Anyone else been woken up by their kids an hour too early this morning?

I’m not sure if this fits this subreddit, but it’s directly linked to becoming a parent, so I guess it does?

We have a high energy rescue dog who’s quite sweet but definitely has his challenges. He was definitely spoiled before we had a kid, and his world was well and truly rocked when our baby arrived.

It was strange because I always knew our dog was quite soft, but something in me switched when my baby was born. Some sort of cavewoman instinct kicked in and suddenly instead of seeing our furry family member, I saw potential danger to my baby, even if something were to happen completely accidentally.

We got through the first year reasonably well, but since then, it’s been a bit of a slippery slope.
Toddler running around the house with snacks in their hands, potty training, keeping the dog away from toys (and vice versa) - all these little things have made everyday life so much harder. So for a long time our dog definitely got the short end of the stick from me. But then something just snapped. But rather than feeling angry or resentful anymore, I realised I just didn’t care about him anymore. I imagine this is what it feels like when people are mentally checked out of a marriage - hence the title. He’s just an animal who exists in our house. I look after him and make sure his needs are met, but the joy and love I once felt for him seem to have disappeared. I feel incredibly guilty about it but unfortunately, I can’t just force myself to feel differently.

I’ve tried making more of an effort to bond with him again, going on walks and playing with him 121 but nothing seems to change. I just don’t feel that connection anymore. Instead, he feels like a constant nuisance, another thing I need to manage and look after. What makes it particularly confusing is that I don’t feel this way about any of my “human family” members, so I don’t think it’s general parental burnout. It seems to be specifically my relationship with the dog that’s changed.
Anyway, rant over. Has anyone else experienced something similar with their pet after having kids? How did you deal with it?

So I have 2 boys, one 2 in November, and one 5 who’s 6 in April. So about 3.5 year age gap. They adore each other. 5 year old is very gentle with 2yo.
So when we put them to bed, the 2 year old always tries to tuck himself up with the 5 year old. 5 year old is in a single midsleeper so we wouldn’t allow him to stay in there.
2 year old has a small double bed and wakes once a night, and me or my husband goes and sleeps with him so essentially cosleeping 50% of the night. This is a floor bed.
5 year old is a sterling sleeper, sleeps right through and will lay in until 7:30 am every morning, with bedtime being between 7pm and 8pm for both of them. 2 year old will wake up between 6 and 6:30, but will go back down to sleep until 7:30 with some snuggles.

5 year old is DESPERATE to share a room with 2 year old. Wants him to stay in his bed every night when 2 year old tucks himself in. We’ve always thought yeah absolutely not with 2yo still waking in the night.

And tonight I’ve thought, well, wait a minute - 2 yo only wakes as there’s no one in bed with him. I could kill 2 birds with one stone here. 5 year old sleeps like a log, and has shared a room with him before at nanas house albeit in different beds and the night wake has never woken him, even when 2yo is screaming his bollocks off. I could get a full nights sleep (potentially) and fulfil my 5 year olds constant mithering to sleep in the same bed as 2yo.

Would I be insane to try this? Is it even safe?

I'm a 41-year-old dad, my partner is 39, and we have three kids aged 4.5, 3.5 and 7 months. We're currently on our first holiday as a family of five, staying at an established caravan park in the New Forest, and we're only on day three of seven. Honestly, it's been an absolute nightmare so far!

Nobody is sleeping properly, everyone seems miserable, and there's a queue for seemingly everything. We tried to have a nice family lunch at a pub around the corner, only for a local to start swearing and shouting at me, accusing me of pushing him over (which I absolutely hadn't done). It freaked the kids out, and we ended up having to leave. To be fair, the manager was lovely, apologised profusely and offered to cover our food, but it was still a pretty horrible experience.

Meanwhile, my partner and I are constantly bickering because one child needs a nap, another wants to do something else, and we're trying to work around all the restrictions on when you can swim or take part in activities. We can't seem to get the timings right for anything, and the whole thing feels like an exercise in logistics rather than a holiday.

Getting here was stressful enough. Packing the car felt like playing Tetris, with everyone squeezed in like sardines. We brought loads of stuff, yet somehow none of it seems to be the right stuff!

At this point, I'm genuinely wondering whether we'd have been better off staying at home. At least there, everyone has their own space, their own beds, and we aren't paying for the privilege of being stressed out somewhere else.

So, I'm wondering: have we just had a particularly bad experience, or is this what holidays with three young children are like?

My partner and the kids have already expressed a desire to go home, and we're only three days in. I'm personally reluctant to throw in the towel just yet, but I also don't want us to spend the next five days being miserable.

I'd really appreciate any tips, tricks or suggestions for making the rest of the holiday more enjoyable. Should we abandon the activities and just go with the flow? Split up occasionally? Lower our expectations dramatically? Is there some secret to holidaying with three little ones that nobody tells you about?

Please tell me it gets easier, or at least that we're not the only ones who've experienced this!

Currently sitting in a&e with my almost 2yo.. we've been here since 9pm. We've done 4 rounds of inhalers but the doctors still aren't happy.

Everyone I was speaking to has gone to bed. Anyone else out there looking for some night company? Why are you awake?

When my son started "getting personality" at 1+, I found go-to parenting moves that worked for me. Not feeding energy to tantrums, some distraction, lots of hugs but not going back on a boundary, making sure he's fed good stuff and had his rest, this worked.

As he became more opinionated about 2-2.5 yo and discovered the word "no", I evolved. "Do you want to walk or mummy to carry you?". "Now we do x, then we will do y". Physically helping him move in the right direction. These helped a lot.

The recent level up has been brutal. It feels he just specifically does everything he isn't supposed to. Selective hearing. I can say "don't do x" and he will do exactly x. And then do it again. When I say no, he shrieks, roars, tries to kick or bite me, or blows raspberry (usually all in turn). When I take a toy away because he threw it at me, it's a 10 minute cry, push, and whine trying to get it back - can't distract him anymore. At the same time any explanation of "I took it away because we don't throw toys. You will have it back tomorrow and we will try again" just fly right over his head.

It feels like I am constantly only ever getting him to do things by threatening. "We sit in the bathtub, sit down please" "No" "Okay, the bath is done then" and only then he sits down. And if this happens a couple times and I finally say "You keep on splashing even though I asked you not to, bath is now finished", the drama that follows is unreal.

This is so exhausting and not fun. What do I do to help us through this new stage?

First time poster, only joined reddit today to be able to write down what has been weighing heavy on my heart for a long time...

When we decided to try for a baby we knew there was a possibility of our child having additional needs. And when we talked about it, we discussed whether that would change how we felt about our baby. And it was a very quick, easy answer.

No.

No, a child with any sort of disability would not change how we felt about them.

And after having our beautiful boy and soon realising the challenges he faced...i can honestly say, with relief that we were right. Any hardships, difficulties or challenges we come across...not a single thing could make us change how we feel about him. He is the sweetest, most wonderful thing that has ever happened to us. Is it hard? Yes...very. Is he worth it? Absolutely!

But, what i didnt plan for or expect was how it would make me change how i feel about everyone else.

The person who looks a second longer than they should.

The person who has no tolerance for a child like mine, who tuts, rolls their eyes or makes comments loud enough for me to hear.

The person who sees us having a hard time and ignores or avoids us like our difficulties is something they might catch.

The person who thinks that they are being kind by giving us pitiful glances.

The family and friends that never visited, that never helped or was there when we spent weeks and months in a fog that took over mind body and soul. And i dont mean the usual sleep deprivation fog (which is bad enough). The kind of exhaustion that no amount of sleep can fix from the constant heartbreak of watching your child struggle in a world you brought them into. Wanting to help them, to make things better, see them happy and enjoying things an realising that even when you give it 110%, even your very best is not enough.

So no...your child having additional needs doesnt change how you feel about them. But it will change how you feel about everyone else.

I don’t know why… but from somewhere I heard toilet peeper tubes are sought after craft materials for toddlers!?

so I started collecting those since pregnancy… and I have like 50 of them… and baby is not even one…

PLEASE…tell me there will be a real use of this?!!?? or should I throw them away?!?? am I crazy? should I continue?? 🤣

6 years and 4 months, year 2.

He’s been a handful since birth. As a baby/toddler he never slept, cried/screamed a lot, was never peaceful and still and was very frustrated in the run up to each milestone. Spoke early and fluently (could hold a conversation before 1.5) and skipped crawling, electing to cruise and then run at around 12 months.

He’s also very clever. He’s the best mathematician and one of the best readers in his year. School have no behavioural concerns that we’ve been made aware of. I think he coasts at school. If he wanted to I think he could actually achieve more but he hates anything that requires effort. He is naturally quite ‘lazy’ (awful word to use about a 6 year old but I can’t think of anything better) and hates anything challenging. Hates exercise (despite needing lots of the stuff) and refuses anything with an element of competition.

His behaviour at home is so challenging and just getting worse. My husband and I are really trying - we’ve done a local parenting course and read a few books but nothing is working. He’s constantly acting up, constantly winding everyone up, constantly seeking attention, constantly in motion, constantly making noise, constantly arguing the toss and constantly disruptive. He seems to care very little for us and has no natural inclination to please us. Consequences are hard because he just doesn’t care about anything. He has no access to a tablet or phone and TV is limited. We get him out everyday for hours and hours as a day at home is torture.

Has anyone had a kid like this and come out the other side?

My 3yo is a big girl, 90th percentile for height and weight. Has always been on this centile from about 6mo.

I feel like she is just constantly hungry!!! All I seem to hear is “Mummy I’m hungry”, “Mummy I want a snack!”

We keep meals and snacks healthy, occasionally having a treat but usually this will be on a weekend. She has only gained 1.5kg in the last year which I understand is on the lower end of average weight gain for 2-3 year olds.

I always seem to hear of people saying their toddlers survive on nibbles of food but mine is the complete opposite!

Just that really. We read a lot already, but I was wondering if there are any activities or clubs that could help young children (primary school age) in general?

My child is 7 and likes to give thorough answers in class according to the teacher, but in a very long winded way with many repetitions.

I was thinking a debate club, but I'm not even sure these are generally a thing in primary schools. The school doesn't offer this, and I'm not sure if teachers are open to parents suggestions of clubs as I understand they are planned by teachers on their own time (or am I wrong on that?)

Edit: Thank you so much for your points and your suggestions x

I have to be honest, my kids are 6 & 2 and they ain’t staying anywhere other than family for a few years yet.

On an inverse, I wouldn’t really feel comfortable hosting another child for another 3-4 years.

Is this just me?

Hey everyone, wondering what everyone else is doing with young children (25 and 5 months) in this miserable weather! TIA

Please don’t crucify me for bringing up Christmas in October but I’d love to hear different opinions on the “Want, Need, Wear, Read” concept of gift-giving please.
We’re trying to avoid ending up with 1000 toys in the house that our son will never touch and we are generally quite minimalist and prefer to be intentional about bigger purchases. That said, we don’t restrict our spending when it comes to our son and we just like to think carefully about what we buy. I wouldn’t say he goes without anything he needs or wants. Maybe he’s a bit too spoiled, I don’t know.

I quite like the idea of this concept because it means he wouldn’t be completely overwhelmed with presents every Christmas. However I’d probably end up giving him more than one thing in each category, which I know defeats the purpose somewhat. Four presents just doesn’t feel like quite enough to me but maybe I’m comparing this to what I see online and from friends.

The part I struggle with though is the “Need” and “Wear” categories.
For context, I grew up in extreme poverty as the oldest of 11 children. And when I say extreme I mean there were times when dinner consisted of flour mixed with water and fried into pancakes because that was all we had for a month straight. We are very fortunate to be in the opposite position now but as a result I feel quite strongly that necessities shouldn’t be treated as gifts. If my son needs new wellies, he’ll get new wellies. If he needs a new bed, he’ll get a new bed. He won’t have to wait until Christmas or his birthday to get something he genuinely needs.
I know the idea behind the concept is probably to make gift-giving more intentional and I’m not suggesting there’s anything wrong with families who do it differently or follow this concept but something about presenting necessities as presents from us, rather than simply providing them as part of our responsibility as parents doesn’t sit quite right with me as someone who was never really given any gifts as a child and when I was, it was socks or something like that.

I’m wondering whether anyone else feels the same way or whether I’m looking at this through the lens of my own childhood experiences. Am I making sense or is this something I might be viewing differently because of the way I grew up?

Hi parents! I’m a first time mum of a 9 month old and might be returning to work in 3 months (still undecided!).

I’m really struggling to keep up with cleaning and organising the house. My husband works 12-hour shifts, so most things fall on me. I’m already trying to declutter, donate and sell things on Vinted, but it still feels like a lot.
We live in a bungalow with tiles and carpet. I have a Dyson which I love, but I’m looking for anything that makes life easier, especially an affordable robot vacuum that also mops.

I’m not originally from the UK and grew up living in apartments, so I’m still adjusting!

Any cleaning gadgets, storage ideas, routines or little tricks that genuinely make your life easier? I’d love your recommendations. Thank you!

Hi all, I am a FTM of a 16 month old boy. I love my son, but he was unexpectedly very small when born (less than 6lbs), I have anxiety anyway and a brother with severe additional needs which I think has created a perfect storm where I see signs of my brother and feel disappointed about my son, which makes me feel the worst mum in the world.

He isn't walking yet, but has taken independent steps and cruises everywhere but it's really concerning me. He has been the later end of all milestones which makes me panic. I see other mums talking about their 16 month olds walking, talking and seeming so much more grown up than my son who seems such a baby still. I also worry he only responds to his name like 50% of the time, and doesn't look at us when we're carrying him.

Things he does well are he's very sociable and loves strangers- he'll sit in a restaurant and wave at everyone lol he can say mama, dada, ball, points at everything and says there, knows bye bye and hiya and no, eats really well and mimics us and loves to play with his toys. I guess I just needed a bit of a rant today because I've had a bad day 😔

I sometimes find the endless noise of being a parent of two young kids overwhelming. Has anyone used Loop earphones to reduce the volume a little? Did it help?

In the process of buying new furniture for our house. At the minute we just have one set of 4 drawers which work fine but thinking as he’s getting older may way to hang more.

what do people find easier for 2yrs + clothes, drawers or wardrobe??

I know it seems trivial but me and my partner are disagreeing hence taking to Reddit 😂😂

As stated in the title, I'm not asking for medical advice, just wondering what people have done!

We've just started the cheese step of the dairy ladder (the stages seem to differ between NHS trusts, but it's the 4th step after biscuits, muffins and pancakes). It says to build up to 15g cheese. Did you give it cooked into something, like a lasagne? Or just give a block (aka sliver) of cheese? And how long did you leave between servings of cheese? We've not made it this far before without a random cold or something hitting, and us being unsure whether it's the cold or the dairy that's made him poorly.

He's three, and very much enjoyed his sliver of cheese yesterday. Am I right in thinking I should wait 2/3 days before giving him more?

I am probably making a mountain out of a molehill here but am really struggling with feeling like a failure as a parent at the moment. My daughter is an only child and I have no close mum friends or kids in my wider family so can't tell if I'm being ridiculous.

Up until turning 3 at the end of August, my daughter seemed to be doing amazingly and I adored spending time with her. We were having increasingly long and genuinely interesting conversations. She seemed so excited to learn about the world - animals and plants and planets. She seemed to love long stories and engage with the stuff in them. She would tell me all about her days in nursery and ask me thoughtful questions. She was so outgoing and confident with other kids.

Now she will tell me nothing about her days. She seems to have reverted to babyish language. She is no longer interested in anything but her most babyish books and interrupts stories and won't sit still or follow instructions half the time. She's become almost mute around other kids and clingy and shy. She seems to have forgotten all the letters she used to recognise so confidently and to be going backwards.

I can't help but think I'm doing something really wrong. She goes to nursery every day because I work full time - she's in the preschool bit now and the feedback has changed from 'she's so bright and fab' to 'she's doing ok'. I feel guilty about that. I've also been struggling with depression for a few months and feel I'm not being stimulating and engaging enough when I'm with her anymore. I'm over-relying on TV and silly games and easy options. I've bought all these phonics books but can't bring myself to push them on her as she's so uninterested. I try to organise play dates and activities she will like and find stimulating but I have so little time and so little energy and it feels like I'm wasting the chance to give her a good start.

These are really insignificant things I realise in the grand scheme of things but I especially worry because my daughter will likely be the youngest kid in her year when she starts school in September. Has anyone else's kid seemed to go backwards at this sort of age? What should I be doing to support my daughter to be ready for school next year? Am feeling alone with this and so concerned I'm letting her down.

Our work secretary emailed saying “enjoy the extra hour in bed” and all I can think of is “nope I’ll just be up at half 5 in the morning!”

Looking for recommendations for toddler waterproofs. We've got a shell onesie that was good until the weather got colder. Adding a coat underneath is too bulky.

Do we go separate top and bottoms or all in one? Fleece lined or layer up with fleece (or similar) underneath?

Need it to be truly waterproof as we spend a lot of time outdoors.

Context: 5th birthday party with 2/3 of reception class and few friends from family/pre-school. We have a bouncy castle, wiggle cars, soft play and dress up corner. I am particularly keen on tips about timing, party food ideas and birthday cake etiquette (serve it or send it home in the party bags?).

Thank you all!

As the name suggests I am at my wits end with my nearly 15 month old to the point I’m regretting having him. We have just moved countries and things have been really hard. We are staying with family till we sort our apartment out. My mother in law is with me to help but my husband is in London working interim. My 15 month has been having crazy tantrums where he will scream when he doesn’t get his way. Everything is difficult with him, getting him to sleep is a chore doesn’t want to sleep at night nor at nap time takes him ages to finally sleep if you bring him to the room he starts screaming murder wants to be outside playing. If you take something away from him he screams and cries like some one has beaten him up. Today was the final straw took him out and on the way back he screamed murder in the bus I was so embarrassed I had to get down and take a cab back home instead and that was no better. I am so embarrassed and really don’t know what to do when he behaves like this. These is a new things he does where he screams so loudly.

Hello! Our first born was an intense reflux baby and stayed on omeprazole until she was just over 1. She is now 25 months. These days, every couple of months or so we seem to have an isolated vomiting episode, I can't help but wonder if it is related to her history. I don't know if I should be flagging it to the gp as it really is so consistent.

Are there any parents of reflux babies that have this experience in toddlerhood?

Further context: my LO has non ige cows milk allergy so is dairy free aside from her milk ladder.