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I can’t trust my partner to look after our baby on his own and it’s draining.

388 replies

gg158 · 11/08/2024 10:36

Our baby girl is 4.5 months old.
I am trying to give him more responsibility to learn over the past few months as this is our first baby, and the first few months I know everyone makes mistakes but I can’t explain just how careless and irresponsible he is and it’s exhausting for me. I genuinely fear for her safety especially as she is becoming older going to start crawling ect and eating.

Work is different story and personal life I won’t go into that too much but he is irresponsible in those aspects of his personal phone and work phone work documents and also house keys constantly loosing or doesn’t know where put them. His mums excuse is he’s just always been like that that’s him he’s forgetful. Lol

The list of issues -
⁃ Makes bottles wrong
⁃ Forgets to fasten her in car seat
⁃ Forgets to lock his car so phone got stolen
⁃ Forgets to lock house door
⁃ Forgets to change nappy so leaks all over ( several times a week)
⁃ Forgets to put break on the pram so rolls had to catch it from going in road
⁃ I have to tell him to play with her or say bye when going to work. Or even hello when coming in from work
⁃ Forgets to remove Bib when putting her to bed or remove any loose blankets
⁃ Puts her on sofa in her pod but unsafely
⁃ Doesn’t watch her properly cause constantly on his phone
⁃ Doesn’t seem to miss her at all will happily go work 9-5 go golf or football after or meet a friend ( when he comes back home she’s already asleep) does that sometimes 2 nights in a row so won’t see her properly for 2 days and doesn’t say anything about missing her or can’t wait to see her.
⁃ Picks her up for 10 minutes then if she crys says oh do you want mummy
⁃ Just doesn’t check on her when out and about, was out at a function (outside) I went to toilet so said watch her please in her pram. I saw someone I knew inside so stopped and chatted for 5 mins, came outside he was not near her pram and she was just screaming crying ( obviously couldn’t hear was too busy talking to someone) and just left her pram instead of taking it.
⁃ If we are out with friends never helps just socialises and drinks while I do everything

Most people after being told the dangers learn from mistakes but it’s just constantly repeat of me nagging and telling him. He still makes bottles wrong today, did one yesterday and still does most of the above points.
He has made a bottle twice with prep machine and not completed the full process just done the hot shot method - then brought the bottle ( which is boiling hot )!!!! Will literally scold her! But luckily I noticed.
He just doesn’t seem to understand the severity of it says all I do is have a go at him or I can’t do anything right or him and his mum say that’s just the way he is! He’s always been not organised and struggled.
He’s stressed with work he’s got a lot on.
No your mum has just done everything for you!
He just doesn’t think like in her pod she was so high up with cushions underneath if she rolled she be straight off sofa on the floor.

In his mums eyes he cannot do no wrong ever!!! He could probably break her leg and she would have an excuse. She was crying her heart out I asked why he said oh I wasn’t supporting her neck when she was and her neck flopped back I think I’ve hurt it so I said be careful her neck is so fragile! His mum responded - At least you’re honest!

I understand everyone makes mistakes and has to learn but he’s just not learning and it’s hard cause I’m just fed up of constantly asking for help and not feeling like he wants to help, but then also when I ask him to help cause he’s so careless he just can’t do things right or puts her in danger. I genuinely feel like I can’t leave her with him for more than a few hours. He's just way too laid back about everything.
My mum helps me so I do get a break we are so close and she has plenty of grandchildren so knows what she is doing.
But even my family see and worry for me and her.

What do I do??? It’s making arguments every week and ruining our relationship as I’m fearful but also getting frustrated. Xxx

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ThisZanyPinkSquid · 11/08/2024 18:34

It might be your first baby but you definitely have 2 kids!! He sounds like a manchild 🫣 it sounds like he is doing some of this on purpose like the bottles etc. weaponised incompetence.

LizzieBennett73 · 11/08/2024 18:42

If you don't want to split, then you need to call him out on it.

He's most likely doing this very deliberately so you don't feel safe to leave the baby with him. I would perhaps stay in charge of bottles (and get rid of that dreadful prep machine), but start making him do things. And as hard as it is, only get involved if you absolutely have to... don't hovver over him. He may be useless but right now, you're enabling him to be.

LiterallyOnFire · 11/08/2024 18:43

I think OP can probably tell whether he's doing it deliberately or not.

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Huckinfell · 11/08/2024 18:59

I think this is more than laziness or any kind of deliberate incompetence. He may be a new parent but pretty much everything you listed in your first post is just basic common sense. I feel there is more to this like some other posters have mentioned.
As for where you go from here.. I think you need to tell him the issues exactly as you have done here and what needs to change, though I'm not entirely convinced he's really capable of taking this on board and making changes. What job does he do out of interest? Is he ever in any kind of trouble there?

KJaggard1 · 11/08/2024 19:01

This sounds like pretty severe ADHD to me, not normal behaviour even for a lazy parent, possibly with some autism thrown in due to the lack of emotional connection with baby. I say this as a Mum of a young man with these diagnoses who wouldn’t be nearly that bad.

Mystismum · 11/08/2024 19:01

Sounds like a combination of ADHD and weaponised incompetence!

Newoxonbird · 11/08/2024 19:23

I couldn't actually believe what I was reading.
Does he have special needs ?
( I'm being polite here ).
Dump him.
Now.
In fact why would you even consider in a thousand years having a baby with this CHILD ????

Hmm1234 · 11/08/2024 19:26

How is he even your partner? He sounds like an addict does he even wash himself?

LoveLifeBeHappy · 11/08/2024 19:26

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

laraitopbanana · 11/08/2024 19:29

Hi op,

sending gentle hugs.

So if I understood properly, you also support the idea that he has ADHD and that to a certain level, he can not really do all the things you need him to?

I can see two/three things:

  • find a daycare for your daughter which she can go once a week if you can afford it…you WILL need a break for a few hours
  • Try to have his mom come and help, if he is a mummy boy then he will surpass himself when she is there and you will then know what he really can/can’t do
  • Give him small and meaningful tasks that help you and check and the danger things. Do not let that in his hands : he goes in car, ask a pic of her attached. He might forget to buckle but he won’t forget you will be annoyed that he didn’t text…that way, will he do it? It will put a lot of pressure on your relationship but you say he cares so he might just go for that…??

Hope it helps,

Good luck 🌺

Rosecoffeecup · 11/08/2024 19:30

Your child simply isn't safe with him, I would be ending a relationship over this because he clearly doesn't care enough to try to improve things

pomers · 11/08/2024 19:36

Get rid of him now. It will be less exhausting and worrying. More importantly you can keep your baby safe. Keep a note of all these things so that you can petition for him to have supervised access only (if he even bothers)

BlueFlowers5 · 11/08/2024 19:43

Sorry OP, he doesn't want to do any childcare.

Thefsm · 11/08/2024 19:50

Does he have a below average IQ? The way not times I’ve seen parenting that bad that was not deliberate abuse was in a couple who were both very low IQ and just genuinely couldn’t handle the responsibility of keeping a young child alive.

PotatoLove · 11/08/2024 19:51

Reading through the list of your concerns, I'm pretty horrified. He sounds borderline neglectful. I'm very concerned about the safety of your baby. He sounds utterly bloody useless.

Yourethebeerthief · 11/08/2024 19:53

I don't buy men like this. I bet he fastens his own seatbelt, doesn't run into the road, and doesn't pour boiling water directly from the kettle into his mouth.

It sounds like be doesn't even register her as a precious tiny human being who needs looking after. She's just a doll that you play with and he's not formed a connection with her. Some men are like this and don't know what to do with babies until they become more robust toddlers. I think they're all arseholes.

Meredithmama · 11/08/2024 19:55

My ex was like this, for a long time I accepted it when it came to the children but then I began to notice how organised and prepared he was with the things he enjoyed doing, hobbies, woodwork etc. Our late son had complex needs and once my ex shut his bedroom when the heater was on and almost suffocated him in the heat. We had to call 999 and he was blue lighted into hospital thankfully he was ok but had to face a lot of medical intervention that he wouldn’t have needed. Only then for my mother in law to blame the heater and to take her poor son to get a better one, screw the fact that her grandson was in hospital and the fact the heater wasn’t the problem the dickhead that closed the door so he could play his PlayStation was.

My son needed treatments throughout the night so when my son went to bed so did I. The plan was my ex did his 12am meds and put him on his food, it got to the point u had to put an alarm on for 12am becausemy ex would sleep through it.

it was so bad that I went to speak to a solicitor about getting a divorce and the only thing that stopped me was the risk of him getting 50/50. I lost my son in 2022 and hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be officially divorced. Children are gifts and if your partner doesn’t cherish it then he needs to love out

pinkstripeycat · 11/08/2024 19:55

gg158 · 11/08/2024 11:20

He has always had some forgetfulness with work ect not been organised but I've never had a child with him or seen him with children he's an only child so it never alarmed to me that this is how it would be!
I know people can be forgetful in general life not organised but in serious things they are responsible.

He Helps around the house but that's not the problem. He was excited to have our baby I genuinely thought he would understand how serious having a baby is and thought he would not be so irresponsible about serious things feeding, helping out and her safety ect. Genuinely did not expect him to be like this at all and this laid back X

It’s etc OP not ect. Short for et cetera

Topazmumma · 11/08/2024 20:06

I believe this is called 'Weaponised Incompetence' it's when they deliberately do things poorly in an attempt to be let off. You are more likely to say "You know what, forget it I will do it myself" and they are off the hook. Though I've never seen it done to this terrifying level 😳

HurrahWuff · 11/08/2024 20:08

Is he ND by any chance? Sounds like my DH.

Newsenmum · 11/08/2024 20:13

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

What’s your post about??

Yourethebeerthief · 11/08/2024 20:19

Meredithmama · 11/08/2024 19:55

My ex was like this, for a long time I accepted it when it came to the children but then I began to notice how organised and prepared he was with the things he enjoyed doing, hobbies, woodwork etc. Our late son had complex needs and once my ex shut his bedroom when the heater was on and almost suffocated him in the heat. We had to call 999 and he was blue lighted into hospital thankfully he was ok but had to face a lot of medical intervention that he wouldn’t have needed. Only then for my mother in law to blame the heater and to take her poor son to get a better one, screw the fact that her grandson was in hospital and the fact the heater wasn’t the problem the dickhead that closed the door so he could play his PlayStation was.

My son needed treatments throughout the night so when my son went to bed so did I. The plan was my ex did his 12am meds and put him on his food, it got to the point u had to put an alarm on for 12am becausemy ex would sleep through it.

it was so bad that I went to speak to a solicitor about getting a divorce and the only thing that stopped me was the risk of him getting 50/50. I lost my son in 2022 and hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be officially divorced. Children are gifts and if your partner doesn’t cherish it then he needs to love out

This is truly awful. I'm so sorry. Your soon to be ex husband is an absolute bastard.

Sickdissapointed · 11/08/2024 20:22

Sorry you need to be controlling. You need to keep your daughter safe. As others have said your daughter is at risk in his care. No judge in the land faced with the evidence so far will allow unsupported access to his daughter. Child protection services would back you 100%. I have to say he sounds like an absolute mummy’s boy who’s not able to take responsibility for anything.

Dibbydoos · 11/08/2024 20:26

Why do we women have such low standards in choosing our partners.

He has been like this all the time OP hasn't he? So, why are you surprised he hasn't got a clue?

He sounds like he's neurodiverse rather than useless, but I could be wrong. I honestly could nit have a child with a man like this, I'd rather be a single parent...

StripeyDeckchair · 11/08/2024 20:34

Deliberate incompetence

Screw up all the time so eventually you're never asked to do anything.

The resort of lazy, entitled, selfish, self centred man-child.

As for his mother excusing him, I woukd not be able to stop myself from making some cutting remarks.