying it will get better by school age! Feels like a long time to wait! 😥

Honestly I HATED the baby stage- every stage just got better and better for me. Loved the toddler stage and beyond.

My favourite stage - the teenage years

I really struggled with the baby stage but the beauty of that is that it just constantly gets better…

Oh OP are you me??!! Also struggling with a whining 11 month old. I've just gone back to work and it is so nice leaving DC at nursery! My elder DC is 7 and I remember really enjoying the toddler stage, maybe from 2ish years. I'm willing my poor baby's life away, just want to wake up and not dread the days with them.

I really liked mine once they could get themselves dressed and to the loo and I didn't have to feel bad forgetting to take wipes or water bottles out every time. They are now 8&10 and self sufficient. I think these ages are great, as they still believe things I say and generally do as I ask.....

2.5 years or whenever they can hold a conversation. I have a just turned 3 year old and she is honestly just amazing, so funny and clever and can be reasoned (bribed/threatened?) with. I genuinely enjoy her company and don’t just count down the minutes until bed time anymore. I also have a 7 month old and he’s just so full on, I remember why I disliked the baby stage!! I suppose this time its easier because I know how quick it goes!

I've enjoyed each stage more and more. I went back to work clicking my heels to have some adult conversation, a hot cup of tea, and a wee whenever I wanted. Bliss! 😁 I think it got easier about 4/5 when I could have a conversation with them and be surprised by their replies. Less tantrums too. That makes things easier by a long stretch. Reward charts start working at this age too (with mine anyway)

It got better at 13 months when he could walk
It got exponentially better at 18 months when he started talking
I loved loved loved age 1.5-3
Age 3 is seeing me off but still better than a newborn!

Started really enjoying it right around age 3. I have a 6 year old and I'm pregnant. Not looking forward to the baby stage at all!

@ES1986 for me it got SO much better about eight weeks in. I know OP is talking about not enjoying the baby stage at all, but as you're at a different point I just wanted to reassure you that for many people it really does get so much easier.

How long is a piece of string 😂 depends how they develop really. My DS was an early talker (single words at 6 months / sentences by 18 months) and it made it so much better!!! He’s my wee pal now. The talking I’d say makes it much more enjoyable. Hang in there!

Totally agree with this. I have teenagers now and whatever is happening I still find it easier than parenting babies. I was shit at it. I felt guilty all the time. I was knackered and bored.

I hated complaining as the ‘just you wait’ crew would come and tell me how much worse it was going to get and to ‘enjoy it while it lasts’

Fuck that. Having enough sleep and decent conversation was the salve I needed. It just got better with every passing year for me 🙂

Waking every 1-2 hours is really tough OP and quite unusual at that age. I may be way off here but have you considered whether she may have any allergies or intolerances?

18 months… much more personality and started to be cuddly and affectionate.

Also sleep training helped a lot. My DS couldn’t stay asleep for long periods until he’d learnt to self settle. It was life changing.

18 months loved it from there x

You are in a very tough stage…once they turn 2 it just keeps getting better! From 6 years even more fun.

5 and up got much better! Mine are now late primary and it's lovely

I would say much easier and more fun around 2 onwards. When they can walk and talk and their personalities start to shine through.
Baby stage is tough OP but I'm sure you're doing a sterling job.

My next question for all those who really struggled with the baby stage, how did you decide to have another?! I don’t ever want to go through this again but I just have this feeling I’m not done and I’ll regret not having another more then I would regret having another

My oldest is 2 in a weeks time. The tantrums have been unreal the last couple months. My fav age so far is 13-21 months. They develop the most of their life in this period, its fascinating seeing her learn to walk, communicate, climb, put on clothes, shoes and a hundred other little other things.

Youngest is 9 months. She's been the happiest baby ever since 4 months. Tho i believe again in another few months it'll be even more rewarding

Plus when youngest is 2 and oldest just over 3.5yr, I think it'll be way more fun as a family and when I'm my own with both

@Zaphiera i want a sibling for my son more than I want another baby 😂 we waited until DS was well and truly clear of the baby stage, able to understand and help and also at nursery to make it easier and I couldn’t handle 2 at once. I have adored him at every stage but the baby stage was HARD. Especially in lockdown!

`When I went back to work, and then when DS could talk -- suddenly got much more interesting, as his personality emerged, rather than just trying to guess what a specific variety of wail meant.