In the trenches. Tell me it gets better

[Argh25]

Just that, really.

Baby is 7 weeks old and healthy (bar the odd bout of colic). She screams, eats or sleeps. She doesn't do anything else. I dread every nappy change and every feed. I feel like my life is in two-hour slots. People keep inviting me out of the house but it's such a ballache with formula feeding - even with instant bottles because she just doesn't settle - that I can't face it. She sleeps about 6 hours a night in two stints. (I should feel quite lucky but it's because she's exhausted.) Everyone keeps warning me about the 4-month sleep regression. She doesn't nap during the day. She has her jabs next week and I feel like I have no idea how to cope with a sick baby. She's miserable, I'm miserable, my DH is miserable. We love her to bits but dread all her awake time and feel very guilty about that.

She's been checked for CMPA, reflux, all of it. She's absolutely healthy. But still I am just so fed up. When did it get better for you?

I think you’re right about not forcing naps. I honestly think pushing for allergy testing would be worth it.

Bless you OP, most have us have been there so you’re not alone. It’s brutal and incredible in equal measures having a newborn. It’s utterly exhausting and until you’ve had a baby, you can’t quite comprehend that all consuming bubble that you’ll be in, sleep deprived and wondering how you’ll ever get out the house again!

The good news is it absolutely does get easier with time. I remember sitting feeding my first who was a few weeks old, looking at the mountain of clean washing that was on the sofa (it was almost blocking the window) thinking, “How are you supposed to do everything? There’s no time?”….. then when DC was about 15 weeks I took her to London on the train for a 3 night mini break. At 7 weeks I didn’t think I’d ever be able to have more than one shower a week 😂

You’re in the trenches now but it will get easier. My oldest is 17 coming up and it’s amazing how fast the time goes.

Good luck x

There will be other challenges and toddlerhood is rarely easy but it will never be as absolutely contant as it is now. I would expect some improvement at 3 months, 4 months, 6 months etc. Weaning and potty training can be all kinds of hard but again not contant. My first child got easy to care for at 3 years, we're still waiting with my current 4 year old!