Are you a baby person?

JJBoden · December 2014

Yes, I know.. We're all having babies, but are you a baby person? I was until my 2nd born. My first was soooo easy. He never cried and was just a joy to be around. My second had lots of allergies where I could eat very little. He had blood in his stool for a long time. He had a terrible time teething too. Lots of blisters and blood. He's a sweet little guy but very needy. He still doesn't sleep through the night most nights. It's sad but I am scared of the baby stage again. I'm praying for an easy baby like my first, but you get what you get. I love my youngest dearly, he's just worn me down. I plan on cutting out dairy a month before the next is born for starters and add whatever else might be needed to be cut out if my diet later. ( I nurse) Anyway, so is everyone just super excited about the baby stage or is anyone scared like me?

specialsn0wflake · December 2014

Honestly, no. I'm not a kid person either. I don't like anyone else's kids but my own. My son was a complete butthole the first year of his life and I think I'm crazy for doing this again.

But, I love being a mom. It sucked at first, but three years later and I can't imagine life without him.

lexyraejay · December 2014

I'm a little of both

I love squishy, little newborns, but the night feedings wear me out so badly. My fertility didn't return until DD was 15 months old, but I would have cried for 2 weeks straight if I had gotten pregnant with #2 before DD was sleeping through the night. There were a few times when I just had to walk away and let DD cry (in a safe place) while I took a few moments to regain my composure. I just would remind myself that this stage is relatively short and I'd pray for patience and I'd pray to ask her guardian angel to calm her down too.

JJBoden · December 2014

specialsn0wflake said:

Honestly, no. I'm not a kid person either. I don't like anyone else's kids but my own. My son was a complete butthole the first year of his life and I think I'm crazy for doing this again. But, I love being a mom. It sucked at first, but three years later and I can't imagine life without him.

Thanks for the chuckle and helping me feel better! The butthole comment made me LOL! I too find some other people's kids incredibly annoying. I can't handle whining. My boys are both really tough if they fall or whatever and know not to beg for stuff in stores. When I'm out with friends and their kids excessively whine it annoys me so very much! I love the kids I worked with as a therapist. Had lots of tolerance for them, they had rough lives.. Regular whiney kids.. No thanks! ETA: typos

Swanigam · December 2014

Yeah I'm definitely not a kid person. I love my daughter, she was such an easy baby and a good toddler, I'm slightly terrified this one will have colic or just be really fussy! I don't think I would be able to handle it.

My family always tells me they're surprised that I'm such a good mom, as I never showed any interest in my younger cousins and would never hold the babies or play with the kids etc..

picklesx · December 2014

I loved the baby stage with my first. He was such a good baby, though, that I'm afraid this one will be difficult and I'll become a baby-hater because of it.

JJBoden · December 2014

It's sad I used to love babies. After my second I see a baby and think " better you than me"! I'm tarnished and scared! I'm possibly screwed too if baby #3 is anything like #2!

erikaluna01 · December 2014

Same here! Terrified of the newborn stage again and possibly having another colicky baby. DD was extremely gassy the first 4 months of her life, while I was breastfeeding. I can't get over the fact that my breast milk made her that way. I'm just not willing to diet as I'm a very picky eater and have never been able to diet before!

Anyway, praying for a less gassy, more chill baby but I'll take what comes. I'm prepared for many bouts of crying for no reason, cluster feeding in the middle of the night (every hour), no sleep, and practically not going anywhere because now I'll have 2 kids with DH never home. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way!

knjzacher · December 2014

I'm a newborn up to about 4m person but I don't like other people's kids older than that, cause they're usually turds. I love mine though!

Yesterday I was reading the pregnancy journal I kept for my first, and on the page where I described the birth and all the details, I read something that made me burst into tears. There is an area where I am supposed to describe what it sounded like when she cried the first time: I wrote that it didn't sound like I had expected. Her cries sounded musical and beautiful, and that I had an immediate connection to her sound, and I knew I was Mommy.

I would not have written that even a week earlier, because I counted myself as NOT someone who is gaga over babies or kids. People can change very quickly.

JJBoden · December 2014

SharkFarts said:

My first was easy. My second taught me that I had no idea what I was doing. Newborns are hard. I think my favorite stage is about 18-24 months. Their personality starts coming out and they're more independent. For DD2 independence = a happier baby.

That is my favorite stage as well! So so cute! Still babies but with tons of personality and no big tantrums yet. I even like 2 year olds... 3 sucks. Might even take a tough baby over age 3

Cliffhaven · December 2014

I've never been a baby person despite our first having been a really good baby. It's when they start walking and talking then I really enjoy them.

DD is suddenly so grown up this year (at 7 going on 12) and it hit me last summer that my chubby awkward squishy kid was gone forever and had been replaced with this lean, beautiful pre-teen-ish creature.

We had been delaying deciding whether to expand our family but when that last ounce of baby fat disappeared I needed to be able to squish a LO one more time. So here we are, almost 23 weeks with #2!

Where did this go?:

JJBoden · December 2014

Cliffhaven said:

I've never been a baby person despite our first having been a really good baby. It's when they start walking and talking then I really enjoy them. DD is suddenly so grown up this year (at 7 going on 12) and it hit me last summer that my chubby awkward squishy kid was gone forever and had been replaced with this lean, beautiful pre-teen-ish creature. We had been delaying deciding whether to expand our family but when that last ounce of baby fat disappeared I needed to be able to squish a LO one more time. So here we are, almost 23 weeks with #2! Where did this go?:

So cute! Even though my 2nd has been a challenge it is really fun to do it all again. My first and second are almost 6 years apart. Watching them together is amazing! I love the far apart spacing! We do get the battles of " he broke my Legos" but overall they get along great. My ODS is 8 now. I do really like that age too, minus homework battles.

He can be sassy at times too, but dang when he's sweet is he ever sweet. Anyway, enjoy #2

jamiesc58 · December 2014

I loved the newborn stage but I was lucky to have 2 relatively easy babies. I am really nervous that I won't be as lucky this time. There are so many things for me to learn even being a 3rd time mom. I just keep my fingers crossed that we get through it no matter what may come. I agree with the pp's who favor the 18-24 month stage. They are so darn cute and really start showing their own unique personality.

apperdoodles · December 2014

specialsn0wflake said:

Honestly, no. I'm not a kid person either. I don't like anyone else's kids but my own.

Same here, I don't seek out holding my nieces and nephews, or coo at random babies. I haven't had a child yet, but I know I will love my own. My mom keeps waiting for my 'maternal instinct' to kick in and start gushing over other people's babies and sculptures of mothers with their children. Don't think that is gonna happen.

I am totally freaked out about the whole idea of raising another human, but that's another story.

Cliffhaven · December 2014

Thanks @JJBoden‌

Fingers crossed your #3 and our #2 get the memo about how to be chilled out easy infants

Stephmichellep · December 2014

DH and I were actually talking about this last night. Neither one of us has any experience with babies since our younger siblings were born 20+ years ago. When we're at family functions we both decline holding the cousins babies. Unless the mom directly asks me "Will you take him/her for me?" I avoid it if at all possible. I don't want to be stuck holding the baby for a long period of time. DH always declines because he's nervous he's gonna accidentally hurt the baby BC of how big he is (6'4" 250lbs) but I think that's a pretty common guy worry. That being said, we both love kids and have wanted them for years. But we're both gonna be first time parents, so I'm curious to see if we'll turn into baby people after this little one is here, or stay kind of not baby people. I guess we'll see! Hopefully we'll get lucky like some of you ladies and have a wonderfully behaved first. Knock on wood...

AshleighK305 · December 2014

I loved every stage with my first son, he was the easiest baby!! I told myself I was absolutely done after son #2 came along though. He had colic, he was sick so much the first year, he didn't sleep through the night until he was damn near 2, and he's just generally been more of a pain than the my first lol. BUT he is my only snuggler, and he can be the sweetest when he wants to be. I'm terrified that McKenna is going to be difficult like him but I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that she's more like her oldest brother! I love newborns. Toddlers are so much fun too though because they are becoming their own little people. My oldest is 8 and I feel lost trying to keep up with him lol, I swear he just grew up overnight!!

wolowizard · December 2014

I have always loved babies and kids. I've always been able to give them back when they get too much to handle or I don't know what to do though. I'm nervous about having this baby, and being responsible for someone else's life. My husband has adamantly refused to hold any baby under the age of one. He loves them, and plays with them from afar and kids love him.I know that he'll hold ours, but I know he's nervous too. We're going to be a big ole ball o' nerves come April.

MudLover · December 2014

I am a baby person. It's the older age I'm not a fan of....8 and up.

bride2bnVA · December 2014

Nope. People always try to hand me their newborns...and I am like, no thanks! I am always worried as soon I start holding them they will scream their heads off. I've never been the type of person to get super excited over seeing a baby. But I know things will be different when it is my own child.

specialsn0wflake · December 2014

apperdoodles said:

specialsn0wflake said:

Honestly, no. I'm not a kid person either. I don't like anyone else's kids but my own.

Same here, I don't seek out holding my nieces and nephews, or coo at random babies. I haven't had a child yet, but I know I will love my own. My mom keeps waiting for my 'maternal instinct' to kick in and start gushing over other people's babies and sculptures of mothers with their children. Don't think that is gonna happen.

I am totally freaked out about the whole idea of raising another human, but that's another story.

IMO, not freaking out over random babies doesn't make you any less maternal. For me, its a connection thing and I don't feel connected to random children, but thats never effected how I treat my own. I have a step son, he was 4 when I might him two years ago and I'm still struggling to connect to him, its an ongoing process for me. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful parent. Just wait till you head to L&D, I had a total meltdown over raising a tiny human, the thought of doing it again is terrifying!

JJBoden · December 2014

@AshleighK305‌ our kids are the same age.. Well my #2 won't be 3 until May. I've found with the 8 year old any talk of Minecraft makes you awesome! Haha Thank you @Cliffhaven‌! Hope the younger two get the memo! Haha

alexis95 · December 2014

I'm also a first time mom but I've always loved other people's babies. Even when my brother was born and I was 5 I always wanted to hold and feed him. I was excited when both of my cousins were born and my sister and I would always argue about who got to hold them, and I've always been quick to babysit for people with babies. I don't know why but I love holding them, feeding them, changing them and everything. So I'm really excited to have a baby of my own! I just hope he's an easy one cause even though I'm excited I'm also extremely terrified of not being able to give him back to anyone when he starts screaming and crying nonstop!

isha12345 · December 2014

i love babies my son was an awesome baby but unfortunately he couldn't make past the 4 months so yes im scared this time much more than before but let us all hope for the best

missab · December 2014

lovemymuttzillas said:
I'm another FTM with zero baby experience. I try to avoid holding other people's babies because I don't want to drop them or something. I've never been a baby / little kid person. My mom is the same way - although she's ridiculously excited for her granddaughter.

I'm pretty much terrified that we'll be responsible for this baby in a few months.

This exactly. I'm also a FTM with very little experience (or interest) in babies/kids. I'm not all that excited about having a newborn. I am looking much more forward to a stage where I can see a bit of his personality start to develop; up until then I fear just feeling like a milk factory/poop janitor. I'm hoping being realistic about that instead of expecting it to be sunshine and roses will help me to get through those tough, sleepless initial stages. So yes, fear, for sure. I know I'll love my kid...but I fear it will be a bit before I like him.

AshleighK305 · December 2014

JJBoden said:

@AshleighK305‌ our kids are the same age.. Well my #2 won't be 3 until May. I've found with the 8 year old any talk of Minecraft makes you awesome! Haha Thank you @Cliffhaven‌! Hope the younger two get the memo! Haha

haha but Minecraft makes no sense to me!!! He loves it thought and I did score major cool mom points for 1) getting him an iPad mini for Christmas and 2) downloading Minecraft onto said iPad lol! He is into Star Wars too, which I loved as a kid too so we can connect there!

Murran131 · December 2014

I think i'm a baby person... Hard to say until I get there I suppose. I absolutely fell in love with my nephew and then my niece when she came later and can't get enough of them. Other people's kids aren't that big of a deal to me, depends on the child I guess. Newborns are a little boring, but lovely to cuddle. That connection with my first nephew is really what sold me on babies, though; and I'm sure the with my own it will be much more incredible than that. I can't wait! And I'm terrified... But I also can't wait

AMShark · December 2014

I'm gonna be a FTM, and I've both excited and extremely nervous - especially since we'll have 2 babies arriving at once (again - thrilled and terrified).

I'm the youngest of 5 siblings, so I didn't know how I felt about babies until my first nephew arrived when I was 13. I've enjoyed every age of my nephews, who are all now in their 20's. My nieces too, for the most part (though, if I could, I'd turn back time on the 19 year old & erase all of her social media accounts, so I could avoid all of the "What were you thinking?" conversations I've had with her. Ugh. I hope my girl is an easier teen).

As far as non-family kids, I've always liked them in small groups. I spent a year as a substitute teacher, and that's where I learned that 30 kids under 12 is more than I ever want to be alone with in a room again. As it turns out, kids are not all that different from adults, and like adults, some of them are just jerks - but you've got to pretend like they aren't (or that there's still hope that they'll turn out alright - but really, where do you think jerks come from? Little kid jerks, that's where).

ElizabethSwann · December 2014

I pretty much only like my own kid.

Even that wasnt true love at first. He was a colicky handful. He grew on me though, obviously. Hes the best.

lindsayanne14 · December 2014

I generally like babies and kids. My DS was a pretty easy baby and I'm pretty nervous about what number 2 will be like. I keep reminding my DH that not all babies are as easy peasy as DS1...I think he's in denial that DS2 could be a tough little guy!

Alicia_R1 · December 2014

I have never been a baby person, granted this is my first so who knows, I may go gaga over her. But I am praying (really hard) that she is an easy baby and likes to sleep.

mrsfleming12 · December 2014

FTM, so I don't have a lot of first have experience...but I've always loved cheesing on other people's babies. DH has never really known what to do with kids under the age of about 12, so he is pretty nervous about bonding with/knowing what to do with LO when she gets here.

amandamarie2 · December 2014

FTM so no idea how I'll do with the full time needs of a baby but I've always liked babies and kids. I've been babysitting, teaching dance and coaching soccer since I was 12 and most of my jobs have involved working with children of various ages. I have a lot of friends with babies right now and enjoy playing with them or just holding them when they're small. My DH never spent time around babies until the past 2 years so even though he's great with older kids, adjusting to the idea of babies has been a bit more of a challenge for him. He's great with them though and with time he's gotten a lot more comfortable.

kjuryfl · December 2014

Yes, the newborn phase is my all time favorite. I am excited to experience it again.

Shadeauxe · December 2014

Definitely not. Like a pp said, I only like my own children and babies, to me, are a pain. Their only redeeming quality is their cuteness. I have never been the type of person who longed to be a mother, but I love my children more than anything else in the world. My son is 9 and my daughter is almost 3 and they get more and more interesting every year as they grow and develop.

I know that paints me as kind of negative, not liking others' children. I don't dislike them, I just don't ooh and ahh over them like I might over puppies. It's weird.

somewheresublime86 · December 2014

I've been a baby person ever since I can remember. I babysat then nannied from the time I was 11 until I left for college. I just enjoy kids, especially babies.

I do find myself irritated by other people's kids sometimes (generally when they're behaving terribly and the parents don't seen to be trying to handle it), but for the most part I'm really kid friendly.

We're crossing our fingers for an easy going baby!

jennadesigns · December 2014

I'm not a baby person. I have been lucky that my two children were incredibly easy babies - no colic issues, slept through the night by 8 weeks, ate like champs. I am absolutely terrified that this little girl is going to be just the opposite. I don't know how I could be so lucky three times in a row. I joke that I've had to space my kids out every six years because it takes me that long to forget what having a baby is like - they're 6 and 11 years old now. I agree that my favorite stage is that 18-24 months ... they just have so much personality and their independence really shines through.

Scarlettg · December 2014

I love kids, and I like babies. Toddlers-preschoolers are my fave because they're in that stage where they're becoming their own little people, which is so cool to watch. FTM, so I've never had to deal with infants that I couldn't hand back to someone, and that scares the hell out of me, but I think I'll do okay. I'm more worried about DH, who has never even held an infant, much less changed a diaper. He can't handle when the dog gets sick on the carpet, so this ought to be interesting. But I think he'll be a good dad and everything will work out. Eventually.

somewheresublime86 · December 2014

Scarlettg said:
I love kids, and I like babies. Toddlers-preschoolers are my fave because they're in that stage where they're becoming their own little people, which is so cool to watch. FTM, so I've never had to deal with infants that I couldn't hand back to someone, and that scares the hell out of me, but I think I'll do okay. I'm more worried about DH, who has never even held an infant, much less changed a diaper. He can't handle when the dog gets sick on the carpet, so this ought to be interesting. But I think he'll be a good dad and everything will work out. Eventually.

I totally hear you on the DH worry.

My husband just doesn't have much kid experience, so he's finding it all a bit intimidating. We're signed up for an infant care class, which should help. I also offered to babysit my nephew (he's four months), so my brother and sister-in-law could go on a date last night. DH decided to join me, and I got to witness this heart melting moment.

It was totally reassuring to see him start to figure things out! If you guys can make some kid time happen between now and April, do it!

Scarlettg · December 2014

somewheresublime86 said: I totally hear you on the DH worry. My husband just doesn't have much kid experience, so he's finding it all a bit intimidating. We're signed up for an infant care class, which should help. I also offered to babysit my nephew (he's four months), so my brother and sister-in-law could go on a date last night. DH decided to join me, and I got to witness this heart melting moment. It was totally reassuring to see him start to figure things out! If you guys can make some kid time happen between now and April, do it!

Awww, what an awesome picture!

DH has definitely warmed up to kids a lot more than when we first started dating, so that's good. I looked into childcare classes, figuring they'd help him be more confident and I can always stand to learn something new. But (and I couldn't believe this) there aren't any I could find where we live! I could find birthing classes galore, but not classes that show you what to do with the kid once s/he gets here. I checked out hospitals, the local CC, and the health department. Interestingly, the health dept has classes for folks who have been ordered to take chldcare classes, but not for folks who just want to brush up. Craziness!!

ETA: quote fail. Sorry.

miracle4x · December 2014

I love babies the best, especially tiny little newborns. It's weird, because with my nieces and nephews (at least the ones on my husband's side), I only go nuts about holding them when they're first born. I LOVE my own little newborns and never want to put them down! Even though my first two were keeping me awake ALL NIGHT for the first few months, I still look forward to that time again. I can't wait!

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