You need a lot of resilence and patience to survive life with a baby. But soon they grow into toddlerhood and things keep changing. Try to enjoy every moment as they are fleeting. So good that you are documenting this time. When in doubt about what to do when they are fussy: rock them or walk around with them.
The way he smells now will never leave you (I mean the good smells, not the spit up and diapers, ha). I can instantly call to mind the smell of my daughter's skin when she was 3 months old, many years later. Also, you're now at the end of the 4th trimester. Everything about being a parent starts to evolve from here. You've made it through the very hardest bit, and although new challenges will arise, nothing will ever again be quite like those first three months with a firstborn. Enjoy!
Enjoy all the moments as much as you can. I remember last year the first 6 months with my daughter felt like I am a robot on autopilot and lack of sleep- It was hard , and yet beautiful. This small and fragile being, how close they need to feel you. How their whole livelihood depends on us. It is beautiful but in the moment, it is very hard to truly enjoy those. But now looking back, I wish I took more time to stop and soak all those little moments. They really do grow so fast. For me the change came at 6 months when my girl started crawling, and at 10 when she walked. From there it is crazy how things will change.
My tip for you what really helped us, as I think you are soon headed for the 3-4 month sleep regression, is to start adopting a good bed time routines. It is really amazing how this will help you out. During the regression, it is really hard to stay consequent because we all want sleep. But it does help the baby to give him security in the routine. Always do the same step in the same order.
I highly recommend getting the "Huckleberry app", it is an app that gives you tips on baby sleep ( no sleep training here), and helps you ensure they get good naps and night sleep. I was skeptic at first but our girl and most moms i recommended this to and who followed it had their kids sleep improve significantly ( I am talking 6h+ plus sleep at night :) ).
So thats it for now with my long mommy post :D But I hope you found that useful and do not hesitate to contact me if you need more baby tips ^^
Enjoy a nice sunny 1st of may. Greetings from Bonn
Thank you so much, Meo, for sharing your memories and the kind words. We have been using the Huckleberry app since Day 1! Glad it has your vote of confidence. Some of our friends have just passed/suffered through the sleep regression, and it has made us more mindful about his sleep routine! 🤞🏼
Not a parent, but I spent enough time looking after both my niece and nephew to know this: right now, you know exactly where Rohan is. You lay him down somewhere, you know he isn't going to get very far. Savour this moment, because once he discovers that he can move better, and faster, and farther, on his feet (which will happen before you know it) you are going to miss these days.
I still have absolutely no idea how small children can move so quickly, but they can be halfway down the road before you know they're not where they're meant to be.
Personally, I think asking people for parenting advice online might be one of the bravest things I've ever seen. 😅
I'm sure I have tons of advice but am in the completely different angst-y phase of having two teens and can't remember any of it! Once, when my kids were little, maybe 1 and 4 or thereabouts, I was in a town where I was pushing one in the stroller and had one in the Ergo carrier (oh, I remember one piece of advice -- find a good chiropractor or physical therapist or whatever works for you *before* your neck goes out), and a woman passed me walking the other direction and admired my kids and then said with a beautiful, open grin, "Enjoy it!"
A second later she paused and turned back and said, "I remember when people used to tell me that and it made me feel like crying because some of the days were so hard." And I don't remember what else she said because it had been a very hard week with both of them and I felt like crying. What I do remember is a) her compassion in noticing and remembering that it's not all easy and sweet, and b) the reminder to myself that finding some, or even many, days difficult didn't make me a bad person or any less loving. Parenting is beautiful and miraculous and huge and the difficulties can be overwhelming and also huge and it's okay to acknowledge that.
I guess my advice is always, for both the difficult and the beautiful: you're not alone.
Haha, well, I do not feel obligated to follow everything, but it IS nice to know I am not alone! Thank you for that story and the advice. More than anything else, this experience has helped me realize the importance of community!
Dear Nishant, try to relax and just enjoy the moments. The tired mornings, & the fussy nights will pass but they too will be memories. I'm a grandmother now but the memories stay. BTW, I love seeing your sketches in colour now!
Thank you, Linda! We are already hard-pressed to recall the first couple of weeks. My mother insists we always looked sleep-deprived and miserable, but memories have a way of restructuring themselves too. 🥰
What a special time for your family. Thank you for sharing! Take all the photos/videos/etc. mostly, just enjoy the time. It’s so so precious 💗
We loved going for a walk with our little ones at that age, though more difficult with the second as they’re only 17 months apart. That was in 2020, and family walks were all we had. I remember them so fondly now.
My top tips for baby is a vibrating chair, which is wonderful for soothing and just something different, though doesn’t work well once they roll over. As soon as they are able, I also recommend some type of bouncer with activities on it. Oh the baby squeals!
I can't say that I'm a parent but I can say from hearing others talk these days go by really fast. My advice would be to take as many photos, short videos for your family, etc. as possible. That way when your child is older they will have more to look back on and you also will be able to look at them to remember, etc. As I said, I'm NOT a parent but I bet the silent moments that you have I bet are the best moments of being a parent. Capture little things...like I bet you noticed if the fingernails are the same as yours or your wifes, etc. If the nose is the same, the face is the same in any way, etc. It's beautiful to be borne healthy but always, always remember that things may change as your child gets older, so you are not as traumatized and your family is ready. My mother had 5, lost one, one (Me) ended up having Epilepsy that showed up at 11yrs, both brothers ended up with HUGE mental illnesses and my sister is mildly mentally ill. As children, we were one very happy family but completely unready for the future. We were all healthy when borne. Yours may be wonderful but it's truly best to always remember life is a journey. Right now, it's a beautiful one, so please hold onto that and be happy!!! If anything DOES happen, you'll have your beautiful photos, etc. to look back on. Your family will have those beautiful, beautiful memories as well!!! That's so meaningful.
Thank you for sharing, Angela. 🙌🏽 We just printed a photobook of his first 3 months and hope to continue the habit with every major milestone. He definitely has my fingers and my wife's nose. 🥰
Thankyou for sharing this moment and video with us, I have a 17 month old daughter and it was nice to be reminded of those early months again. I think how you are capturing these moments to remember them later is great, I found it tough to stay on top of doing it alongside the sleep deprivation and it's something I regret a bit ( still, I have lots of photos and videos to help me remember!)
From my memories of my little one, whenever she was going through a change it effected her sleep ( so....quite a lot of the time!) and we structured alot around her cues and were mindful of when she might need some extra cuddles and milk and sleep. It was exhausting, so we were kind to ourselves and had supportive friends round who understood what we were enduring and could help us laugh through the tough days.
I will say, to anyone who is reading this post, that if you know someone in these early stages, going round and doing their dishes, or bringing a coffee and cake or meal deal will mean the absolute world to them. It's kindness in a easy action for you, but something they might be struggling to keep on top of. Everyone I've done this to has remembered and mentioned it years later, and I remember everyone who offered this kindness to me in those early months. 🙂
You need a lot of resilence and patience to survive life with a baby. But soon they grow into toddlerhood and things keep changing. Try to enjoy every moment as they are fleeting. So good that you are documenting this time. When in doubt about what to do when they are fussy: rock them or walk around with them.
Thank you Kate! Soon this phase will seem like a blip, but it feels so long right now. And so much has already changed about him. 🥰
Such tender moments captured wonderfully on paper. The video is like a meditation.
Thank you Renato!
The way he smells now will never leave you (I mean the good smells, not the spit up and diapers, ha). I can instantly call to mind the smell of my daughter's skin when she was 3 months old, many years later. Also, you're now at the end of the 4th trimester. Everything about being a parent starts to evolve from here. You've made it through the very hardest bit, and although new challenges will arise, nothing will ever again be quite like those first three months with a firstborn. Enjoy!
Thank you Rebecca! What a coincidence that just this morning I was holding him and thinking about his particular smell. ❤️
This is so true!
Enjoy all the moments as much as you can. I remember last year the first 6 months with my daughter felt like I am a robot on autopilot and lack of sleep- It was hard , and yet beautiful. This small and fragile being, how close they need to feel you. How their whole livelihood depends on us. It is beautiful but in the moment, it is very hard to truly enjoy those. But now looking back, I wish I took more time to stop and soak all those little moments. They really do grow so fast. For me the change came at 6 months when my girl started crawling, and at 10 when she walked. From there it is crazy how things will change.
My tip for you what really helped us, as I think you are soon headed for the 3-4 month sleep regression, is to start adopting a good bed time routines. It is really amazing how this will help you out. During the regression, it is really hard to stay consequent because we all want sleep. But it does help the baby to give him security in the routine. Always do the same step in the same order.
I highly recommend getting the "Huckleberry app", it is an app that gives you tips on baby sleep ( no sleep training here), and helps you ensure they get good naps and night sleep. I was skeptic at first but our girl and most moms i recommended this to and who followed it had their kids sleep improve significantly ( I am talking 6h+ plus sleep at night :) ).
So thats it for now with my long mommy post :D But I hope you found that useful and do not hesitate to contact me if you need more baby tips ^^
Enjoy a nice sunny 1st of may. Greetings from Bonn
Thank you so much, Meo, for sharing your memories and the kind words. We have been using the Huckleberry app since Day 1! Glad it has your vote of confidence. Some of our friends have just passed/suffered through the sleep regression, and it has made us more mindful about his sleep routine! 🤞🏼
You are welcome. Being a parent is not easy but you seem to be doing great . ✨️☺️ think about the day where you maybe go out and sketch together.
Glad to see you are also a huckleberry fan🤭
Can't wait to follow more on your parenting journey . Its refreshing to alo hear how men go through it 🤗
Not a parent, but I spent enough time looking after both my niece and nephew to know this: right now, you know exactly where Rohan is. You lay him down somewhere, you know he isn't going to get very far. Savour this moment, because once he discovers that he can move better, and faster, and farther, on his feet (which will happen before you know it) you are going to miss these days.
I still have absolutely no idea how small children can move so quickly, but they can be halfway down the road before you know they're not where they're meant to be.
Haha, that is so true, Gary! I am both excited and terrified of that time in our not-so-distant future.
Personally, I think asking people for parenting advice online might be one of the bravest things I've ever seen. 😅
I'm sure I have tons of advice but am in the completely different angst-y phase of having two teens and can't remember any of it! Once, when my kids were little, maybe 1 and 4 or thereabouts, I was in a town where I was pushing one in the stroller and had one in the Ergo carrier (oh, I remember one piece of advice -- find a good chiropractor or physical therapist or whatever works for you *before* your neck goes out), and a woman passed me walking the other direction and admired my kids and then said with a beautiful, open grin, "Enjoy it!"
A second later she paused and turned back and said, "I remember when people used to tell me that and it made me feel like crying because some of the days were so hard." And I don't remember what else she said because it had been a very hard week with both of them and I felt like crying. What I do remember is a) her compassion in noticing and remembering that it's not all easy and sweet, and b) the reminder to myself that finding some, or even many, days difficult didn't make me a bad person or any less loving. Parenting is beautiful and miraculous and huge and the difficulties can be overwhelming and also huge and it's okay to acknowledge that.
I guess my advice is always, for both the difficult and the beautiful: you're not alone.
Haha, well, I do not feel obligated to follow everything, but it IS nice to know I am not alone! Thank you for that story and the advice. More than anything else, this experience has helped me realize the importance of community!
Dear Nishant, try to relax and just enjoy the moments. The tired mornings, & the fussy nights will pass but they too will be memories. I'm a grandmother now but the memories stay. BTW, I love seeing your sketches in colour now!
Thank you, Linda! We are already hard-pressed to recall the first couple of weeks. My mother insists we always looked sleep-deprived and miserable, but memories have a way of restructuring themselves too. 🥰
What a special time for your family. Thank you for sharing! Take all the photos/videos/etc. mostly, just enjoy the time. It’s so so precious 💗
We loved going for a walk with our little ones at that age, though more difficult with the second as they’re only 17 months apart. That was in 2020, and family walks were all we had. I remember them so fondly now.
My top tips for baby is a vibrating chair, which is wonderful for soothing and just something different, though doesn’t work well once they roll over. As soon as they are able, I also recommend some type of bouncer with activities on it. Oh the baby squeals!
Rohan loves his bouncer! Thank you for the lovely words, Rikki. 🥰
I can't say that I'm a parent but I can say from hearing others talk these days go by really fast. My advice would be to take as many photos, short videos for your family, etc. as possible. That way when your child is older they will have more to look back on and you also will be able to look at them to remember, etc. As I said, I'm NOT a parent but I bet the silent moments that you have I bet are the best moments of being a parent. Capture little things...like I bet you noticed if the fingernails are the same as yours or your wifes, etc. If the nose is the same, the face is the same in any way, etc. It's beautiful to be borne healthy but always, always remember that things may change as your child gets older, so you are not as traumatized and your family is ready. My mother had 5, lost one, one (Me) ended up having Epilepsy that showed up at 11yrs, both brothers ended up with HUGE mental illnesses and my sister is mildly mentally ill. As children, we were one very happy family but completely unready for the future. We were all healthy when borne. Yours may be wonderful but it's truly best to always remember life is a journey. Right now, it's a beautiful one, so please hold onto that and be happy!!! If anything DOES happen, you'll have your beautiful photos, etc. to look back on. Your family will have those beautiful, beautiful memories as well!!! That's so meaningful.
Thank you for sharing, Angela. 🙌🏽 We just printed a photobook of his first 3 months and hope to continue the habit with every major milestone. He definitely has my fingers and my wife's nose. 🥰
Thankyou for sharing this moment and video with us, I have a 17 month old daughter and it was nice to be reminded of those early months again. I think how you are capturing these moments to remember them later is great, I found it tough to stay on top of doing it alongside the sleep deprivation and it's something I regret a bit ( still, I have lots of photos and videos to help me remember!)
From my memories of my little one, whenever she was going through a change it effected her sleep ( so....quite a lot of the time!) and we structured alot around her cues and were mindful of when she might need some extra cuddles and milk and sleep. It was exhausting, so we were kind to ourselves and had supportive friends round who understood what we were enduring and could help us laugh through the tough days.
I will say, to anyone who is reading this post, that if you know someone in these early stages, going round and doing their dishes, or bringing a coffee and cake or meal deal will mean the absolute world to them. It's kindness in a easy action for you, but something they might be struggling to keep on top of. Everyone I've done this to has remembered and mentioned it years later, and I remember everyone who offered this kindness to me in those early months. 🙂