https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:18:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714694 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:32:18 +0000 HLK208 1714694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kimberlybee: I agree!!</p> <p>Easy babies are nice but it can change quickly. DD who was a pretty easy baby (in my opinion - we still had our challenges, screamed in the car seat, couldn't latch well, took bad naps but was easy in that I didn't have to work to get her to sleep), is now a very tantrumy two year-old. DS, on the other hand, was a very difficult baby (never STTN, wouldn't nap except on me, screamed and cried all the time) was a great toddler, super laid back and easy. Then a difficult preschooler and now (for the most part) is back to being laid back and pretty easy.</p> <p>I don't think it's luck, I think each child goes through their own phase of being easy/difficult. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714689 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:26:25 +0000 loveisstrange 1714689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally luck! And even if the early days are one way, doesn't mean it stays that way. My daughter was a screaming, colicky nightmare for 3.5 months and then overnight turned into a super sweet, easy-going baby. She still is at 26 months old. I have seen it go the opposite too. Easy, sleepy baby for 3-4 months into a kid who never stops screaming and doesnt sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714685 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:20:22 +0000 Boheme 1714685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714684 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:19:19 +0000 MoonMoon 1714684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luck yes, but everything else contributes. We followed LO's cues, didn't expect him to fit into any sort of schedule or pattern, didn't compare him to other babies, and that way everyone was happy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714664 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 08:52:49 +0000 lady grey 1714664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me sleep deprivation is the absolute hardest thing about parenting, especially in those early weeks/months. If you are blessed with a good sleeper right off the bat, the yes, everything will be easier and happier. The only time I felt depressed after having LO was after going one week+ without sleeping more then an hour at a time- that messes up your brain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714655 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 08:37:06 +0000 NurseMommy 1714655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely luck, attitude, and expectations.<br /> I thought dd was a fairly easy infant. Dh did not. Lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714607 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 07:30:52 +0000 photojane 1714607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A lot of luck and just a little bit of attitude! Sadie was an incredibly easy and flexible baby (and now toddler). She barely cried &amp; was sleeping at least eight hours straight by 7 weeks. Anyone can be a happy parent with lots of sleep! :silly: Of course no matter how easy the baby, there are hard parts. There are long nights, worries, stress... in those moments, it's how you handle it. Relax and follow your gut! </p> <p>That said, I am confident that baby #2 will be a whole new world for me. No way I'm lucky enough to get two this easy. I'm terrified! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714595 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 06:47:14 +0000 Amelieisme 1714595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote luck. Attitude of mommy plays a role, but I think it's hard for anyone to have a good attitude if sleep-deprived and dealing with a perpetually screaming baby. I got really lucky with my two in that they were both easy babies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714578 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 05:07:32 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1714578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luck! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714557 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 02:42:33 +0000 birdofafeather 1714557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: same! And now she's a crazy climbing rough and tumble toddler! Ha. </p> <p>I think it's luck and attitude. LO was a pretty easy and flexible infant who slept pretty well in her first 9 months. BFing went well and DH was very hands on. I didn't expect much from her and when she cried, I figured it was for a reason, even if I didn't know what it was!</p> <p>I'm scared because having her was a pretty seamless transition. #2 probably won't be! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714555 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 02:30:11 +0000 googly-eyes 1714555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It might be a mix but more luck than parents IMO.</p> <p>Support systems are also huge!</p> <p>Even when an infant is securely attached as @Sapphiresun: described (and that attachment/bonding is important whether or not one practices "attachment" parenting) a lot of things depend on temperament and that is something you're born with! And a lot depends on sleep which is another thing we as parents have limited control over.</p> <p>Edit to add, my answer is mostly based on EARLY early parenthood. Like 3 months and under. Definitely the first year. As time goes on of corse nurture plays a huge role! But even then the way we nurture our children has to take into account their personalities and lots of things beyond our control like their classmates. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714551 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 02:04:24 +0000 Sapphiresun 1714551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's a mix.<br /> I got the baby that everybody comments that they'd never seen a newborn/3 month old/6 month old/etc. that's so chill. She just liked to sit quietly and take in her surroundings, would go to anybody and just smile away. She had no medical issues that irritated her which I'm sure is pure luck.<br /> But I also agree that babies feed off the energy of their parents, and can feel tension/anxiety, and I think also the way you care for them can foster feelings of being safe and secure, and not having a need to freak out, because they trust that their caregiver will take care of their needs. We took a lot of the attachment parenting principles in the early days.<br /> That said, I'm pretty sure we've had our "Easy" baby, and I'm a little terrified that if/when we have #2 I'll be eating my words that anything I did contributed to her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714548 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:59:23 +0000 Kimberlybee 1714548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's really luck in my opinion but that luck can change also. My DH and I felt super lucky to have such a sweet newborn, a dream baby in every aspect! She slept well and could sleep in the car and in her infant car seat while on errands, she ate on schedule, and met every milestone on schedule according to the textbook studies. We really just tried to count our blessings at the time and knew the bubble would burst at any moment. So we just tried to live in that moment and not think of anything else. </p> <p>Sure enough now at 13 months, things are a lot different! Fun but so different! LOL! She is keeping us on our toes now....so feisty, throws her food, knocks things down, tears her books up. Etc. Things can always get better or take a turn for the worst so just live in the present moment..."expect the worst but hope for best". I do agree attitude will help you manage whatever that may come. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1714540 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:37:51 +0000 lamariniere 1714540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luck. My first LO ate aaaaalllll day (and night) long, was very fussy and needed to be held to sleep. My second LO slept the first three months of her life, didn't eat nearly as often and would take less than 10min at each feed. She can also sit quietly by herself and doesn't need to be held constantly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713868 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 09:45:31 +0000 ILoveLettie 1713868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a "dream baby"--fairly good sleeper since the beginning, intensely independent, cool with being set down, not high-maintenance, not colicky, not reflux, switched easily between bottle and boob early on: and I think this was COMPLETELY luck. I do agree with Mrs. Confetti that as Lettie has gotten older, she has mirrored our attitudes and we are both easy-going people and I like to think that maybe has a little bit of it, but honestly I really just think we lucked out to have such an easy-going baby. I still sometimes wonder when the other shoe is going to drop and we're going to have a tough go of it, haha! But our parents said we were both really good babies (we were the oldests)--it was our sisters you had to look out for!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713859 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 09:35:01 +0000 Mamasig 1713859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say luck! But I do think attitude helps. DS has never been a good sleeper. He isn't horrible but definitely not an easy good sleeper. But I still think he was a good baby because he was easy going and adaptable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713858 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 09:34:43 +0000 catlady 1713858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I think it's mostly just luck at the beginning (at least in terms of how well they sleep). I think attitude starts to play a role once the baby is a little older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713857 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 09:32:44 +0000 luckypenny 1713857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 was a breeze - NEVER cried, slept great, easy to take everywhere, easy to soothe...<br /> DD2...well.... Her first 10 weeks she cried all the time, ate every hour, never slept unless being held and loathes the car sea</p> <p>I think it's just luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713843 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 09:09:34 +0000 californiadreams 1713843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I made friends with two HBers during my mat leave and it was interesting how all our babes were almost the same age, but all three were quite different in terms of their sleep. One LO STTN (12 hours) since 11 weeks and was also very easy to put down to sleep for naps and night. The other friend's LO was always up multiple times during the night, constantly bf-ing, and difficult to put to sleep. And my LO was somewhere in between! We all also EBF for over a year and are pretty like-minded in our views on things.....so i think a lot of it was luck! Which gives me hope and scares me for my next LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713782 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 08:04:39 +0000 autumnlove 1713782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luck and attitude! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713781 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 08:04:30 +0000 Smurfette 1713781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713780 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 08:02:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 1713780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree it's some of both but more luck. C was fairly easy for the first couple of weeks, then just got fussier and fussier for a few months, then suddenly, turned around an became a sweet easy going baby who happened to have problems with sleep. I don't think my attitude changed that much. </p> <p>I also really wonder about babies who can just be on the go, sleep whenever. I know moms who make a point to not get tied down to a nap schedule early on and go about their day. If I did that I feel like c just never would have slept, ever, but maybe she needed to be put to sleep because I allowed that? Who knows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713756 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 07:35:13 +0000 meredithNYC 1713756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Confetti: I agree!</p> <p>I had a very difficult time with the newborn stage and felt like my daughter was very challenging. However, I was stressed to the max and PPD was rearing its ugly head. I had supply issues with LO, which possibly/probably stemmed from feeling overwhelmed, which led to a hungry (and understandably grumpy) baby, which led to a more stressed me. So yeah, though it's easier said than done, I think the more relaxed you can be, the better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713754 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 07:34:28 +0000 SleepyMonkey 1713754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's mostly luck and a little bit of your attitude towards it, meaning that babies pick up on and reflect the parents attitude towards them. So a fussy baby may be made more fussy if the parents are really high strung too. But I think it's mostly luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713675 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 05:57:42 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1713675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Part luck for sure. Because some temperament is clearly nature, not nurture. But to compliment that, I think some babies feed off the energy of the household. I aim to be as relaxed as possible and I swear when I have been at my most stressed/anxious, my LO feeds off my energy and mirrors it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713673 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 05:56:05 +0000 Dandelion 1713673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that it's a combo of luck and attitude. D was an easy baby. Much easier than M is now. But, compared to other experiences I've heard, M is easier than other babies. I definitely don't stress over him, which makes it easier to handle him. Plus, D is almost 7 now, so I've already seen what is yet to come and I know that this time is fleeting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713670 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 05:47:23 +0000 Silva 1713670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luck, mostly. But also attitude. Our daughter has always been a terrible sleeper, but I'd still categorize her as an "easy" baby. I didn't expect to sleep much, and she is incredibly easy going and happy during the day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713660 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 05:36:17 +0000 Andrea 1713660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It probably a mix of luck and attitude, but take everything people say with a grain of salt as well. My friend's husband always says that their kids are good sleepers and my friend is like what are you talking about??? It's funny to hear them bicker about it, being in the same household. So it's hard to know the real story of what's going on with other people's kids. I would just focus on what my kids are doing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713637 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 04:43:44 +0000 illumina 1713637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's mostly luck...especially at the beginning when no one has a clue what they're doing so it probably has very little to do with how the parents act. I'll let you know for sure when the next baby comes along ;) I agree with @Cherrybee: though that attitude plays a major part in it...along with your expectations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-early-parenthood-experiences-is-it-luck#post-1713633 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 04:31:34 +0000 Cherrybee 1713633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really, truly believe it's the luck of the draw! Don't get me wrong - your attitude has a lot do with how well you cope, how much of a support system you have around you etc - but the kind of baby you get is pure chance! </p>