Becoming a parent is not easy. Pregnancy can be incredibly hard on a woman and a man. A woman's body is changing, and this can bring a lot of moments that are uncomfortable and painful. Her partner may not know what to do to help his wife, or how to make it easier for them. There is also the emotional aspect to think about, as both parties work to cope with this big change that is happening.
Then, childbirth happens, and it may not need to be said, but this is incredibly challenging. Childbirth is long, painful, and exhausting, and it can be a hard thing to get through. However, most do, and they are relieved that the end of pregnancy is here, and they have their baby in their arms.
It may not be long until they realize that the really challenging part is about to start, and that is caring for a newborn. Parents realize soon that taking care of a newborn is incredibly challenging. There is a tiny human who needs constant care and attention, and sleep deprivation can leave any parent feeling burnt out.
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As the days blur together, mom and dad may be wondering when this will all get easier. When will their baby settle down into a routine, and when will life have some predictability again?
The answer to this question may not be as black-and-white as parents like, but there are some milestones that your baby hits that can help take off some burden. According to Medicine Net, when your baby starts sleeping through the night, mom and dad will likely find that parenting is getting easier.
Even if they are not sleeping through the night, but are doing much larger stretches, it can make a big difference. This is not because the tasks have changed, but mom and dad are getting more sleep and can cope with parenthood better.
When your newborn hits the 5-month mark (or about there), they will start to hit some pretty big milestones. They are going to be able to sit on their own, and they may be on the verge of crawling.
According to Sleeping Should Be Easy, this can make parenting easier because your baby is about to find their independence. They will, of course, still want you close, but they can play with toys on their own, they can start to explore the world around them, and they have a genuine interest in toys now.
There seems to be a universal "golden age" when newborns tend to get a bit easier, and this is at 8 weeks old. According to Mums Invited, your baby still needs a lot of care and attention at this age, but there have been some slight changes that can make it feel a bit easier. By this time, your newborn has likely established a feeding schedule and routine, either breast or bottle, and the feeds will be a bit more predictable.
They also know the difference between night and day, and that helps the sleeping aspect, and they will have started smiling at you, and that can remind everyone of how special this time is.
Sources: Medicine Net, Sleeping Should Be Easy, Mums Invited