Most people find the first six to eight weeks to be the hardest with a new baby. And, although people may not openly discuss many of the challenges in these early weeks of parenthood (if at all), there are a number of common hurdles you may face at this time.
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage. The more responsive you are, the more secure your baby will feel.
Every stage of parenting has its challenges, but one poll reveals what age most parents feel they struggled with the most.
The earliest years of parenting are most demanding of time and energy, most likely to cause “role overload,” and most disruptive to one's sleep, work, and marriage.
Older parents are generally less at risk for depression than younger ones. Parents still in their early 20s appear to have the hardest time because they are struggling with their own move from adolescence to adulthood while at the same time learning to be parents.
These little ones are developing their language, memory and imagination, and it's a time of discovery, as parents begin to see their kid's personality shine. It's also a time when both kids and parents struggle with unpredictability, expectations and boundary setting, particularly in uncertain situations.
The majority of parents with adult kids agree ages of 0 to 4 were the most stressful, and 29 percent say age 3 was the most difficult time for them.
However, many babies tend to get "easier" around 3 to 4 months old. Around this age, infants may begin to sleep longer stretches and feed on a more predictable schedule. You may also start to adjust to your new set of responsibilities as a parent. This being said, every baby is different, as is every family.
After a couple weeks, the extreme feelings usually subside. At three months, you'll see progress. And finally, at about six months you'll be totally back to normal. If you're in the middle of some serious baby blues, hold on tight.
12 weeks old baby
If your baby has been wakeful and prone to fits of crying, feel reassured that there are probably easier days ahead. There is generally a steady improvement in unsettledness from now on and babies tend to be a little easier to handle.
At this age, kids are becoming more independent – they're definitely not toddlers anymore, and they can communicate well and manage a lot of self-care. Because of this, a lot of parents feel they're finally through the challenging toddler phase, and then BAM!
First six months are pretty hard, especially with your first. Light at the end of tunnel is that after 1 yr they really do get easier. We're at 6 months and we've had easier patches and more difficult patches. If your finding things tough, have a look at the wonder weeks app.
Experts recommend waiting at least 18 months between pregnancies because it reduces the risk of your youngest child being preterm or low birthweight (especially if you're over 35).
6-12 month olds might sleep better but now they can explore on their own and wreak havoc. Along the way, some of the burdens of each phase ease up, slowly but surely.
“You shouldn't feel ashamed for not loving your time with a newborn. It's rough, and it's totally normal to feel that way.
According to survey results, after nearly five months postpartum, most new moms settle into their new routines and gain confidence in their parenting abilities: They learn what baby's different cries mean; they stop worrying about dealing with baby in public; they learn to be armed more snacks, spare clothes and ...
Parent Tip. Recent brain research indicates that birth to age three are the most important years in a child's development. Here are some tips to consider during your child's early years: Be warm, loving, and responsive.
While it'll get easier with each passing day, you can expect caring for your newborn will be much easier by the time they're about 3 months old. As you're waiting with anticipation for when caring for your newborn gets easier, it's important to make sure you're taking good care of yourself.
In what has now come to be known as the “infant cry curve,” mothers reported gradual increases in their infants' cry duration until 6 weeks, where crying and fussing had a “peak” average duration of 2.75 h per day.
The Bottom Line
The term newborn is often used for babies under 28 days or even up to 2 or 3 months of age, according to experts. After this period (and even during the newborn stage), your little one may be referred to as a baby or an infant up until they're around 1 year of age.
Grow your family to at least four children! According to a study out of Australia's Edith Cowan University, parents with the most life satisfaction (which means those who are the happiest) are those that have four or more children.
According to some random online survey, the most stressful number of kids to have is three. In fact, having four is supposed to be less stressful than three kids.
The onset of adolescence, generally between 12 and 14, is the hardest age for a teenage girl. The hormones of puberty cause her to feel her emotions more intensely but she has not yet developed the reasoning skills to know how to handle them.
Having three children creates such a sense of familial joy that the extra work (mostly) feels worth it: You get three times the love – From the time they are born, your kids love you. Passionately and demonstrably. With three kids, you get that three times over.
Four-year-olds are usually better behaved than three-year-olds because they've developed the social skills to alter their behavior based on their situation and location. At three years old, toddlers are still learning to regulate their own emotions and have a harder time controlling their actions.