A chilled out newborn after a colicky newborn is making me anxious

[ZippyPlumDeer]

My first had colic and reflux, he screamed from night 2 of his life until 6 weeks. He’d sleep okay in the day on someone, but would never be put down and he’d scream all evening and we’d pace the house all night long. We had lots of breastfeeding dramas in the first weeks and he screamed every time he needed to fart or poo. He was so unhappy but I will say he seemed quite alert and just never needed that much sleep to happily function, and still doesn’t to this day.

I had my second 9 days ago, from the get go he has been completely different. He’s breastfed so well from day 1. He sleeps so well most of the time, he mostly does 2.5 hour stretches overnight and then wakes for a feed/change. I can put him down in his moses basket and he’ll stay asleep. Don’t get me wrong we’ve had the odd rough night where he’s not settled, but 80% of the time if he cries there’s an obvious answer and once I fix that he’s asleep again. He doesn’t seem lethargic as he does wake himself up for feeds day and night. He doesn’t open his eyes all that much, maybe a few times a day for anything from 2-30 minutes.

He is honestly the dream baby but it’s so easy in comparison to my first I can’t help but worry something is wrong.

I decided to track his sleep yesterday using an app, he slept around 17 in 24 hours which from what I’ve read is normal. He fed for about 6 hours. I asked so many doctors and midwives whilst we were in hospital, and my community midwife and everyone just says he’s completely fine. He was a super big baby at 10lb 5oz and only lost 3% at day 5. He also had jaundice bloods on day 3 and they were totally normal.

Did anyone else have a difficult newborn and an easy newborn and did it really freak you out?

100%. Dd1 barely slept to the point I felt very ill through the first 4 months. I think 45 minutes in one go was good for her! Then I had premature twins 3.5 years later and they slept so much it was very unnerving.

twins were then very challenging, tantrumming and biting toddlers whereas dd1 was a dream toddler.

Dd1 is now 18 and just the loveliest - she’s been so easy to parent with no drama. My theory is she got all the drama out in those first few months 🤣

I remember when dd1 was 2 we were at a friend’s house who had a dd the same age plus a baby. She said “I’ll put baby down for her nap then make us a cuppa” I set to entertaining the two toddlers thinking settling the baby would take a while then was in awe as my friend literally put baby in cot then returned to put the kettle on and baby didn’t cry, just went to sleep. I honestly couldn’t comprehend it until dtds. Dtd1 used to crawl and point upstairs to actually ask for a nap! She still likes a nap at 14 years old.

My now-28 year old was as you describe your 2nd one.
After having 2 colicky girls, when my son literally ate and slept I was freaked out by it. I actually thought there might be something wrong with him. He’s a very normal adult now. Still likes his sleep.

The night of the millennium we were having a very noisy, raucous street party in our cul de sac. He was having a brilliant time with all the children until 7.30pm ( his bed time) when he decided he wanted to go to bed and slept through all the noise and fireworks.

My son was exactly like your first and it really does traumatise you. I look at friends who are pregnant or ttc for no.2 (my son is 19 months) and I genuinely don't understand how one gets the courage to have another baby. I have ptsd from it all, and I'm not exaggerating.

Congratulations and good luck!!

I only have one but he was super chill. 3 hour stretches to begin with and I'd just pop him back in the cot, straight back to sleep. Slept all day long, everywhere and anywhere. Toddler now and still a great sleeper!

My newborn was a dream for the first 3 weeks. Exactly how you described your second. Silent reflux hit in week 4 and things are a lot more like your description of baby one, enjoy the routine and ability to set them down. It may change, but I hope not. I hope they stay a delightfully easy going baby xx

My first was hard, second easier i think they sense that you feel more confident and comfortable and that makes them calmer, my 5th baby we didn’t hear cry until she had her 8 week jabs, she would wake up and lie there looking around, make a few sounds and that was about it, i would feed her have a play and then she would go back to sleep in her bouncer by herself, and sleep 5-7 hours at night- never known a baby so chill, she never forgave me the 8 week jabs though and has been a little nightmare sleepwise since lol she is 2 and still wakes 3+ times a night xx

My DDs were like that. DD2 slept through the night at 8 weeks old. I got mastitis from not feeding for so many hours! I did worry and had to check she was ok several times a night but she was just a very content baby which was very lovely after having a year of constant screaming and almost no sleep with her sister. I wouldn't have coped well going through that again. Now they are older they have very different personalities.