The ten very best things about newborns. What to cherish and love about this precious stage. Things to appreciate while they last!
Every age and stage has its good points and its hard points. I thought it would be fun to list the best things about every stage. Then when we have our bad days, we can turn to our lists of the good things and better enjoy the moment (see Enjoy the Moment).
Each stage has things we should cherish that will leave as they grow older and will never again return. Granted new, fun things come in to enjoy, but we will miss some of these things. Every parent has their stages that they like better than others. During our hard stages, we can turn to these lists and take note of what to focus on–the good!
The Best Things About Newborns
Here are some of my favorite things about newborns:
Sleeping Angel: Is there anything cuter than a sleeping baby? Have you ever noticed that pretty much all baby products feature a picture of a sleeping baby? That is because they are so cute.
Cuddly: I know not all newborns are cuddly; Brayden definitely was not! But my girls have been. Even though I am not a cuddly person, I love to cuddle my little babies.
Light-weight: They are as light as they will ever be. This is nice for your back 🙂
Speechless: Okay, I know we all wait in anticipation for the first words to leave our children’s mouths. However, any mom with older children will really enjoy the fact that newborns don’t talk yet; they can’t talk back!
Stationery: Newborn babies remain where you place them.
Clean: I was noticing how much easier it is to keep McKenna’s room clean than Brayden’s and Kaitlyn’s. She doesn’t make messes anywhere except in her diaper 🙂
Pure: There is something so peaceful and pure about little newborns. They are new here and unmarked by the world.
Not Moral: You don’t have to worry about the moral lesson your newborn is learning. Granted, she is learning all the time, but you don’t need to focus on her “p’s and q’s”–so to speak.
Obedient: Along the same lines, your newborn isn’t getting into anything she shouldn’t. She is very obedient to you 🙂
Peaceful: There is no fighting! I remember watching siblings interact when Kaitlyn was a baby and realizing someday I would face sibling fights. Brayden and Kaitlyn get along remarkably well with few fights, but fights still happen. In fact, one day they were fighting over whether or not McKenna wanted to play with a certain ball. Kaitlyn was lecturing Brayden, informing him that McKenna didn’t want it, and Brayden was trying to give McKenna a toy to play with (he is always concerned she is bored). Someday, there will be three to fight amongst themselves. Right now, McKenna is peaceful!
There are my top 10 favorite things about newborn babies! Cherish these things while you have them and look at these things on your hard days.
I LOVE that newborns will usually sleep really well anywhere. I recall that my baby girl would sleep through her entire scheduled nap in her stroller or in her Moby wrap. I could go to lunch with a friend and not worry about her being entertained or uncomfortable. This would also make church easy because I knew she would sleep during the meetings. She won’t do any of that stuff anymore since she’ll usually only sleep well in her crib.
There is nothing better than that newborn smile! The first time they look at you and smile makes your heart melt. Family also loves babysitting a newborn. It is much easier to get a volunteer when they are so little and cuddly!Emily from Georgia…I have tried commenting on your blog several times and can’t. From one Babywise mom to another…you are doing an awesome job.
I loved being able to put my newborn in a sling and get all of my housework done. I also loved when she would sit in her bouncy seat while I was in the shower. Once she became mobile, showers could only happen while she was sleeping!
Haha, the newborn phase SUCKED for us. Some of those things don’t even apply because Mary cried ALL THE TIME! So one great thing I’d have to add is that people always want to help during that phase. They will pretty much do anything: dishes, meals, yard work, errands, holding a screaming baby! Awesome.
I agree with both Natalie and Michelle..I still have a newborn but I’ve been told enough times to appreciate how well he sleeps in pubic! We took him to a funeral and he was great! When will that happen again? Also I agree that even when I have an awful day his little smile and giggles cheer me right up!Also Michelle..thanks so much!!!
I LOVED the first cooing noises. My heart leapt when I heard LO try to coo!
Easy to please–they want one of a few things: diaper change, food, cuddling, sleep, or playful attention. My son was easy to please and we really enjoyed this phase.I also really like that I could carry him anywhere without a hassel. I would put him in my sling & run my errands or clean my house with both hands free!!
The amount of sleep they need and take. As hard as it was in the beginning, I remember saying to myself and others that this time would probably be the most freetime I’ll ever have.
I love their tiny little feet, getting chubbier each week. So precious!
as a breastfeeding mom, i enjoyed not having to worry about what they were going to eat when we left the house for more than a few hours. things became a lot more complicated at 6 months when we began solids.
I would have to agree with those that said how easy it is for them to sleep through anything and their portability…unfortunately that was very short lived with my second. At 2 weeks she was very alert and since then we have to be very planned about an outing. Not so with her older brother, though he too became alert and aware at an early age, we were able to enjoy that NB sleepiness a bit longer.
What a great idea to do this list! My baby boy Jaxon is 9 months now and I keep thinking the stage I’m in is the best. Hopefully it will stay that way! Although my husband and I have realized that the easiest days of parenting are probably almost over. Sure, the lack of sleep with a newborn is brutal, but up until now we’ve hardly had to do any disciplining and we’ve only really had to stay consistent with OUR routine with him. Now comes the necessity for consistency with discipline and finding creative ways to teach him about life and..and…and……….
I can’t believe no one has said the sweet newborn smell. I remember waking up one day and looking our our son and realizing he didn’t have it anymore… I am so looking forward to that again.
I love the stage my twins are at right now (9 months). They are so active and fun to play with. But I miss their newborn snuggles. Now when they are done nursing (and sometimes before they are done), they want to play. But newborns, at least mine, were so happy just to be held and snuggled. I love their smell too, Courtney.
Natalie, excellent points. I hadn't really thought about that. I forget! Since I have two other children to nap, I am usually just home during naptime!
Michelle, so true! That is exactly how I would describe the first smile…melt your heart. McKenna still melts my heart. She is so smiley! I love it. Thanks Emily!
That is a good one, Tina. Not all newborns are content at a young age, though. Brayden wasn't! I have noticed boys aren't as content to sit still–even as newborns.
Lubbers, that is too bad! I am glad you had a lot of help. That is a great thing, though, about newborn time. All of your family, friends, and neighbors bring you dinner and gifts and vist…it is fun.
Emily, Thanks! and now I get Michelle's comment…I thought it was someone commenting along with Michelle whose name was Emily…lol
Yes Jenny! I love the cooing too. I love those cooing noises.
Sojourning Bracketts, My girls were/are very easy to please, also. Brayden was not so much. He had to be moving at all times :)The portable with ease thing is nice. They can't reach out and grab things off shelves! lol I might add that when I do 3-6 month age.
Elyssa's Mom, That is true! Especially if you have more kids 🙂
lol Nikki! You are a foot gal! My friend is too. The first time she saw McKenna, she wanted to see her feet before she even looked at her face!
Stephanie, that is true! That is one reason why I don't think I will start solids at four months like I did with Brayden and Kaitlyn.
LC, Kaitlyn, strangely enough, would not sleep when she was not in her crib. At two months old, she stayed awake the entire three hours of church! She was still good, though. I am glad McKenna sleeps.
Laura, I was the same way with Brayden. Every age was my favorite 🙂 Now I know better which ages I really love and which I don't. And not disciplining is nice 🙂
Courtney, I never noticed that until you said something! I am glad you did.
Kristi, My girls were both snuggly–and both are snuggly 🙂 I am not a snuggler, but I do enjoy it 🙂
I love that Jaxon looks for us when he hears our voices. Also when I sing at church he gets really still and looks around for me (when I lead worship). Thanks for this blog. It's a life saver! 🙂 your family is a huge blessing to our family.
You are welcome and thanks for sharing your comment!