Alright, I knew having a baby would be tough, but… wow. I feel like I got hit by a truck .
Sleep? What’s that? My baby only naps in 20-minute increments. Feeding? We’re struggling with latching, and bottles aren’t much easier. And don’t even get me started on the constant crying—sometimes I have no idea what’s wrong.
Is this normal?? Please tell me it gets easier. How did you survive those first few weeks? Any tips for a completely sleep-deprived, clueless new dad?
Oh man, I feel this. Those first few weeks? Absolute chaos. I legit fell asleep standing up once.
Here’s what helped: The magic of the “night shift”—my partner and I took turns so at least one of us got a few hours of solid sleep. Also, white noise + swaddling = lifesaver.
And if all else fails? Rock, bounce, shush, repeat. Sometimes they just want to know you’re there. Hang in there, it does get better (and one day, you’ll actually sleep again… kinda).
Girl, you are not alone. The newborn stage is straight, up survival mode. My first few weeks felt like one endless loop of feeding, diaper changes, and crying from both of us lol. It’s so overwhelming, but I promise it won’t always be like this. Hang in there
Okay, first, deep breath. You’re in the hardest part right now, and everything you’re feeling is normal. The good news? It won’t always be like this.
Newborns have tiny stomachs, no circadian rhythm, and zero ability to self, soothe.
That’s why it feels impossible.
But there are things that can help:
Sleep when you can : I know everyone says this, but seriously, even a 20 minute nap helps.
Shift the mental load : If you have a partner, family member, or friend who can take over even one night feeding (if you’re bottle feeding), let them.
Babywearing : lifesaver , It helps with contact naps so you can at least move while they sleep.
Lower expectations : If all you do today is keep the baby alive, you WIN. Laundry can wait.
Remind yourself this is temporary : The newborn phase is brutal, but it does end. The first smile, the longer stretches of sleep, the moments where you realize you’ve got this, they’re coming.
You’re not failing, and you’re not alone. This is just the hardest part. Hang in there.
Oh wow, this brings back memories. I swear the newborn stage broke me in ways I didn’t think possible. The exhaustion is unreal, and the constant second-guessing? Torture. I remember crying while holding my baby at 3 AM because I was convinced I was doing everything wrong.
The thing that helped me was lowering my expectations, of myself, my house, my productivity. Just surviving those early weeks is an achievement. Also, accepting help which I initially resisted was a game, changer. If someone offers to bring food or hold the baby while you shower, say yea.
You are not failing, I promise. Your baby doesn’t need perfection, just you. Fed, changed, and loved? That’s enough. It really does get easier, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now
Oh friend, I’ve been there. The newborn phase feels like it will never end, but I promise, it does. And one day, you’ll look back and realize you survived something incredibly tough.
Right now, you’re in survival mode, and that’s okay. Your body just did something amazing (even if it doesn’t feel like it). You’re healing, adjusting, and running on fumes. But slowly, things will get better. The baby will start sleeping a little longer. Feeding will become less stressful. You’ll find tiny moments of joy between the chaos.
What helped me was keeping perspective. When I was in the trenches, someone told me: You’re not just raising a baby, you’re becoming a parent. And that hit me hard. You’re both figuring this out together. And just like your baby, you’re learning, growing, and adapting.
You’re doing better than you think. Keep going. One day, this will just be a blurry memory, and you’ll be the one telling another exhausted parent: It gets better
Have you looked into a lactation consultant? The one at our hospitals were borderline worthless. I reached out to a local place called Milkworks and we finally just got a latch down and transferring effectively as of last week (baby is about to be 8 weeks old). He also had a super bad tongue and lip tie that no one said anything was an issue until I took him to a pediatric dentist.
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