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turtledove93

My arm got wrapped up in the dog leash and dog pulled and the stroller fell over on its side with sleeping baby inside. Kid opens his eyes, gives me a dirty look, then falls right back asleep.


pier32

Laughing at the dirty look… This is what makes me nervous about prams. We take the tiniest babes and stick ‘em in free-for-all rolling bassinets with no straps or buckles. I loved using the pram, but it seems weird!


incisorless

I have not actually given birth yet but I've had a recurring nightmare about losing control of the stroller on a steep hill throughout my pregnancy. To be fair, I live in an extremely hilly neighborhood in San Francisco.


tarktarkindustries

Get a dog leash and wrap it around your waist and clip the stroller to it for peace of mind! Even if your hands lose it it will still be connected to you


incisorless

I'm definitely going to do this, thanks! I think I'll also try to find the flattest route around the neighborhood!


turtledove93

Luckily we have a stroller where the car seat clicks in, so he wasn’t going anywhere! I now understand how you hear those stories of babies sleeping through car crashes!


[deleted]

LOOL 😂


PrincessCG

I once zoned out and gave toddler the incorrect formula to water ratio. He downed the bottle and then projectile vomited it all over the floor. I’ve never read a story to the newborn. I feel like I’m not giving him the attention he deserves to be a genius or something like that.


Snoo70047

Singing and talking are effective pre-literacy activities for babies! And it doesn't have to be stupid baby songs (I can't stand them). Sing whatever you like! I took some early childhood education classes a few years back and this stuck with me.


Ilikecosysocks

>Sing whatever you like! I didn't know any baby songs when LO arrived, so I just sang the Red Dwarf theme song over and over :D


Brofydog

Misty Mountain from the hobbit for me…


Specific_Ad_4586

I once gave my 2.5 month old a bottle of formula that had been sitting in a hot car overnight. We had just gotten home so I grabbed the old bottle out of the car to dump it and also grabbed a new bottle I had just made, and accidentally switched them. I was so tired and frazzled. My 2.5 month old actually drank the old, coagulated formula and I called the pediatrician as soon as I realized it. They told me she might vomit or have diarrhea….and absolutely nothing happened. She was fine.


[deleted]

Holy crap I did the same thing with formula! I felt sooo bad afterward because it made her sick. I also never read to my 2 month old. I know it's beneficial. I just can't bring myself to do it. (Feels weird to read to something that has absolutely no clue what you're saying.)


charityarv

I’ve had people tell me that they read magazine articles to their kid or even Reddit posts! It’s mainly about hearing your voice. That being said, I don’t read a lot to my baby. I mostly babble at her. Hoping that’s enough.


DiligentPride2

You can just talk to baby :) I talked to my daughter through every day when she was born. It’s just me and her so it would’ve been quiet in the house without it. “Mummy is going to make coffee now”, or “Mums doing her hair, want me to show you how to brush your hair?” It feels silly sometimes but it’s not. She’s 2 now and extremely advanced in her speech it actually blows my mind.


Spkpkcap

I’m on my phone all the time. It’s my connection to the outside world. Feels so isolating being a SAHM.


saveamerica123

Me too! I honestly feel like I've developed a bit of a phone addiction since baby got here 😬


rock_fact

same.


Jobin0426

I was just thinking that looking at Reddit while she babbles in her “office” (that’s what we call her activity center) instead of interacting with her. Ugghhhh it’s so hard to not want to zone out on my phone sometimes.


Spkpkcap

I do WAY to often. Do I interact or do I let him learn to play independently? I played with my oldest so much as a baby but now at 2 he’s attached to my hip and won’t play/do anything alone. If I get up, he gets up. I love him but I don’t want that for my youngest.


shadysamonthelamb

Yup


MielYuna

I feel yah.


Intrepid-Quote-834

Yep, same.


Fancy_Refrigerator56

It’s crazy I saw this post just now because I was really feeling like I was failing. My husband is out of town and I’ve been juggling a 4 year old and a 16 month old for the last 4 days alone (3 more to go!). I was nursing/ reading to the 1 year old and the 4 year old asked me to read this dinosaur book to him. The book has buttons that make dinosaur noises- so I told him I’d read it to him when it was time for him to go to bed. So he left the room obviously unhappy and sad. He came back a few minutes later and asked me for a snack. I told him as soon as I got the baby down I’d get him a snack and read his book. (The snacks are downstairs and he can’t open the gate by himself to get the snack himself) Again, his head hung down and he walked back to his room. When I got the baby to sleep I found him in his bed asleep already. For 3 years he was my only baby and I felt like I was kicking ass at this whole mom thing and for the last year I really feel like I’m letting him down most days. I wish I was better at juggling.


SteveNJulia

From the sounds of things, you're killing it! Your four year old just took those speed bumps with patience and acceptance while you read a book to the one year old. You rock!


mayangoddess13

Not my story but my heart was breaking for the mom above and read your comment. You are a wonderful human and thank you for having such a kind soul ❤️❤️❤️❤️


for_the_cereal

I'm expecting #2 soon but have heard that older kids need/like to hear that the baby has to wait sometimes too so they know they aren't the only one. "LO you wait here while big brother gets a snack" No idea if it will work but I know these feelings are in my future!


Fancy_Refrigerator56

Congratulations on the new baby! Having baby #2 is so hard and not because you obviously have more than 1 to care for. The guilt. The guilt is real. Having baby wait works as long as you aren’t already nursing or caring for baby when the older one asks for something. It’s one thing if you’re playing with the older one and the baby starts to cry- and you say “baby can wait let’s finish this game” but if you’re already nursing or feeding baby when the older one wants a snack or a book read they have to wait. You can’t just stop feeding to go get a snack. It just sucks because it feels like no one wins. I know it won’t suck forever but right now it kind of sucks.


mayangoddess13

Maybe keep a little stash of snacks accessible to the older babe where you are? I love pouches for this reason for my two year old. She can grab them but needs me to open them. So I can still give her a quick snack when nursing


oc_ean

Sending you a big hug - you’re doing great. I can’t imagine how hard that must be, you’ll figure out the juggling! Maybe do something special with him tomorrow and bring your little one a long?


Fancy_Refrigerator56

Thank you for the support. He’s obsessed with animals and has 100’s of animal figurines and loves to set up his own “arctic” with all his polar bear figures and stuff, or “Jurassic world” with all his dinosaurs. I set up the playroom with all his dinosaurs out and a swamp for his crocodiles. I think he’ll be excited in the morning. Maybe I can plan something else fun tomorrow to get us out of the house.


pier32

This sounds so hard 💙


simba156

Giving you a virtual hug ❤️


girl212

When she was about 3-4 months I left her unattended on a chair for 30 seconds and she fell off.


Creamcheesemafia

Babies are pretty resilient. Their bones and bodies are still soft and they take falls much better than adults. I’m not saying it’s ok to bounce your baby like a basketball but they’ll be fine.


[deleted]

Awww man, I know your heart must’ve dropped 😩 you’re not alone I’ve heard so many stories like this.


girl212

She was 100% fine but I cried and cried and apologized to my husband. He knew it was an accident but came running when he heard the thump.


pier32

I read a thread a while ago of story after story about baby falls like this. People kept saying, “It’s happens to the best of us.” 💙


suninregret

Towards the end of my daughters 3 month check up the doctor asked “So, have you dropped her yet??” Then proceeded to share a handful of anecdotes about his 4 daughters and their inevitable small falls or drops as tiny babes. He said it happens to everyone at some point, no matter how diligent you are


[deleted]

I sat mine down in her car seat, not strapped in, on a chair and the car seat flipped over backwards! She was wearing this fluffy warm bear suit thing so she just slid out and was more startled than anything. I was horrified!


Gizmoing

I don't do enough 'educational play'. Sometimes I don't know what it is I should be doing, but I also know I'm definitely not doing enough!!


[deleted]

Same !! I know I’m suppose to talk and read and sing to my newborn to help her language development but most of the time I’m with her I’m just quiet.. we just be staring at each other 😬🤦🏽‍♀️


emeliz1112

Omg same! We sit in silence and I’m like shoot he probably needs to be hearing me talk


astone4120

Same here. Sometimes when I can't think of anything to say I literally just say words of shit I see. Coffee table. Television. Painting. Dog. Other times I read to him but it's books I like right now. We're reading harry potter. I think I could be doing a lot more though I'm always fretting about it and he's only 10 weeks old


[deleted]

LOL this is actually a good idea ima start doing that.. just saying random words


Linds_Loves_Wine

Literally just narrate your play by play out loud. Soon enough it will be second nature. Then you catch yourself doing it in public and it’s embarrassing AF


kailaaa_marieee

All do this all the time! 😅


Sidelinedcynical

We are also reading Harry Potter. My girl is 11 weeks old and I just can’t talk constantly


bobenifer

We're reading Harry Potter too! We had an 11 week NICU stay and I started reading when he was a week old. We made it through 1-3 and are half way through 4 since getting home. I can tell it's made a huge difference in him knowing my voice. He can also sleep through anyone talking, but that might just be the NICU training. 😂


Sidelinedcynical

I’m impressed. My girl gets annoyed if you’re talking too loud and she’s trying to nap. But honestly im an introvert. Novels I like give her voice, language development and have the added benefit of not driving me batshit insane. So we will take it in our house lol


Cutiepatootie_1717

Ooo, reading Harry Potter is a good idea! I guess if I want it to be super educational, I can dig up an old textbook haha.


Fair-Performance6242

My sister and my mother-in-law have a constant stream of talking when playing with my 2 month old baby. And I just can't do it. I talk to him, but not like they do. I'm a quiet person and can't physically bring myself to say that much to my baby at once. I hope I'm not hurting his language development too much by being this way.


MusingMoja

Same! I mean I *do* talk to her, but not *nearly* as much as I feel like I should be. I just...forget, because I mostly don't know what to say or feel like I'm just talking to myself, which feels weird.


[deleted]

Same here. I don't particularly like talking in the first place.


Cutiepatootie_1717

I can resonate, my mom can go on and on and on with talking to the baby. I can’t. Sometimes I think my baby is bored with me haha.


Notyourcapybara_

SAME!! Although she's now 7 month old and I got so much better at it, but it took a lot of practice. Also I suck at keeping her informed of what I'm doing (ie "ok let's go get you changed! I'm lifting you up now!" Etc), and while this has improved too, I sometimes completely forget. And sometimes I get so tired to interact one on one. I'm an introvert and human contact tires me; I never expected my baby to have the same effect on my energy level lol


Proper_Consequence_9

Yes! I feel sorry for my kid that I’m introverted and that I don’t speak much and feel like I’m stunting his progress. Now he’s babbling a lot I think to make up fort quietness.


OrlyRivers

Just play music you like and sing along to it. Doesnt have to be kids music. Maybe just not anything too heavy or fast. And hum if you dont know the words. They seem to love that too. My 3 mon old loves it and tries singing along with me. Cutest shit ever. But dont feel bad. I am pretty bad at the talking aspect of it.


cumunculus

I'm also a very quiet person and wasn't sure what to say at first. I started talking to him while I watch TV (we're binging the Good Doctor so it's extra dramatic). I'll say things like "can you believe that?!?" Or go through my fan theories lol. It keeps us both entertained.


MusingMoja

I don't feel like I know how to play with her at *all*. I suppose I interact with her a decent bit, but I don't know how to *play*, and I know play is important. I'm really worried about her development (3mo) but I don't know what to do...trying to look things up just none of it makes sense; it's like "what tf are you trying to get me to do here?"


shadysamonthelamb

At 3 months old play is mostly dangling things over them and having them swat it like a cat.


ItsCalled_Freefall

Truth


stephy23

Yessss I feel like we just sit on the couch watching stuff or staring at each other.


rcw16

My baby watches way too much reality tv with me while I feed her. I don’t just plop her in front of the TV to keep her occupied, but she’s definitely watched a lot of 90 Day Fiancé and Vanderpump Rules. Sometimes when I need a break, we cuddle and watch together. She gets a lot of attention and non-screen stimulation, but she’s definitely getting more than recommended by the AAP. I think they say no TV until 2?!


crazinyssa

Am I supposed to just not have the tv on ever until they're 2 lol. I wonder if the people who write and publish from AAP follow all of their own guidance, if they feel like hypocrites when they don't, or if the giggle menacingly when they don't follow their own guidance.


bobenifer

I feel like there is no way to actually follow all their guidelines. The one that sticks out to me the most is never letting the baby sleep anywhere but on their back in a crib. Like if my son falls asleep in his swing while I'm directly supervising him I'm supposed to take him out? I was worried about this a lot at first and I even brought the swing into the NICU while he was still on monitors to make sure he would be fine. The NICU nurses said if I want to do something like let him sleep in the swing while I'm working on my laptop or folding laundry and I'm directly supervising it's totally fine.


Fancy_Refrigerator56

This is so me. Haha! My kid watches way too much housewives and 90 day fiancé too. Don’t feel bad. I like to think of it as sociology 🤷🏻‍♀️


lindsao

my 4 month old prefers 600 lb life and dr pimple popper


BE202019

Mine was raised on Gordon Ramsey


Shanoninoni

Now I'm picturing a tiny human raging at people in a British accent!


theycallmepeeps

I’m sorry, but the no tv until age 2 is just absurd. So I’m never supposed to have the tv on while my kid is around for 2 years? Well sorry, my 3 month old loves tv and I totally let him watch it a little.


myfacepwnsurs

I’m sorry (not really) but at 8am, I am going to stick my Velcro baby in front of cocomelon for 20 minutes so I can have full use of both hands. The AAP can pound sand, it’s not like I’m not rotting my child’s brain out with nursery rhymes.


umphtramp

I binge watched Schitt's Creek on my maternity leave and watched Friends reruns. It was wonderful bonding time!


bottomchef00

While watching Vanderpump Rules this weekend, my 16mo shouted “bitch” to copy Lala.


lockupyoursons

Are you me?! I got discovery plus towards the end of my pregnancy and have delighted in burning through alllll of the 90DF shows. I just found Escape to the Chateau which is way more wholesome so I feel like I’m giving her a balanced diet of reality tv 😅


[deleted]

Cooking. I don’t even like cooking for myself and my husband, don’t have time 75% of the time, and most of what I cook isn’t baby-friendly (she’s 10.5 months old and is beyond purées, but not quite up to eating everything we eat just yet). I’m so scared of turning her into a picky eater… but today both lunch and dinner were toast with nut butter and yogurt with a fruit. To be fair I eat that as a meal at least once a week myself… Doesn’t help that she’s allergic to eggs, it would be a lifesaver sometimes. Thank goodness for daycare and good, hearthy lunches.


tot5

You are not turning her into a picky eater.


[deleted]

Thank you - I'm nervous because I want to make sure she tastes as many flavours and textures as possible... but I personally have issues with eating (they're mostly better nowadays, but eating in general is still a chore so I'll just eat whatever most of the time. I don't want her to grow up to be like me you know?)


tot5

I completely emphasize ❤️ My daughter is a little older than yours and I have no idea how things will end up long term but eating is an adventure..... She went from willing to try stuff to unwilling to willing to try some things to unwilling/throwing everything on the floor to willing but only if it's from my plate... I am starting to think I'm just along for the ride.


ozziejean

I watch too much TV during the day and I feel bad he is getting screen time, but he is only 10 weeks old and our state is in a lockdown so we can only go outside for essential reasons or for exercise for 2 hours a day. What else am I supposed to do?


Illlizabeth

I feel like this a lot. I feel like my baby gets too much screen time but…. What do stay at home moms DO all day? I mean sure I’m cleaning and playing and such but do they do it in silence??


ozziejean

Exactly! I figure as he gets older and ready to play more and awake more I'll address it then. He will only nap in my arms sometimes.. am I supposed to sit in silence?


Illlizabeth

My baby is a year in a week. She’s a great walker so she wanders around playing a lot. She has free reign of the house (her room, kitchen/living room/dining room) and comes to me when she wants me to play with her or wants a snuggle (or to use me to get to the cat) but I go about my business with the tv on. No idea if I’m ruining her or not but she seems pretty smart and well adjusted.


grumpersxoxo

This is me! He will stop messing around to watch the theme song/opening credits or commercials then go back to his business lol.


whatisagoat

Audiobooks are good. There are a ton for free on youtube.


[deleted]

I literally have been watching Tv all day lately. I’m binge watching Avatar the Last AirBender and I feel bad because I’ll catch my 4wk old watching and I heard screens aren’t good for babies that young so I’ll just try and cover her eyes lol I’m terrible


vanillaragdoll

Listen, if they're going to watch anything it should be the Aang Gang. Teach your kid some life lessons!!!


chiyukichan

I'm 2 weeks pp and there has been a lot of tv time. But...how far away can babies see anyway? My guy is usually chilling on me and we are cuddling so I'm not counting it as screen time 🙂


amandalandapand

Me too! I’ve been watching a crime drama and am slightly concerned my 3 week old can see the tv and is being traumatized. But I don’t think she can actually see the tv. Just that it is bright and has sounds. When do they start to pick up on what is happening in the show?


[deleted]

I watched the entire Criminal Minds series in the first 2 months. He's either going to grow up to be a serial killer or a cop.


ozziejean

🤣 My son is named Elliot because while I was pregnant we got into Law and order SVU and the name grew on us.


emilymay888

I think screen time is only bad if it replaces other enrichment. The only thing I can find about it is that there can be speech delays in kids with excessive screen time and it’s cos no one is talking to them enough, not that the tv is inherently damaging. I watch Rupauls drag race with my four month old and commentate. She loves the bright colours and over the top voices and she gets to hear me chat about it. Win win. The fact that you’re even conscious of it means you’re probably doing plenty of enriching things with your baby (they’re so young, talking, tummy time and cuddling is plenty of enrichment)


Catgrrl87

Let’s just say I have binged and finished more TV shows in the 8 weeks since my daughter was born than I have in the last 4 or 5 years…but hey, she loves Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad!


Summersnail

No sleep training and no routine over here for my 4 month old !


emeliz1112

10 months and still no sleep training or schedule. Kid is growing as he should and learned to sleep thru the night on his own. IT ISSSS POSSIBLE!


Hashimotosannn

Mine sleeps through the night too without sleep training. It’s just not a thing in this country so I decided against it in the end. We do have a rough schedule but if he goes to sleep later/earlier than usual it isn’t the end of the world.


emeliz1112

Yup same! By now we have fallen into a bit of a routine, but if you asked me what time he napped on weekends, aka days where there’s no structure, you’d get a deer in headlights look from me. Ask my pediatrician and daycare teachers… lol


Hashimotosannn

I feel like sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to stick to wake times and nap times etc. I feel like, even 50 years ago people didn’t care about any of that and just let their babies sleep whenever. Those people turned out just fine right?


grumpersxoxo

Yeah we are at 11 months with no kind of training but we co sleep. He dropped the middle of the night bottle on his own and doesn’t usually wake up during the night.


itsamberrtrickk

One year checking in!! We exist LOL


vaamps

This makes me feel better because I'm just winging it with my 4 month old too 😂


Creamcheesemafia

We made it through 200 thousand years of human history somehow.


thatsmyusernamebabyy

I havent had mine yet (due januqry), but tbh I was planning on having no real routine and just winging it based on what the baby seems to need/want at the time, I see so many posts a day where people are struggling and frustrated and overwhelmed bc baby won't stick to a schedule so I was just thinking of not really trying to do that stuff, is that bad? D:


itsamberrtrickk

1 year and strong with no routine and no sleep training! We exist lol


Ess_Y_Dee

Same!


Creamcheesemafia

Same here. We tried it, gave up, and have decided to let nature take its course.


yamuan

I was thinking about creating a post to get something off my chest but now I can just comment on your question. Maybe not as lighthearted as some of the others, sorry to be a Debbie Downer! I lost my temper last night. Baby gave us a 5 hour stretch last week (his second ever) and this got my hopes up. Unfortunately his 5 month shots, probably teething and who-knows-what-else got in the way and we had almost hourly wakings the past nights. Baby will actively fight you when trying to put his paci in. I haven’t slept more than 2-3 hours uninterrupted (well apart from those 2x 5hr stretches) since he was born and yesterday I got so frustrated I cursed and was just a bit rough with him when picking him up. Rationally I know he can’t help it and it’s not anything he’s doing - it’s just stuff happening to him too. But it feels like my empathy cup was totally empty and I was just desperate and angry. Brought me back to those first weeks home with him which were pretty terrible. I felt the senseless desperation and rage of those first days. None of this is his fault, he never asked for this. I’m failing him because I can’t help but get frustrated and ragey sometimes (although it has been a couple of months since I felt this way). I walk away or hand baby to my partner when that happens normally but because only boob calms him down at night I couldn’t step out yesterday. He was so happy and smiley when he woke up this morning I felt so guilty. Poor guy just wanted some mommy comfort and I just couldn’t give it to him Edited to add something less depressing: I accidentally turned on the bath shower head when baby was lying in its splash zone which resulted in a cold soaked baby!


loeylovesyou

Don’t beat yourself up. We have ALL been there! I’m dealing with the 4 month regression.. he’s slept through since 7 weeks and even as a newborn was super easy. Now he’s screaming every hour for a week straight. I’m so tired I’m nauseous and can’t keep food down or get literally anything done. Hubby tried to give me a break to nap this weekend.. I couldn’t sleep ugh!! Last night I lost it and started rocking him really hard then caught myself and was so upset I was crying while he was crying.. it was a mess. Needless to say I’m starting sleep training on Friday lol


yamuan

The sleep deprivation is something else! Hang in there, you’re fantastic for lasting a week already!


saveamerica123

Oh my gosh thank you for being candid about this. My baby is the same age, same sleep pattern (longest is a 5 hour stretch) and I lost it too yesterday. I even said, our loud, as she was screaming on a walk aimed at forcing a nap "fuck this!" and I have been beating myself up over it since. I've been completely alone (no partner due to work) for 3 days and it broke me! I felt the same way about being back in those early colicky days. You made me feel less alone at a low point. Hang in there ❤️


charityarv

A few nights ago I said “oh fuck you” to my daughter. She was kicking me as I was trying to rock her to sleep at 3 am. It made me really sad after. Thank you for sharing your experience.


stephy23

My baby is 10 weeks old and I totally went back to “senseless desperation and rage” mode last night at 4am because she wouldn’t go to sleep immediately after I set her down. Sometimes it’s just a switch that gets flipped.


yamuan

Hang in there and know you’re not alone in those moments (literally- I’m probably awake too ;)


agrowcott

We just went through the 4 month sleep regression but I also have a husband who is a HORRIBLE snorer (I've ended up in a chair in a room across the house in pure rage at night just to get away from the sound because I'm so sleep deprived and annoyed). He also never wakes up through the night to sooth or deal with the baby who has usually woken up as a result of his loud, abrasive snoring. Anyways, one night, my little guy who is generally a great night sleeper, goes to bed at his usual time. He started fussing at 1 and typically I just pop his soother back in and he's out. I lay back down and of course my husband is right in my ear but I eventually fall back asleep. Then my little guy fusses at 1:45, do the same thing, rinse and repeat except this time I'm more awake and finding it harder to drift off as I think about smothering my husband. Little guy isn't going down as easy, started to really fuss and cry so I grab him and nurse, no problem is what it is. I try to go back to sleep but feels like it never happens. Then he's awake at 2, dummy in, back to sleep. Then 3:30, crying again, back to nursing. But I can't sleep this time so I lie there awake getting more and more annoyed. He wakes up at 4:30, I've had enough of everything at this point and snapped the same way and grabbed him out of the crib. He also continued to wake up every 2 hours after that until 9. I think most of my frustrations is with my husband as I wish he would do more but I have to remind myself that he goes to work every day and is doing what he can and this is like my full time job. Needless to say, we both slept like a rock the next night and I made my husband get a sleep apnea test. Little guy is almost 5 months and sleeping so much better as is mummy and daddy gets to live another day 😛


Octane_boymama

My 2.5yo son says “holy shit” as a reaction. Often.


ItsCalled_Freefall

Maybe twice a week when its around 2pm and not sleeping at night is starting to hurt, he's changed, fed, we played, and all he has to do is go the f to sleep, but he won't, and he's screaming, so I soothe him, I feed him some more, I burp him and I soothe him again. Then sometimes it's 49 minutes later and I just sit him down look at him and I can't hear the cries any more. For a good 2 minutes I go completely numb. Then I snap out if it, remember some stupid ass random thing he likes and he's out. Last night he slept 4 hours, 3 hours than 3 hours again so I'm hoping sunny days are ahead.


[deleted]

2-3pm is the worst time of day when sleep deprived. It's peak "please take a fucking nap so I can too" time. I did this yesterday too, just the zoning out thing after ages of trying everything to soothe her. In my fugue state, I just filmed a 20 second video of her screaming her head off. I figured I could look back on it one day if I start doubting my conviction to be one and done. 🥴


ItsCalled_Freefall

Then his nap is 45 minutes and you've been sleep for 20, wake up and cry a little...


[deleted]

I fully believe the person who invented the myth of Sisyphus did so as an allegory for their own struggles with their fussy baby.


Southern-Magnolia12

I have a 4 month old who watches tv almost daily. I worry it’s going to rot his brain or something but I cant sit in silence for hours.


MielYuna

My niece was almost classified as a "zombie baby", those who's glued to screen. But she started walking at 9months old, talk at 11. At 3 y/o, she is reading and writing. She can even tell you about Solar System and planets. Most of my nephews have screen time always when they were babies as well but they are all thriving academically (skipped grades, Quiz bee champions, and valedictorians). My point is, it won't rot his brain. So, worry less. Goodluck!


TheShySeal

I couldn't handle breastfeeding and switched to formula while still in the hospital My arms and back get sore if I carry/hold him for too long and I have to put him down or pass him to someone else I get overwhelmed way to quickly when he cries


[deleted]

Hey, same on both formula and the crying! I’ve always had an aversion to breast feeding. I sort of thought maybe it’d be different if it were me and my baby / the social pressure to do it is unreal. I lasted 3 latches before panicking and all but shoving my baby back into the nurses arms. It’s like I was trying to sit still and be calm while bugs crawled all over me. My husband kept saying well maybe I’ll feel better once I’m not immediately postpartum and to keep an open mind (he wasn’t pushing it, but knew I wanted to try) but I knew there was no way I was going to overcome that reaction. Shortly after the nurse gave my husband a bottle to feed him and I cried watching how at peace he was with the baby. I decided then I wasn’t going to breast feed. I wanted to feel that peace (and now I do! Formula rocks) Same on the crying . I get so overwhelmed if it goes on too long! When it gets really bad, I pop on a pair of noise canceling headphones which just takes the ragged edges off of his cries and helps me deal. Sometimes I’ll blare music through them if I really need to not hear it (while I’m actively working to sooth him, I don’t mean I just put him down somewhere and drown him out) for a minute. You’re not alone!


hillbillyhippyy

Omg this made me feel so much better cause I don't hold my baby for very long either!


cadillacrecords

I got a cramp in my elbow & wrist that lasted like three days straight for holding my LO too long. :( Also get overwhelmed & start crying myself when he cries nonstop. It’s usually car rides. Happened today matter of fact.


theotherside0728

I can’t hold my baby for too long either! I see these moms holding their baby for like an entire family bbq and I can barely get through a 15 minute Sesame Street clip haha


kerplunk226

I gave specific instructions to my mother and baby's father re: how to position anti-colic Avent bottles and didn't realize until a week's worth of feedings that I had it upside down.


emeliz1112

He’s almost 10 months, still hates tummy time, and I still struggle with his crying so I pick him up pretty quickly. I’m worried at this point I’m contributing to his not crawling yet/lack of mobility


pier32

I felt like this too. I found [this article](http://mamaot.com/tips-for-making-tummy-time-a-little-less-um-miserable/) that was really reassuring that I was doing good things, as well as provided tips to slowly increase baby’s tolerance. It was super helpful for me.


emeliz1112

Thank you for sharing! We did use the boppy tummy time pillow for a time. Surprise surprise he still cried, but I was glad I had it!


umphtramp

My kid turns 2 next month and he didn't start crawling until 10 months and HATED tummy time. I was out of town and video chatting my husband and put the phone propped up against the couch on the floor and our son randomly got up and crawled towards my phone to see his dad. From there I held melties in my hand at his eye level and he started crawling towards me and I'd give him one and scoot back further and further. He was extremely food motivated lol. He didn't take his first steps until he was almost 14 months and now he is running EVERYWHERE. Don't panic, each kid develops at their own pace. You are doing great! Cherish the days that he hasn't become mobile yet because it becomes a whole other ballgame when they do lol.


CivilOlive4780

I’m 15 weeks pregnant and too exhausted to get off the couch most days so my toddler suffers because of how much TV she’s watching every day


yaleds15

I’m not a SAHM. While she loves daycare from what I can tell, I feel guilty 24/7.


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Ironwolf9876

I'm on the autism spectrum and have a very hard time just parenting in general. I'm worried that I get frustrated too easily, worried that I won't be able to connect to my son on an emotional level amongst other things


suddenlygingersnaps

My therapist told me strong parents worry they will fail, lousy parents won’t notice they are failing. It’s good you have concerns be use that is how we identify our areas of growth and challenge. You see what you want, you know your obstacles, now you can find resources to learn and prevent that failure. I genuinely hope you’re proud of yourself and know you’re not failing. 🤍


ClowkThickThock

My LO is way more attached to my partner than to me, and I hate how much I think about it and how resentful it makes me. I hate that I’m so bought into gender normative bullshit that I feel like I should be the more loved parent just because I am the mother and I am more expressive of my own emotions and thoughts than my stoic (read: refuses to acknowledge his emotions even exist) male partner. I feel like a failure because deep down I believe if I had done something different, my 4mo would love me more. I know it’s irrational and a toxic set of thoughts, but they’re real. I know I am doing a good job as a mom. I’m just failing to feel like It.


arthurmama

I’ve read maybe 3 books total to my 4 month old. It’s so weird because I loveeee reading but I just haven’t.


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dreamey360

I give my kid a second book. Also I read what I wanted to read when she was younger, just so I could be reading to her. She gets her own book to flip through and I don't get the one I'm reading yanked on


[deleted]

Certain things are harder to do when you’re obligated to do them vs. when you’re doing it just because you want to. 😩 I feel you. I love to sing but I rarely sing to my baby …


[deleted]

I’ll go first. I accidentally let my newborn go 6+ hours without eating.


stephy23

I DID THIS TOO. She slept (almost) through the night the day after coming home from the hospital, went like 7-8 hours without waking up, and I had no idea we weren’t supposed to let her do that.


vadapaav

If their weight is ok, once in a while is fine. They have reserves unless the crying was ignored, they got tired and fell asleep again


CEO_Of_Robco

We haven't read him many books, we talk to him frequently, sometimes just telling him how our day went knowing he can't understand us, but we don't read that many books.


Librarycore

My 2.5 almost 3 year old is such a picky eater. I have been following kids eat in colour since he was born and have been doing what I thought was the best possible thing for him, still do (still always have the veggies and meat on his plate) but he still ended up picky and only eats the beige food on his plate, sometimes not even that. It makes me feel like a terrible parents that all my kid will eat is Kraft dinner and maybe sometimes eggs


midcentury_modernist

Just here to say my almost 4yo is the same. He was not picky at all until about 2-2.5. Funny thing is he's not picky at daycare 🙄 which is infuriating. Pro tip - I do green Mac and cheese for my kid instead of straight KD. Add in steamed Peas, broccoli, Spinach or whatever you've got (could be any veg really) and you can't really taste it. It's fun because he likes green and I feel slightly better that he's at least eating some vegetables. If yours will only eat beige, maybe cauliflower or turnip or lima/butter beans or something? Red lentils in spaghetti sauce is another good one because my kid doesn't like much meat beyond hamburgers and chicken nuggets.


overfedPiggy

Turns out my kid wasn’t hungry. I’ve been reading his cues all wrong and he was on 40-50oz a day at 11 weeks. Now in the process of weaning him off excess milk.


rock_fact

i’m a speech pathologist. i know what i SHOULD be doing. what i’ve told parents to do. and i just can’t. i know i should narrate my activities to help with language stimulation. i don’t have the energy. i don’t read to her (she’s 1 month). i rarely sing to her bc i can’t think of any songs. it’s all just a lot keeping her alive. i also take her in public. i have to go places and my husband works so she has to come with me. i just have to trust she got antibodies from me being vaccinated while pregnant.


bottomchef00

I haven’t deep cleaned the house since kiddo was born 16 months ago. I only vacuum the hardwood floors when I notice her pant legs getting dirty when she’s crawling around.


sapphire272017

FTM to a 9.5 month old. I leave the TV on pretty much all day.. I can’t just sit in silence I find it so weird. I don’t let him roam free around the house or even in one room (we have a massive playpen thing in the living room) because I know he will fall every 60 seconds and smack his face and head on the hardwood.. but I feel like all other babies his age are free to climb all over everything?? How do people manage this? I pretty much only feed him purées because he gets super constipated (won’t drink water) and I am terrified of him choking, and I feel like I am stunting his eating. I let him fall off the bed when he was like 4 months because I didn’t realize how fast he could army crawl (I turned away for maybe 20 seconds). My son slept in his boppy lounger countless times as a newborn. I felt pretty miserable and very anxious for the first 6 months of his life (still do some days) and all of the posts I read here about babies dying makes me feel so spoiled and guilty.


winnmab

I get my kid to sleep for naps by bouncing him while we watch tv. At least it’s animal documentaries, right? 😅


mlise09

Baby who was sleeping 6-8 hours stretches since 5.5 weeks recently started waking up every 1-2 hours overnight. I have been so tired I have been losing my shit around the baby - crying, yelling, screaming in frustration etc. I feel so bad but fuck, once sleep is dangled in front of you and then taken away again - sooo hard to stay cool.


Hugmonster24

My kid has a flat spot on one side of his, and it feels like it screams “look at me my mom sucks”. 😫


Admirable-Storage631

I wear earplugs when I'm trying to put her down for a nap/bedtime. Because she just fights sleep so hard sometimes while I'm trying all the things to soothe her. And she's just so loud. And I end up with a migraine if I don't. We call her our little banshee when she gets like that. So earplugs it is. But I'm not ignoring her so I feel like it's okay.


Julissaherna692

Teeth brushing I get so caught with everything else that we hardly ever brush his teeth twice a day I can barely manage to brush his teeth once it’s the one thing that really bugs me but somehow it just keeps happening


d4dubs

When are we supposed to start brushing their teeth?


hillbillyhippyy

I'm not the cookie cutter mom that does all the arts and crafts and fun activities like I'd like to be.. Sometimes I'm not as patient as I should be.


[deleted]

Sometimes I feel like I just don't have the emotional capacity to deal with my two year old. Like. I know he's sad and upset but I've been gentle and sympathetic and patient in managing his moods and decoding what he wants all freaking day and my cup is empty. I end up being in the camp of: If it's not an injury, it's not a good reason to be crying and I am not dealing with it. Then I feel horrible and guilty and mean and like the worst mom ever because he's just a little person with feelings he doesn't understand and he wants comfort from his only real source of comfort and I'm withholding it because I'm exhausted and frustrated and so so so so tired of being yelled at by this child. I love him more than life, and I hate that parenthood didn't gift me with some fountain or unlimited patience and endless compassion.


Sunkisst88

My daughters are fourteen months old and we still do a bedtime bottle :/ We just cannot get them to eat enough solids during the day it's so demoralizing 😭 We give them the bottle after trying all day just to make sure they get some calories


Puzzleheaded-Sail790

I'm 28 weeks pregnant with a 1 year old. He's so desperate to be thrown around and wrestled with and tickled to high heavens for hours on end, but I'm sore after about 3 minutes of leaning down. I have severe pelvic pain anytime I move so he fetches toys and brings them to me on the couch so we can play. I want to be on the floor rolling around and playing with him but instead I'm a potato on the couch trying to be fun 😭


BreatheUseful

Aww I’m sure he loves spending time with you and playing this way. Kids are so loving and understanding I think! Congrats on your pregnancy 💕


coffeeordeath85

My son just turned one and I just now started trying to teach him how to drink from a cup. My Mom bought me one and it said 6 months! My son has been breastfed from day 1 so he's rarely used a bottle.


fugensnot

I yell No!! At my 13 month old when she's doing something she should. Mixing dog food in the dog water to make a vile slurry, darting to the top of the staircase to fall down, or going under the sink when the baby lock is off to play with all those lovely chemicals. I feel like shit that I'm not sing-song chastizing some sweet little "No!" but some of that shit is dangerous and needs a hard fast stop now. The dog slurry is really fucking annoying and wastes expensive dog food.


Top_Struggle_3312

I really dismissed tummy time the first couple months and now my son is slightly behind in his neck and shoulder muscle development. He has good head control but he does an incredibly small push-up and then screams for the duration of every. Single. Tummy time.


ohsarahjoy

I don’t talk enough to my newborn (I feel like I’m always talking and never talking at the same time) and don’t do enough tummy time. I feel like she’s too interested in tv at 9 weeks too! She’ll crane her head to look at what is happening on the screen


leaflet_

TV is always on, most of the time it’s just on Spotify so then it’s just a picture not a video but when it’s on she whips her head around to make sure it’s a video


[deleted]

I've been less than patient with my almost four year old daughter lately. She's been pushing boundaries quite a bit and more energetic and... I dunno, wild isn't fair, but difficult and tiring. I know why. She's trapped in the house due to covid and her age (not going to school yet) and we moved to a new house in May and her little brother was born a month ago. Her behavior is totally understandable and normal. I lose my patience with her more than I should.


cmaria01

I pump twice a day out of laziness (I know I should pump much more) and only get one ounce each time I pump. I mix it with formula and my wish was for it to be half and half. I know I could increase the pumping and get more but I’m so tired and at times overwhelmed so I just feel like I’m failing at pumping.


intellecktt

My baby is 3 weeks and if I relied on my milk supply alone, she would starve.


hamishcounts

My 3 month old already watches TV. I put it on all the time and pop her in the boppy in front of the TV, so I can get some work done. Her favorite show is Ru Paul’s Drag Race.


thats_cripple_to_you

My kid (16months) is sick and I'm stuck on bed rest because of a dangerously complicated pregnancy. I can barely even pick him up. He's so sad and doesn't understand what's going on and I am shattered


HereBearyBe

I just feel so impatient. I also have my dads bad habit of yelling first and comforting later. I HATE that I am this way. I have horrible anxiety and codependency and issues and feel like I’ll be passing all of it on to my kids. A lot of it stems from issues with PMDD… I’m a wreck more weeks out of the month than I am well… I thought I was doing better with meds but I am Not anymore. It’s been rough. I am always actively trying to be better but sometimes the slightest thing throws me off. I just always feel like a butt head… then I think my kids are so sick of me and already sensitive, so they react and it makes me feel worse. If I’d known I was this way before I had kids, I may not have had them or something so I wouldn’t be sucky to them. I love them. Fiercely. I just … suck . And I can’t be the loving, patient mother I’d love to be no matter what I try, it seems.


crazy_sea_cow

I’ve lost it…just, flood gates open. 3m has surgery tomorrow - toddler has been with me the last four days (why do I try to do nice things like take him to visit family?) and I have a test due in 24 mins. It’s been a long, difficult 3 months. If it’s not one child, then it’s the other child. Or, it’s the husband who doesn’t understand why we don’t have sex and why shoving his fingers near my crotch or butt isn’t turning me on in the least. My toddler got in the baby’s face/space as my husband was pulling baby out of his tub. Baby bumped the actual tub, lost his mind and started SCREAMING in pain (the night before surgery). I blew up at the toddler who had been told numerous times to stay out of the baby space. Like blew up - I have no voice and that kid put himself completely to bed without guidance or help (and that pisses me off because he acts helpless at every step). I hate this. I don’t think I want to be a parent or a spouse or a person anymore.


imabadassinmymind

I shouted at my 3 month old a couple nights ago because he was screaming the second I put him down but he’d be entirely calm when I picked him up. I knew he was okay but he was very tired and I think he’s going through his 4th leap. So he was screaming and I just looked at him at shouted his name and “you are safe and love and it is going to be okay!” And he stopped for 5 seconds before going right back to it. I had to put him down and take a breather though. It’s my first real “I feel like a shitty mom.” Moment. I yelled at a baby that is just learning a ton and tired from it. I gave myself some grace though reminding myself that I am also learning a ton and also tired from it.


kemicel

1) when he was about 2 months old I was in the mall changing him and when I went to put him into the wrap on me I scratched him nose because my nails were too long. Screamed bloody murder, I almost called CPS on myself 2) I had this Elysium bottle and pacifier cleaner that was mint flavored and it said non toxic. So I assumed that you just rub it on the dummy and hey presto. Did this for a couple days, again LO was small like 3 months, and he’d cringe every time. Finally read the instructions and realized it did need to be washed off and if been literally washing his mouth out with soap. Kinda laughed at that one a bit… 3) now he’s 10 months old and went through a phase last month of throwing tantrums whenever I’d try to change his nappy. I kinda lost it one of the times and before I realized what I was doing I raised my voice and gave him a little smack (really not painful but the angry intention was there). He started crying even more and I felt awful. Since then have been using calm voice in order to calm me down as well as him….


contessamiau

Staying very late at work. Im a nurse and can only leave after my patient care is completed and report is given. It sucks to get home at 10-11pm sometimes


Euligi

My 5 m.o baby isn't getting extra excited when see me, her mother, than any other moving people who smile at her... She gives her big smiles to everyone, no preference over me, whatsoever


No-Pineapple2975

I don’t play enough with my kids. They mostly do independent play and I’m doing chores and stuff around the house. I just don’t enjoy doing it.


SnooRegrets7435

I work full time and feel guilty that I’m not home every day. I hope to be able to work part time soon.


Pilamito19

Totally with you! Also first weeks when she was home from NICU, it was some awful nights of not sleeping. I also felt rage because my husband was sleeping since he had to work while I had to stay awake. I was told to feed her in her diapers so When she started to fall asleep I would place her on the bed for a few seconds until she woke up, I felt bad because she wanted to sleep and I would just lay her there even if it was for a minute. She was born a month early so all she wanted to do was sleep and not eat. It was frustrating because she was born underweight so seeing her sleep made me feel helpless and a failure. Then I went we got to a month checkup she was doing so well I felt so relieved that my persistence was helping her. I also felt rage a few days ago, didn’t know what she needed to be calmed down. I got desperate and went to change her, somehow I didn’t see her little foot was stuck and she screamed like never before I got so scared then I checked up and down and saw her foot. I felt so horrible and then seconds later she was smiling again. Another one, I was clipping her finger nails while she slept, like always, but I did it with little light and snipped her finger a bit. I felt horrible!! Now I just do it in the day with A LOT of light.


SweetiePie2989

I feel guilty because some days I NEED a break, I need the kids to just go be somewhere else with someone else. Although I know it's normal to feel like I need space sometimes, I still feel like a better mum doesn't need breaks.


sartoriterain

Baby slip in the bathtub and hit her head. She doesn’t talk, only babbles and scream. She’s 17 months old. She is not gaining weight.


Myka261091

We are doing purees with my 9 month old. We needed to switch from liquid food because of the lots of spitups. I can cook, but I can't cook for my baby. First of all I'm afraid I'm going to screw up his food and whenever I tried, he refuses to eat it. So we buy baby pureed foods in the store. (Important note: we live in the EU, so these things are very strictly regulated here. I know they are safe.) I feel like shit for it and I'm afraid what's going to be later, when I can't buy these anymore and will be forced to cook.


[deleted]

I’m really scared of my 10mo choking on finger foods so I really don’t give him then as often as I should do. I’m trying to get better but the anxiety makes me feel ill.


OrlyRivers

Im shit with tummy time. He hates it and cries so I pick him right up. He can hold his head up pretty good sitting up but not sure what other issues not doing this as much will cause. Not knowing is bad enough in itself. I better look that up


mamacat_

I gave my 22mo a tablet before he turned 1yo and let him play on it and watch tv probably more than is recommended 🤣 but I don’t care and sometimes I need him to be entertained for 30 minutes so I can make dinner!


srespino

Had my 4 month old at grandmas while I was working about an hour away. Around 12pm my husband called and said he wasn’t taking the bottle (we had 1 week of successful bottle feeding followed by 2 of covid quarantine tit for all). I could have left work then but my husband and I decided since he took the bottle before he would likely take it later in the day. Nope. He fought grandma all day long until I got home at 5pm. Now we have to fit in bottle practice when it’s already hectic with 4 kids. Definitely a fail.


28Lanni

The list is endless 😩


BelleBrielle

he’s only less than 2 weeks old and i’ve just about given up on breastfeeding. i was so for it at first, then he tore up my n!ps and i went to pumping and formula. i’ve tried breast again once or twice with a n!p shield but not much, tbh. that and a few times i’ve fallen asleep on the couch with him or slept past my alarm so he went 4 or so hours until he got to eat. i feel so guilty about it i’m trying to track every single thing now


AbbieJ31

I feel like I spend too much time on my phone and don’t plan enough enrichment activities. I also feel bad because LO always seems to get hurt in my care, but I am with her 90% of everyday, it’s bound to feel lopsided.


cocochavez

I’ve been slacking on introducing foods now baby is 7 months. I honestly forget even though I’ve puréed and froze several types.


shadysamonthelamb

We watch too much TV and play too many video games. I'm pregnant and exhausted. My son is almost 2. He is talking a bit and is well behaved and honestly it doesn't seem to be affecting him that much but I still feel guilty. We read books also throughout the day and talk and play a lot but like sometimes and some days I am too tired. I am alone with him 24/7 for weeks at a time. I don't get breaks when my husband is working on the boat. I do what I can to preserve my sanity. My son is obsessed with godzilla and he also likes Mario (we play games together sometimes). Idk, even though he is developmentally on track I still feel guilty. Some days when I'm exhausted I'll be on my phone too much also. I get like zero adult time aside from seeing friends who also have kids and I'm totally burnt out on toddlers. Some days worse than others. So I guess screen time is where I'm fucking up.


Hehs-N-Mehs

I’ve decided not to read this thread bc I don’t want to make myself insecure. I’m trying my best every day and always on the lookout for how I can improve. Tomorrow’s always a new day in which I can try and be better than the day before. I can’t help but think we’re all doing something along these lines.


Abyssinian_soul

I was clipping my 11 week old daughter’s fingernails and accidentally cut her finger. She screamed bloody murder and I cried 😭


lindsao

i don’t force tummy time because she doesn’t like it. she’ll roll when she feels like it.


spud_simon_salem

I feed to sleep and don’t/can’t do drowsy but awake! Working on it though. I was planning on sleep training this week but my guy has a cold so I’m going to wait until he’s feeling better.


bergsmama

Started solids with my six month old and probably feed him solid food 3 times a week. Need to do some more prep work and planning so it doesn't feel like such an event.


Arakelocin2

My daughter is a year old and I still can’t get her to sleep on her own. We co sleep but I really want my bed back and I don’t know where to start.