Nice things about babies

[hillfda]

I'm due to give birth any day now and I'm so anxious because all I hear about is babies never sleeping and crying all the time. Can anyone tell me any positive things about babies that might make me feel better 😆.

The snuggles 💕 I have one that doesn't sleep. 10 months in he's still up every 2-3 hours every single night. But you know what? That's not the end of the world. I go to bed early, and we bedshare (safely) so that wake-ups only involve me rolling over and putting a boob in his mouth, rather than getting out of bed and rocking him for hours or dealing with the nightmare that is trying to put a sleeping baby down in the cot without waking them. Sometimes it's very hard, and I want my bed and my evenings back. Then I think "I'll miss this when he's 14" - his little warm body curled in against mine and the contented little sighs he makes in his sleep. And I remember it's only for a season.
Maybe you'll get a baby that sleeps and is generally happy; maybe you'll get one that cries a lot and is wakeful. Either way, find a good support network (online works, too!) that aligns with your parenting philosophy, it makes the world of difference. My support comes largely from FB groups but they remind me on the really hard nights what a privilege it is to be able to provide safety and comfort for my baby.
Sorry - not a very direct answer to your question but hopefully you get my gist!

They smell amazing.

The little wriggle they do looking for a nipple is adorable

The noises newborn babies make (except crying) are hilarious, all the funny snuffling, grunting and bizarrely loud farts. Not sure if that was what you were looking for!
Despite all the crying, mine kept me very amused with their funny little ways :)

Babies: the little cute noises they make, little wotsit toes, tiny curled up naps in a sling

Toddler: when they can wrap their arms around you and give you a hug and looking you in the eye and saying "mum"

The snuggles and the scent of a new baby. Mine kept me amused. I also gazed at mine a lot!
I co-slept like @MaryMashedThem

My baby sleeps well most of the time (so you may be lucky with a good sleeper anyway) but even on the nights where she doesn’t sleep as well I adore her and could quite happily stay up with her in the night just listening and looking at her.

I don’t mind reading in the night if she’s happily using my boobs for comfort

In the day time she had decent enough naps that I can spend a large part of my day either slobbish out in front of Netflix if I wanted to but I generally enjoy learning new crafts and perfecting those so have built up a little side business selling things I make

It’s just for fun so will need to go back to work next year but for now I’m enjoying the luxury of doing just as I wish

Lockdown has helped immensely as with first baby I felt the pressure to be out and about at rhym time and other atrocities and I don’t feel any pressure this time

There’s no guilt at staying indoors all week if I can

It doesn't matter how much they cry and poop. Having one is the most amazing experience. It's hard work. But incredible. I didn't think it was possible to love someone so much. My LO is now 15 months and such an awesome little person. I can't believe I created & have kept her alive ❤️

Hiccups! Their smell. The noises they make. When they finally make eye contact with you rather than staring over your shoulder freaking you out. The giggles. Their tiny little feet and hands and toes and fingers. When they grab your fingers. When they fall asleep in random places like on the changing table. The snuggles and snuffles. Oh just everything. I miss my little baby but now I have a nearly 2 year old who shouts mama when I get home from work and runs to me for a hug and kiss. They're amazing all the time.

Baby yawns and sneezes are the cutest sight known to man.

Also when they wake up and do really exaggerated stretches.

They smell amazing.

Those enormous yawns they do that are almost the size of their tiny faces...

Watching them drift off to sleep...

Them being an actual part of you so when you see them occasionally it's like looking in a mirror...

I'm due DC2 in 8 days and this thread is very helpful! Good luck OP, is it your first?

And a side note- my DS is 3 and has never ever slept well but honestly, it's ok... you become some kind of superhero, and secretly at 4am the world can seem like it belongs to only you and your little one...

Their smell, the funny faces they pull, how they stare at you, their cute tiny hands and feet you want to eat, the snuggles, this amazing feeling when they sleep on your chest, their soft skin, the cute noises they make, the first smile, the first milestones, the list goes on...

FTM mum here, I gave birth to my little sweetheart 11 weeks ago today. I also heard the horror stories. Apart from a tiny bit of an upset stomach in week three; she hasn’t cried uncontrollably once. These babies exist, I’ve got one

Best thing about her is how smiley she is in a morning!! Good luck OP

@hillfda the cuddles, the smell of a newborn, the way they curl themselves into a little ball.
Honestly the newborn stage is hard but it's honestly the best, make the most of it as it soon passes. Good luck xx

They have such soft skin - it's so lovely! (Also reminds me to moisturise more!)

Hilarious burps and farts - completely unexpected, how can someone so small make so much noise (and smell)

When they start smiling at you and it's clear they think you're the best thing in the world.

How big their bellies get after a feed.

The way they nuzzle into your shoulder! Not all babies are criers, some are chilled and easy from day one. Good luck, you’ll be fine.

I love the way they sleep with their little arms up by their ears. It is the cutest.

I am pregnant with number 3, have had one chilled, happy baby and one very unhappy, high maintenance baby. I won't lie, the latter was very difficult and I am hoping for another chilled one, BUT they are both growing into the most amazing, beautiful, funny, clever, kind little human beings who fill me with more joy and pride than I can possibly explain. That's the best thing about babies x

The backs of their necks
Their round smooth bottoms
The smell of warm vanilla
The contented, dribbling, falling asleep during a feed smile.
Rooting and nuzzling
Curling up together in bed on a wet afternoon
The first smile of recognition and the first chuckle.
Exploding yellow pooh down both legs after a few grunts following a feed.
Just perfect beings.

That space under your chin they nuzzle into. The delicious smell of their head. The first time they smell. The tiny little clothes. The absolute miracle that something so amazing happened and I’m responsible for it. DH making me a cuppa in the dead of night when little one just home, and us both just gazing at baby while we chomped on biscuits and the world was silent. Getting to nap during the day. I really miss that stage.

Smile, not smell. They smell one way or another all the time...

Their enormous yawns
Their sleeping peaceful faces
Their tiny feet
The noises they make which change at every stage, snuffles, babbles, shrieks of excitement.
How they learn to smile at you and fireworks of love explode in your brain.
Their heads smell like vanilla cake mix.
When theyre tiny and they fall asleep on your chest.
When they grow into toddlers and wonder at the simplest of things.
When they find things funny and hysterically laugh.
Their innocence and the fact that all they know is the love of their family.

You might get one which is a sleeper and not a crier. They do exist. I didn’t know they existed until I had one and I keep it quiet as I feel a bit guilty about it especially when I hear others struggling with the crying and lack of sleep.

Other things, their lovely soft skin and soft little heads. The cuddles and when they fall asleep on you. The little smile they do when they’re falling asleep.

Your posts make me so happy. I'm so excited to have my baby, he is my first. I was definitely anxious but since speaking to my midwife and reading your posts I feel alot better. It's amazing how these little babies grow over 9 months and end up in our arms. I'm going to find it so surreal once he's here. I'll be 39 weeks next week. I wish all of you and your babies complete happiness. 💕👶

I've got an 18 month old - he is the cutest, funniest most adorable little person but this thread has made me so broody for those teeny, tiny, snuggly days.
Good luck OP

The cuddle high is real, especially with skin to skin! And watching them grow and change is incredible.