Anyone pleasantly surprised by first few months with newborn not being as hard as thought?

[anotherbitofcake]

That's it really! Anyone find it easier than what they had prepared for? If so in what way? Am gearing up for no sleep, hormones all over the shop, not having time to eat or wash and general wtf ness. That's what I keep getting told.

Not to be confused with complete amazement so the difficulties go away, just interested to know if some just found adjustment not as hard really.

Just curious more than anything :-)

I can't even begin to describe just how amazing the newborn stage is. Enjoy every minute as you'll miss it when it's gone. Yes it's overwhelming, exhausting, terrifying... all of that, but what you get back more than makes up for it.

My survival tips:

• Get a sling. dd screamed and wouldn't nap unless I held her. Once I had a sling she napped on me and I was able to eat/pee/catch up with stuff.
• Bf until your baby is really full. Babies have a habit of dropping off to sleep, so tickle their face, blow gently on them, undo their sleepsuit so they aren't too cosy, and wind really regularly. A bubble of wind takes up a lot of room,and once it's out they will eat again. If you don't bother with this you can end up being snacked on for hours on end.

Yes much easier. Although I did have some rather extreme fears about how bad it was going to be! DS is a very laid back, happy baby. He's yet to sleep through the night but we get plenty of sleep as he only wakes up to feed, then goes straight off again. He's never been sick and his top volume is pretty low!

DS2 is easy. I have always been able to be showered, dressed and ready to go by no later than 9.30am. It's the 3yo who is hard work (and was a difficult baby, too).

DS2 dropped to one night waking by 4 weeks, albeit cluster feeding in the evenings, is regularly going 7pm to 6am now at 4 months with regular spaced out feeds during the day. He is EBF.

I keep wondering when it's all going to go tits up, tbh.

Aw, this is a nice thread! DS was hell on wheels for his first year, TTC DC2 at the mo and keep reminding myself I might get an easy one next time! I like hearing takes of easy babies, it gives me hope!

I must be due a good one by the sounds if it. DD was really tough for the first 6months, every time someone would say it gets easier at 6,12 etc weeks I was so frustrated that it didn't! But in hindsight, that was a breeze in comparison to the toddler years! I so should have chilled out more fat chance this time round with human whirlwind to look after too!

DA1 was an angel. He wouldn't latch, so we expressed and managed to almost exclusively breast feed for 6 weeks this way. Other than that minor hiccup, he ate, he slept, he smiled, and he very rarely cried.

He was on a four hourly routine from about 3 weeks and slept 10-6 from 8 weeks. He's still pretty chilled to be honest.

I suspect DC2 will be a screamer.

Pregnancy wasn't great, labour wasn't great, and the first week of him actually being here with us was completely different to what I thought it was going to be like.
I was prepared for sleepless nights, constant feeding, screaming etc but he actually put himself into his own little 'routine', naps are whenever really, feeding was every 2-3hours, slept well. By 8weeks he was sleeping longer at night, feeding well. He is now almost 5 months old, sleeping even longer, naps are still not in a fixed routine but then I dont mind that, he's not a hungry baby and that's the bit I worry about. He is a happy giggly little thing (unless a bit grumpy from teething). SIL keeps saying our second child will be a nightmare to make up for it. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it lol. DP actually annoys me by saying "aww look at him, he's perfect, he never cries etc" but I know we shouldn't get too used to it, we don't know what he'll be like when he gets older!

Dd1 was a legend - fed 4, 8,12 from the get go slept through from 5/6 weeks, ate anything put to her, sat in any pram, wasn't a massive moaner ..

Ds on the other hand fed whenever he wanted, still doesn't sleep through every night at 21 months, is a right fuss pot with food, won't entertain a pram that doesn't have a bumper bar, moans at me frequently - only me mind

The first 3 months of ds were absolutely heaven though :) non stop cuddles for me .. then he learned to roll at 4 months, slide at 5 months, crawl at 6 months then bloody walk at ten months early movers suck! I Don't get peace unless df has him he has him all the time

Hopefully Dd2 will follow in her sisters footsteps pretty please. I love ds but another one of him would kill me I'll find out next week

My DD was easy...I was living on my own with her (DP living in another house with his older kids; we all moved in together when DD was six months) and it was nothing like what I had been led to believe. (Not smug, just lucky, and I know it!)

I suspect she is saving her ammo for the teenage years.

I thought the first few months would've torture but they were heavenly. Ds was a clingy baby who didn't really like being put down for the first few weeks, only wanted to sleep on me and who fed non-stop - so I just parked myself on the sofa (it was mid winter so not missing too much outside), fed him, cuddled him, read books on my kindle, surfed the net, watched tv and cuddled him some more. And when he did consent to be put down little by little, I appreciated it. But at the start - I just went with it and it was bliss!

Hmm I found Ds as a newborn really hard work. He cried a lot for no apparent reason. But from 6 months onwards he was the most laid back happy little chap and still is in the main!

It's easier with your second IMO, you just have to get your head around the idea that the baby is going to be left to cry a bit.

Dc3 was a walk in the park as a baby. But a terrible sleeper from turning 1 until he was nearly 3. (Prior to that I had had v good sleepers so this came as quite a shock!)

I found the newborn bit quite easy - DS just ate and slept really, no expectation of him/me and it was acceptable to live in chaos for a few months! He's now 9mo and I'm finding it harder probably - he is into everything and quite hard to entertain!

My first was a nightmare baby. I feel guilty for saying that but she was. Cried constantly, never slept, even now at 23 months she is still difficult. I had my second 2 weeks ago and he is a dream. I've only heard him properly cry about 5 times. Feeds and sleeps with the occasional nappy change. I just forget he's there most of the time!

Yes I found it pretty easy and as others have said far easier than pregnancy. I'd happily do labour & newborn days again but not another 9 months of pregnancy.

With both dc I had a quick recovery from labour and was out and about with them from a couple of days old and really enjoyed the newborn days. They're so sweet and snuggly and fall asleep on you. Yes you're tired, still a bit sore, can't quite fit back into your clothes etc but I honestly found it a lot easier than when they're mobile - that's when the fun really starts . Ds2 is now 15mo and very determined, independent, stubborn, physically strong and non verbal so dealing with him is much more challenging than when he was newborn and I knew I could put him down and he'd still be there when I got back and not halfway up the stairs/bookcase/slide etc.

Good luck!

I think much depends on the birth. I had a pretty horrid labour with DD1 - 3 day failed induction and emergency section, and was completely exhausted by the time she arrived. I really struggled in the first few weeks- they passed in a fog.

With DD2 - I had an elective section and have felt fine (though she's only 2 1/2 weeks). Plenty of cuddles on the sofa. It's made me quite sad to think about how much I hated the newborn period with DD1.

It was great. Even with colicky number 2. I found it so much less stressful than work tbh. Now toddler years were much harder and more tiring especially because back at work. You can do pretty much what you want with a newborn. Easily portable, only milk, no trips to the loo. Equally you can easily have a lazy day at home. Obviously much of this only applies to your first child. Enjoy!

Ahhh! What lovely responses! I'm so pleased. Of course I will be all prepared for it to be a complete rollercoaster but it's really refreshing to hear such positive stories. Thank you. It's a bit like birth stories too. There seems to be so many horror stories out there so its lovely to hear when someone has a positive birth experience too.
I can't wait! I'm a bit nervous about lack of sleep and feeling out of depth but in general I'm really really excited about meeting my baby and complete lifestyle change.