as a mom of my little 4mo girl, I feel and relate to these thoughts. Tapping and learning into our motherly intuition has definitely made this trasition flow with some ease. Thanks for sharing so vulnerably 🩷
So beautifully said Jules! The market and the media make us constantly doubt our abilities as mothers and caretakers, pushing impossible ideas of what babies should and should not do and causing stress that inevitably puts strain on baby and people around you. It took me some time in the early days of motherhood to stop believing random Instagram experts who made me question the decisions I made as a parent.
Little tip to other mamas out there: you can restrict suggested content on Instagram and I did it by putting a bunch of words (sleep, nap, regression etc.) into a list so that I don’t get posts that contain them. It has truly improved my social media browsing and my mental health.
This is such a great tip, Snezhana! It felt like my entire feed was filled with fear-based parenting tips and ooof as a vulnerable postpartum mama, that did not feel good!
My daughter is now 2.5, we started cosleeping around 4 months and, although she has a bed in our room, she’s most often still in ours. I love cosleeping - though it gets harder the bigger she gets haha. It’s also frowned upon here in Australia, but I’m so glad (and proud) that I listened to my instinct over the fear mongering flooding in from ‘professionals’ and seasoned parents.
It scares me how much of motherhood has been commodified - sleep, feeding, routines, play. But really all they need is us, present and happy.
I co-slept on and off with my first daughter and once I had my second (6 months now) she slept on my chest the first night she was born and I haven’t looked back. It came so naturally the second time around because I think I was more educated on co-sleeping and more comfortable being that it was my second baby. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for sharing your story!
This journey to bed sharing was so similar to ours! My husband is half Japanese and spent his childhood in Japan where bed sharing is the norm. It was a game changer for my sleep (our little one just turned 11 months and I started bed sharing around 4 months)! Something that helped me: I keep my Powerbeats Pro on the nightstand and will listen to an audiobook or a Calm sleep story if I’m having trouble going back to sleep after a night feed. Love this community you’ve created 💗
Great post! I got off Instagram in January (my New Year’s resolution for at least Q1 of the year)… and MY GOD how freeing it has been to reconnect with my own autonomy and intuition as a mom and not what I was being fed by the algorithm as soon as I got pregnant. I was so glad you started Substack so that I could connect with you here instead of there! Still considering my relationship with the platform long term but for now I don’t miss it at all! I have found that a combo of sleep “training” at the beginning of the night and going with the flow for the rest of the night works for me and baby. Gives us routine and structure to start the night but also grace for whatever she and I need overnight. It doesn’t need to be rigid one way or another and I just wish more moms took that approach to motherhood! So freeing! Thanks for sharing 😊
this!! doesn't have to be all or nothing... absolutely. and so much of motherhood is nuanced, and therefore, just needs to be custom to exactly what you, your baby, and family need! xx
I think this is one of my favorite things you’ve ever written. Thank you for your honesty and, coming from someone who also loves to track things, the freedom/permission/reminder to not 🤍
as a mom of my little 4mo girl, I feel and relate to these thoughts. Tapping and learning into our motherly intuition has definitely made this trasition flow with some ease. Thanks for sharing so vulnerably 🩷
big hugs to you and your little beb!
So beautifully said Jules! The market and the media make us constantly doubt our abilities as mothers and caretakers, pushing impossible ideas of what babies should and should not do and causing stress that inevitably puts strain on baby and people around you. It took me some time in the early days of motherhood to stop believing random Instagram experts who made me question the decisions I made as a parent.
Little tip to other mamas out there: you can restrict suggested content on Instagram and I did it by putting a bunch of words (sleep, nap, regression etc.) into a list so that I don’t get posts that contain them. It has truly improved my social media browsing and my mental health.
This is such a great tip, Snezhana! It felt like my entire feed was filled with fear-based parenting tips and ooof as a vulnerable postpartum mama, that did not feel good!
This is so relatable! I’m literally reading this at midnight after a night feed with my 5 month old. Thank you for sharing 💕
thank you for this post 💕💕💕 it’s exactly what I needed to see… knowing that i’m doing all right and stop trying figuring out what i’m doing wrong
huge thanks xxx!
Thank you for sharing Jules🤩🤩I needed this.
I loved reading this. It really took me back.
My daughter is now 2.5, we started cosleeping around 4 months and, although she has a bed in our room, she’s most often still in ours. I love cosleeping - though it gets harder the bigger she gets haha. It’s also frowned upon here in Australia, but I’m so glad (and proud) that I listened to my instinct over the fear mongering flooding in from ‘professionals’ and seasoned parents.
It scares me how much of motherhood has been commodified - sleep, feeding, routines, play. But really all they need is us, present and happy.
I co-slept on and off with my first daughter and once I had my second (6 months now) she slept on my chest the first night she was born and I haven’t looked back. It came so naturally the second time around because I think I was more educated on co-sleeping and more comfortable being that it was my second baby. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for sharing your story!
This journey to bed sharing was so similar to ours! My husband is half Japanese and spent his childhood in Japan where bed sharing is the norm. It was a game changer for my sleep (our little one just turned 11 months and I started bed sharing around 4 months)! Something that helped me: I keep my Powerbeats Pro on the nightstand and will listen to an audiobook or a Calm sleep story if I’m having trouble going back to sleep after a night feed. Love this community you’ve created 💗
Great post! I got off Instagram in January (my New Year’s resolution for at least Q1 of the year)… and MY GOD how freeing it has been to reconnect with my own autonomy and intuition as a mom and not what I was being fed by the algorithm as soon as I got pregnant. I was so glad you started Substack so that I could connect with you here instead of there! Still considering my relationship with the platform long term but for now I don’t miss it at all! I have found that a combo of sleep “training” at the beginning of the night and going with the flow for the rest of the night works for me and baby. Gives us routine and structure to start the night but also grace for whatever she and I need overnight. It doesn’t need to be rigid one way or another and I just wish more moms took that approach to motherhood! So freeing! Thanks for sharing 😊
this!! doesn't have to be all or nothing... absolutely. and so much of motherhood is nuanced, and therefore, just needs to be custom to exactly what you, your baby, and family need! xx
I think this is one of my favorite things you’ve ever written. Thank you for your honesty and, coming from someone who also loves to track things, the freedom/permission/reminder to not 🤍
🥹 thank you for reading!!
So proud of you for leaning into what feels most right and most natural for you!💛
thanks friend 🥹 ily!