What's it like having a baby when you're not in lockdown?

[RedRobyn2021]

I had my first in lockdown, she was 6mo before things started to open up again and even then it was slow to happen and I'd spent so much time at home not seeing anyone I had quite a lot of anxiety (I worked from home just before Covid started so for 3 years)

Things are different now, what's it even like? I can't imagine having a newborn out and about

Honestly, I had a toddler during lockdown and it wasn’t a whole lot different than having a baby normally. The only difference would have been the lack of baby classes. I did a baby massage class and baby yoga with both mine.

Otherwise, it was meet ups for walks with mums from NCT, and lots of walks up and down the lane for naps. Wandering around town but not really going in anywhere because not buggy friendly. And a lot of time at home for naps, meals, feeds, tidying up, washing, etc. The only difference is I wasn’t trying to wfh and homeschool an older child at the same time. Otherwise, that kinda what lockdown was like. I didn’t have any friends nearby who were on mat leave and we don’t have family around.

It is very lovely! I just managed to go to one baby class but I really enjoyed taking DC2 to toddler groups, swimming etc. Just meeting up with friends is really nice and wonder about shops with baby in the pram.

So nice to take babies to cafes and baby classes and picnics and to visit friends

I had a 5 month old when lockdown started so I got to experience both. It wasn't vastly different other than the lack of in-person groups (which I was happy about!). We did quite a few classes that switched online which broke up the days a bit but otherwise, it was lots of nice walks really. I had a lot of time for weaning so spent a lot of time planning it. The main other difference was that DH was WFH the whole time. While he was working obviously, it meant he could be much more hands on than in the precious few months which was great for all of us.

Looking back at my pictures, we started meeting up with family around May time (outside) and then were more relaxed in the second lockdown so we didn't miss out on that much either there.

@Mamabear04 I think you've posted on the wrong thread!

Woops! I need another coffee!

My first is 12 weeks old now so I don't have the lockdown experience to compare but I can't imagine it as days that we go out and about and meet people are much easier than days we stay at home and time draaaaags.

We try and get out every day even if it's just a walk round the block, and have since he was a few days old.

I actually loved doing baby toddler classes with my DD, I took her to her first when she was 9 months old. I was desperate to get out the house by that point, I spent an excessive amount of time alone, like I never ever went out unless I went to my mums. I had no mum friends at all. I didn't even go to the shop. I also live rurally so I often would see not a soul. I retrospectively think I had a form of pp anxiety, I used to be afraid to go into my local petrol station because one of the women that worked there was a bit unfriendly. I feel so sad for that person.

One of the things that I actually liked about Covid was I didn't really have to deal with people coming to the house, we could just be in our bubble. Also my partner was on furlough the first 6 weeks which was heavenly... we'll have none of that this time.

I had my last in May 2020 and it was rough. Wish I could experience it all over again in normal times 😪

Had my first in April 2020 and my second at the end of 2023.

The first time was so hard. I mainly went to my mother's. Met friends for walks (weather dependent). We are also in Wales so we're on a 5 mile drive limit for at least half the time I was off. This time it's been amazing. We take DD2 everywhere. She's loving life and so are we.

We go to baby groups, we meet friends, have been away several times.

It's also made me sad as I can more clearly see what I missed out on the first time around x

Worse because people actually want to come and see you and visit.

Haha yes I am a bit worried about this, I'd rather be left to it the first few weeks

I am not that social and a bit of a homebody but could not stand being at home with my newborn! We had visitors for the first couple days, then went out to a restaurant for lunch. Then after my DH went back to work after his two weeks I joined the local post natal group when my son was three weeks old. I also had a routine - walk to post natal group or the park, then walk to the town centre and stop for a coffee, then walk home. Three miles. As soon as it was allowed I also put my son in the crèche at my gym so I could work out a couple times a week.
Can't imagine what it was like during lockdown, though I suppose if my DH was WFH then it wouldn't be so bad - I could at least get my walking in (if not the coffee)!

I had my dcs in 2019 and 2022 so I had my newborns out of lockdown, but had a toddler during lockdown. Newborn period was lovely with both dcs, my DH had months off work with paternity leave and we would visit lots of galleries, parent and baby film screenings, parent and baby yoga, bring your baby walks and quizzes, library singing sessions, swimming and massage classes, visits to soft play, play cafes, farms and children's centres. We went out every day and it was great exploring the city (London) with a newborn as they're so portable amd easy to get around. We went on UK breaks from the age of 3 months (though we did UK breaks from summer 2020 too so lockdown didn't affect holidays much).

I started doing more baby classes from age 4 months and we'd do loads, baby sensory, Hartbeeps, Gymboree, baby signing, music, swimming. Obviously it all stopped when she was a toddler and lockdown happened but luckily we were able to start at a nursery after 3 months and nurseries stayed open in later lockdowns, so she was able to get regular social interaction through there (and classes were quick to start back up where we were).

I’ve had a Covid baby and a post Covid baby, post Covid was 100000 times better. Just the freedom to leave the house for a walk felt like a luxury. Having a coffee and a chat at baby groups was practically therapy compared to doing it all via Teams from your living room. I had raging PND the first time and only a touch of the baby blues the second, it was worlds apart. Unless you dislike fresh air, human contact and freedom in general, post covid is just a much better experience

I don’t remember my lockdown (6 month old) baby experience being vastly different or awful compared to my post lockdown baby. Apart from not seeing family in their house etc which I’d have found hard without baby too. The no baby classes thing didn’t really bother me too much at 6 months old tbh we just went for a lot of walks! I’d probably have found it harder with a preschooler!