Most people find the first six to eight weeks to be the hardest with a new baby, and whilst 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.
But many first-time parents find that after the first month of parenthood, it can actually get more difficult. This surprising truth is one reason many experts refer to a baby's first three months of life as the “fourth trimester.” If months two, three, and beyond are tougher than you expected, you're not alone.
Your baby's constant need for you can be super overwhelming and overstimulating. Onces babies start to self-soothe around 3-4 months, you will start to feel more like yourself. With a consistent sleep schedule and environment, your baby will sleep in longer stretches at night and take better naps during the day!
It's no wonder then that research finds that the hardest years of parenting are the tween, (or middle school if you're in the USA) years. They may be less physically exhausting than the early years, but emotionally they are so much more exhausting.
Never, in the history of time, has a newborn tried to put on their own socks, push their own stroller or buckle their own car seat.
If you're already dealing with a tantrum-prone two-year-old, I'm sorry to tell you that having a threenager is even harder.
Research shows that, at six months, two-thirds of mums are struggling, while one in six doesn't properly enjoy their babies until after their first birthday.
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.
The survey also turns the “terrible twos” myth upside down. 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. The brunt of it, however, was the teenage years, according to 30 percent of parents.
The hardest stage of being a mother
It is emotionally draining. It is a time of big worries and letting go. It is a time of being there, but not intruding. It is a time when you have to stand back and watch your child figure it out on their own . . .
As your baby passes through the milestones of learning to self-soothe, outgrowing colic, and sleeping through the night, parenting your newborn will get easier. 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.
However, most babies get easier between eight and 12 weeks.
From there, babies get easier as they age, but each stage has complications and problems to face. Here's why the range of eight to 12 weeks seems to be the magic time when babies get easier.
The newborn stage is difficult for most parents, whether you're a first-time or seasoned mom. The abrupt change to your lifestyle, the sleep deprivation, and the demands of a baby make these weeks and months one of the hardest for any parent.
Why is the newborn's stage the hardest? The newborn stage is difficult for most parents, whether you're a first-time or seasoned mom. The abrupt change to your lifestyle, the sleep deprivation, and the demands of a baby make these weeks and months one of the hardest for any parent.
It does get easier eventually. BAbies as young as yours apparently can't learn "bad habits" yet, so I would do whatever makes your life easier to get him to sleep, whether that is cuddling, feeding, sling etc.
Generally, the biomedical evidence suggests younger is better. There is an increase in maternal and child health problems with older mothers and women's fertility declines, especially after the age of 35. The sociological evidence suggests that the older the better.
According to a recent survey of nearly 2,000 families, 40 percent of parents found their children to be the most lovable/fun at the age of 5. Meanwhile, they found kids to be the most difficult to spend time with between the ages of 10 and 12.
Essentially, the evidence we have suggests that having children can make you happier. It also can make you feel unhappy, or constantly stressed, or anxious, and so on. Overall, it seems like having children makes your emotional experiences more intense than if you don't have them.
The 20s...it's the phase where so many things change in our lives and it all happens so fast. There's angst, discovery, unpredictability and a sense of self-realization. It's the time we truly leave childhood behind and enter a whole new world of responsibility.
Though the brain may be done growing in size, it does not finish developing and maturing until the mid- to late 20s. The front part of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex, is one of the last brain regions to mature.
These stages include infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and old age.
Coping with your baby
Most people find the first six to eight weeks to be the hardest with a new baby, and whilst 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.
By 3 months, they will smile back at you. By 4 to 6 months, they will turn to you and expect you to respond when upset. By 7 or 8 months, they will have a special response just for you (they may also be upset by strangers). Your baby may also start to respond to your stress, anger or sadness.
By 6 or 7 months of age, your baby may need some things but want others. At that point, you may be able to resist their demands a little. It's not so much that you're spoiling them if you “give in” to their every wish, but it may be more beneficial to help them understand some limits (often for their own safety).
"3-year-olds and teenagers actually have very similar developmental needs and challenges: autonomy," Malone tells Romper in an email interview. "The process of separation and individuation from parents is a gradual process from birth until they leave home.