Hello, let me introduce myself first..
For the first 30 years of my life, everything was smooth and worry-free. I was my parents’ most beloved child, found my true love in college, and happily married him after graduation.
At work, I was my boss’s most valued employee. Whenever I was in charge of a project, colleagues would inevitably say, “Oh, then I’m totally at ease.” I was constantly named “Employee of the Year,” with generous bonuses every year.
Later, I started my own business. Within just three months, I had broken into the market and started making money. By the fifth month, I was earning twice my previous salary. Growth was steady month after month. Right when the business needed more hands, I serendipitously met an amazing partner, and the company reached a whole new level.
Really, it seemed like at every step, whatever I needed, a pair of hands would always place it right in front of me, just in time.
My Two Girls: Ellie & Mia
Meet Ellie, My Firstborn
In 2020, my husband and I decided to have a child. After trying for over a year, we finally got the news in 2021 that a little one was on the way. In 2022, we welcomed our first child, Ellie. She made me a mother.
She is utterly adorable—big eyes, rosy skin, chubby little hands. Every time I look at her, I can’t help but give her a kiss. She is pure joy, and I love her more each day.
But as a first-time mom, I faced unprecedented difficulties. The postpartum tearing wouldn’t heal, and the pain was excruciating. Clogged milk ducts made my breasts hard as rocks. The severe sleep deprivation… And what was even more crushing was that, with zero parenting experience, I was clueless when faced with her unexplained wailing, night terrors, refusal to nurse, constipation, diarrhea, fevers… I desperately searched online, longing for one accurate, truly useful answer!
It was during this time that I thought, once I make it through this “dark” path, I must leave a light on for other new moms.
And Then Came Mia
Ellie had just turned one when I got pregnant again. In 2024, we welcomed our second daughter, Mia.
Completely different from Ellie, Mia is a great eater and sleeper. Although she had her fussy moments in the first two months, starting almost from month three, she became super easygoing. She feeds on schedule, gradually sleeps through the night, loves her solid foods, and adapted quickly when I had to stop breastfeeding due to mastitis.
This made me realize just how vastly different babies can be! It made me even more determined to write about my experiences.
Why I Had to Start This Blog
The Catalyst: A Life Pivoted
After Mia was born, my business also began to decline sharply. I had no choice but to close it and become a full-time mom. My work no longer involves Excel and Word, but instead revolves around changing diapers, washing bottles, making baby food, and managing household chores…
This has been a monumental challenge for me. All my past achievements seem irrelevant now. Managing two young children has brought me a sense of frustration I’ve never known before.
The Daily Reality
They are always fighting over things. When one is in my arms, the other immediately demands to be held too. When I try to cook, Ellie wants me to read her a book. When I attempt to load the washing machine, Mia has a diaper blowout, and I must drop everything to change her…
By the time I finish all that, I see the cup of hot coffee on the table has gone cold again. And it’s not until evening that I remember, “Oh my goodness, the clothes are still in the hamper, unwashed!”
Of course, being a mom is filled with happiness, but that doesn’t negate how hard it is.
My Promise to You
Because I’ve walked this path myself, I won’t just tell you how joyful motherhood is, like many websites do. I want to share my real, unfiltered experiences so every new mom can find a “companion” here.
I want to tell you: you are not alone. What you’re going through, I’ve been there too. Your breakdowns, your helplessness, your moments of losing control—I’ve had them all. You don’t need to feel guilty. This is just a small, necessary stretch of the journey for every mom.
My Hope for This Space
I really want to share my parenting experiences—not just the warm, glowing moments, but to honestly document the pitfalls I’ve stumbled into, the tears I’ve shed, and the “survival wisdom” I’ve scraped together in utter exhaustion.
The Goal: A Mom’s Toolkit
I hope this blog becomes a “mom’s toolkit,” filled not with vague theories, but with:
- Practical Tips: Like how to quickly figure out why a baby is crying, tried-and-true methods for dealing with clogged ducts, or how to efficiently manage the daily grind with twins (or two under two) solo.
- Pitfall Avoidance Guides: Sharing the baby products I regret buying the most, and those “game-changer” parenting hacks. Letting you know which parenting anxieties you can let go of, and which principles are worth holding onto.
- A Community for Moms: I hope my stories connect me with more moms like you. We can cheer each other on in the comments, share our own tricks, turning the storms we face alone into a journey we walk together.
The Bigger Vision
My previous career taught me to analyze data, solve problems, and optimize processes. Now, I’m applying all those skills to this new “position” of Mom. I want to prove that a mom’s value is absolutely not confined to the home. The mindset, resilience, and creativity we built in our careers can shine just as brightly—perhaps even brighter—in this more complex, long-term “project” of raising humans, and can even be transformed into a force that helps others.
My hope is simple: that every mom who opens this blog can let out a sigh of relief and say, “So it’s not just me.” Then, she can find a bit of practical info, a dose of comforting solidarity, and return to her sweet, chaotic mom-life with a little more confidence and a little less weight on her shoulders.
This road? Let’s walk it together.
iris2717
member
Re: non-cio sleep training advise
Keep your expectations real; most babies don't STTN at this age. Waking 2-4 times sounds pretty normal. It could also be exacerbated by a growth spurt or teething.
When baby wakes, give him a bottle or a boob, NOT water. Babies should be getting all their water from BM/formula. Don't give rice cereal either; many people advise this but it doesn't actually make babies sleep longer.
He's probably awake at 4 because he's hungry. You could try feeding him then and seeing if you can get him back down, or try doing a dream feed before you go to bed at 10-11 pm; this might help him sleep longer.
i have heard wonderful things about "The No Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. Also, "The Happiest Baby on The Block" By Harvey Karp and "The Baby Book" by Dr. William Sears may be of use to you.
Good luck!
This.
100 times over, this.
We're going through the same thing. DD just turned 6 months old. She started STTN around 2 1/2 months and then stopped when she turned 4 months. I know the PP said to keep your expectations real and that waking up 2-4 times at this age is normal but it's hard to do that when your LO was STTN and isn't anymore. It's especially hard when you work FT. I am still on maternity leave so many days I will nap with my DD in bed but I go back to work next month so it's going to be tough.
If your DS wakes up at night, I would offer a paci, or bottle, not water. If you are just offering a couple of sips of water every time he wakes up at night, maybe he is hungry. Maybe he is going through a growth spurt and he needs that extra food? Do you feed him at 4AM when he wakes up? I would feed him and try to put him back to bed. My DD has also been waking between 4-5 for the day. I bring her back into bed with me and nurse her. She will sometimes go back to sleep. On days when she doesn't, I put her in the swing and that usually puts her back to sleep.
I would read through the No Cry Sleep Solution. She has some good ideas in there. The thing that she stresses though is that you really have to be consistent which I have not been.
Definitely have realistic expectations!! Babies might STTN at this age but the reality is most still need to eat at night. Also, most babies who STTN early on will start night waking again - so so so normal.
A 6 month old is far more distracted during the day than a 2 month old...meaning they may not take in enough calories and need to make that up at night. Also if you are working, he may be waking because he misses you. In either case, he needs to eat! Try the dream feed as that might help prevent further wakings. Or at least feeding him at the first waking may cut out others.
I personally would at least have him sleep in the same room to minimize the amount of getting up you have to do; you will feel far more rested if you don't have to fully wake even with the same number of wakings. And the No Cry Sleep Solution is a good read.
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
Babywearing Guide ** Newborn Carriers
Cloth Diaper Guide
Safe Bed Sharing Info
I know you're past the 4 month wakeful, but I recommend you read the article on Kellymom about it. I still mentally reference it when I'm having a particularly rough night.
https://kellymom.com/parenting/nighttime/4mo-sleep/
Great advice above
Please no more water - very dangerous at this age
I really try to consider sleep to be an individual thing for babies - there is no standard and it makes me sad when people ask if you have a good baby (as in do they sleep all night).
I read somewhere - Its time or tears. We are going with time and there certainly are times when I want to cry over waking every 3-4 hours for the previous 9 months. Just recently our DD started sleeping through the night on her own. I didn't have to train her to do that. Its a amazing. We bedshare and the last two nights I moved her to her crib once I nursed her to sleep and she slept 6-8 hours. It feels great to have waited for her to be ready for sleeping longer stretches. When she wakes up, she isn't afraid to find herself in her crib and she lets us know when she's ready to come back into bed with us. It may be really miserable right now, but try to put your head in the game and not move too fast trying to get baby to do something they aren't quite ready for.
I've heard great things about the No Cry Sleep Solution - maybe look into that. Its AP supported.
What just happened in my diaper?!
Great advise! Thank you so much!
I will stop giving him water and just wait it out! And will def check out the No Cry Sleep Solution.
Thank you ladies!