12 signs that you’re out of the baby days

November 15, 2013

12 signs you're out of the baby days

It occurred to me recently, as I watched my daughter run around the room causing a large amount of curious chaos, that she’s very much not a baby any more. The signs have been there for a while so it shouldn’t really have been a shock. And looking at her now, that stage seems so far away – despite it being all-consuming at the time.

Like a lot of things related to parenting, it’s bittersweet. There’s sadness that they’ll never be your tiny baby again, tinged with relief that they are more robust, you are much more relaxed, and you’ve all done OK so far.

So how can you tell you’ve turned your back on the baby stage? Here’s 12 ways to know you’re now firmly into toddler time:

  1. You go out to dinner with your NCT friends and don’t spend the evening obsessively checking your phone for messages from your husband
  2. Forget long afternoons eating cake in coffee shops; all your time is now devoted to pushing a swing in the freezing cold park
  3. Despite swearing your child would never, ever watch TV you somehow both know the words to all the Peppa Pig episodes and she can work the iPad better than her Gran
  4. Despite swearing your child would only ever eat organic vegetables, you frequently bribe her with biscuits…and the world hasn’t stopped turning
  5. The bathroom cabinet is still full of every colic, reflux and cradle cap remedy you could get your hands on, but you now can’t even remember what you used them for
  6. You have to move house so you’re not buried under an avalanche of tiny socks, bibs and outgrown sleep suits
  7. The remote control is in the bath, plastic frogs are in all the beds and half nibbled grapes line your coat pocket
  8. You accidentally call your daughter ‘mummy’ as she’s said it to you so many times in the past minute, it’s frozen your brain from thinking of anything else
  9. There is nothing on your lower shelves (not a euphemism)
  10. You have absolutely no idea of the days baby clinic is on any more, and would have to have a really, really good rummage around to find the red book
  11. You now remember the crazy newborn stage with a warm and fuzzy sense of nostalgia. Labour? No problem! A tiny baby you’re scared you’re going to break? Bring it on!
  12. And then you start to think – wouldn’t it be great to do it all again?

So farewell, early baby days…until next time (whenever that may be).

8 Comments

  • Emily Dew

    November 16, 2013 at 11:17 am

    Definitely time for baby number2 Gill:-)))

    1. gillian

      November 21, 2013 at 3:45 pm

      I’ll tell Alex you said that 😀 So close…just need to move house x

  • Faded Seaside Mama

    November 17, 2013 at 12:03 am

    Hahaha! Yes, the baby days are gone! However, I’ve found with the second one, I’m still remembering those tough early days and not wishing them back. Although I do miss getting together with the other mums as we don’t seem to do that so much now. Swings and roundabouts. Mostly swings.
    #willynilly

    1. gillian

      November 21, 2013 at 3:50 pm

      Good point! I’ll keep remembering the lack of sleep and general all-round craziness of it. I do miss meeting with other mums so much now – we used to spend hours sat around eating cake, it was really lovely. It’ll a lot harder to do that with a toddler running around, isn’t it? x

  • 3yearsandhome

    November 17, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    Ooo, is it time? Is it? Despite being the mother of a very outdoorsy three year old, I am happy to tell you that going to a coffee shop for cake is one of his favourite things. It’s his idea of the ultimate treat (alongside fighting, which I’m not so keen on).

    1. gillian

      November 21, 2013 at 3:46 pm

      Maybe…am so undecided. I think we’ll move first and then decide. I think (see what I mean!) x

  • Suze, The Neo Practice

    November 19, 2013 at 11:15 am

    Ah, I love this article. The Peppa Pig theme tune actually makes me feel a little nauseous. Probably because we watch too much of it!

    1. gillian

      November 21, 2013 at 3:51 pm

      I know exactly what you mean! I can’t remember what we did before Nick Jr Peppa. I live in fear of them turning it back to normal again…x

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