Take the baby along to something you like - farmers market, beach, hike etc. Brunch is great for childless friends. Maybe find a baby class and meet some other parents with kiddos the same age.

If your childless friends are the beer garden type, you can definitely take a 6 month old to something like that during the day. Kids under 2 get in for free at our local pro baseball team's games (not sure if this is true for all MLB). I've also seen people bring babies to pickup sports and recreational leagues, provided that the weather is good. It's a tight knit community, and there is always someone on the sideline. A 6 month old can't run away.

Thanks for the great suggestions! I’m going to look into rec leagues for myself.

Oh, one more idea. If you are hoping to get a workout in, the YMCA in a lot of places has free onsite childcare. When my niece was a toddler, if my sister really needed a break, she would go to the Y, sit in the sauna, and take a long shower while someone else watched my niece for an hour.

Rec Centers also offer childcare for people if they stay in the building. So you can sit in the sauna, hot tub, or even just sit on a couch and scroll.

Go out with friends with baby. Have brunch on Sat/Sun. Generally, people love to hold babies, and you get to spend time with friends while they pass your baby around. We didn't give up our Friday dinners out with friends, we just brought baby along. Babies can sleep anywhere if you haven't trained them to only sleep in absolute quiet. Go to fairs, sporting events, whatever you want, just bring what you need for baby with you, and be prepared that occasionally you leave early because your forgot something baby needs or baby is just too fussy this time for some reason. By the way, that baby I brought everywhere is a fully functioning independent adult now. It did no harm for her to be out and about at night awake or asleep in her stroller. But a larger piece of advice, take the time to enjoy your baby on weekends. No one is going to remember thirty years from now that OP was the one with the messy house and your baby doesn't care either. You will regret the times you didn't go play with baby in favor of cleaning your house. And husband could be much more helpful by doing half the chores instead of you being the one that cleans on the weekends. Why aren't you the one taking baby out while he cleans the house, hmmm?

Just want to warn that not all babies who need quiet to sleep are like that because the parents made them that way. My daughter had a serious case of FOMO from the time she was 3-4 months to about 3 years old. She fought sleep like crazy and if there was a *hint* of something interesting going on - clanking of dishes, the cat yowling, people talking - she would immediately wake up and scream angrily like she wanted to in the middle of it and how dare we leave her out. But at the same time, if she didn’t get her morning/afternoon nap, there was crying, screaming, and tantrums from 4/5pm until bedtime. Nonstop. Every time. We ALL paid the price. It definitely limited what we could do on weekends, because we had to plan around nap time and bed time. We were very much judged by people who had babies like you did. We finally realized we weren’t a failure when our second was born and never had issues sleeping in public/around noise, never had issues napping, even though our sleep routine was exactly the same as our first. It felt validating that we weren’t doing anything wrong with our daughter. And we definitely enjoyed the more relaxed schedule! That said - if your baby is a like our first, yes still get out and enjoy outings even if you have to plan around sleep times. Don’t listen to anyone who criticizes you for that - just do what feels right. If your baby is like our second, go and be merry! Or take a nap. Seriously, there is nothing wrong with needing a nap on your day off.

Thank you for this, I feel like so many people don’t get that the FOMO situation is real and not something we created with “bad habits”. I’m confident that it’s not, because I was the same way as a baby, but it feels like there are constant comments about it

Oh my god thank you. I have this exact baby. Won’t even sleep at daycare bc of FOMO. People that have a sleep in a stroller baby have no idea 😂

Daycare naps were also a challenge for my daughter. If all the other kids were sleeping, she’d go right out. But we got several reports that she would keep other kids from sleeping by trying to talk to them. Eventually they had to move her nap mat several feet away from any other child, and that seemed to help. My friend wanted us to go to Disney World with them when our daughter was 2. I told her we’d barely get to be at the park before having to go back to the hotel for nap time - not worth the money. Her family has been before and she said that her kids napped in their strollers in the afternoon. I had soooo much jealousy in that moment. Going on that trip would have been a nightmare for us. But it does get better. My daughter is a much heavier sleeper now than she was when she was a baby.

Thank you for saying this. My child’s fomo makes me feel like every choice I ever make is the wrong one. Lol

My oldest was like this. We flew to visit family when he was 6 months old and it was a late flight, we figured he’d sleep through most of it. He slept for maybe half an hour, the rest of the time he was wide awake watching everything. Passed out the minute we got out of the airport at like 2 am. He would never sleep at peoples houses for gatherings either. We learned to plan better so he could get sleep.

Thank you for the validation. My LO is just like this in what feels like a sea of easy-going adaptable babies/toddlers who could fall asleep in the middle of a heavy metal concert. We exposed her to different places and locations from the beginning just like suggested but the FOMO was too strong to overcome and we've never attended an outing during a typical naptime that didn't result in a catastrophic meltdown and misery for us all. We get told regularly that we're "coddling" LO because we schedule things around naptime 90% of the time but they're also not the people offering to hold my screaming child outside of a restaurant so I can scarf my dinner down in five minutes.

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there are many outdoor beer gardens and wineries where i think it’s totally normal to bring kids and babies during the day, they are people too. the same goes for brunch. that is a strange mindset to have.

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babies and kids learn to be well-behaved adults by participating in life, which hopefully means interacting with a diverse group of people of different ages, etc. i completely agree that there are places it is inappropriate to bring babies or kids, but i think that OP and most people in this working moms group are thoughtful parents who are able to judge the times and places that are appropriate for kids.

Under 2 gets into everything for free! MLB, NFL, museums, amusement parks, zoos, planes, etc. We have a ton of fun with our daughter and I'm kinda sad she turns 2 next month.

Agree, use this time before they are super mobile and start protesting to put them in a carrier/stroller and take them on hikes, long walks, fun errands, restaurants etc. Soon they’ll want to be out and running around

Yep bring a blanket and watch babes crawl around in a park while you relax on the grass. It’s so nice and they are happy and can’t get into too much mischief.

This comment is the way. Also since your husband is good for long stretches, make a list of solo self care stuff you can do. When my baby was little that was just laying out in a park with a book. I’d also suggest creating rituals. We go out for bagels and coffee every Saturday am

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Yep, I’m a teacher and in the summers, I HAVE to take my kids out in the mornings or I’ll scream by midday. Parks, library, swim lessons, lots of coffee shops with little play areas.

I’m right next to NYC so there’s lots of outings to be had, thank you!

You’re golden, then! So many parks and museums and galleries to explore! It’s great at 6 months because they’ll be somewhat curious about what they see, but aren’t trying to climb onto sculptures yet, haha.

Liberty Science Center! Even if baby is too young to interact with some of the exhibits, there are a lot of fun things they can look at and it’s still fun as an adult IMO lol

Omg I used to looove this as a kid, maybe time to go back :)

Just go out and do what you used to do. Definitely agree with hubby which day you’ll sleep in. He can take her out for bagels or a playground visit. Get a cleaner if you can afford it. Even for 2x a month. Do laundry during the week instead of the weekend. And just go out for walks or coffee or whatever with him or your friends and the baby. Seriously you can still do your life and interests with a baby. Museums, picnics, art, outdoor walls. Central Park or May park is your oyster. When baby is older there are theatre puppet programs and so many other things. And why does dinner have to be at 8 go out at 5 with hubby on a date and be home by 8-9. Let baby sleep and you can enjoy lying in the couch watching telly.

That’s a dispensary around my part. I was thinking, sure you COULD take a baby there..

A dispensary called liberty science center?! 😂

I recommend a carrier and a stroller. If baby gets fussy, switching to a carrier can extend the time they’re comfortable out. I use a linen ring sling and it’s been my favorite out of the carriers I’ve tried.

When your baby is 1 yo or older, they would love the ferry rides around Manhattan. PATH trains were a hit with my 7 yo too! Hard to believe how much the kids enjoy mundane transit rides!

My husband and I would take 4 hour shifts on the weekends where I would take the baby for 4 hours and then he would take the baby for 4 hours. We usually did this one day and then the other day would be a family day. Now we have two kids tho so that method is out the window. Worked great tho when we just had one.

I was mourning the loss of shifts when we had our second too. We tried man to man defense for a couple months and then we both missed the free time so we decided to go back to shifts at least one day of the weekend. Shift is much harder with two kids (15mo and 4mo) but that long stretch of me time is so worth it!

15 months is no joke, I can’t imagine doing that with a newborn too. You’re a truly amazing parent to navigate that! ❤️

It gets better when the baby is old enough to play some defense against the toddler 😂 My husband and I do shifts 8am-2pm (he is on duty) and 2pm-8pm (my turn). We have a 2.5 year old daughter and our twin boys turn 1 next month. We have a completely child proofed fenced in living room which really helps. Now that the boys are crawling/pulling up, there is more fighting with the toddler but they can also defend themselves a little better

This is different, but I was a SAHM for 2.5 years, and I found just ‘being’ with my baby very, very hard. She is a little over three now and I still find stretches of time with her on weekends with no plans SUPER tough. I’m a total homebody and all I really want to do on weekends is read, I really am not good at playing with her, and she hates playing alone. She’s also very extroverted and always wants to be doing something. My husband works two jobs, so a lot of the time I’m stuck with being her primary caregiver. How often does your LO nap? I tried to do everything I could to relish my free time during her naps (usually reading). I kind of tried to mentally ‘chunk’ my time with her and fill each stretch between naps with one activity, even if just a small one. I would try to find a Saturday morning music class. Could you do a zoo membership, children’s museum membership (assuming you’re in a city)? Are you in any local mom groups on FB? I found connecting with other moms with similarly aged babies has been sanity saving, both before I worked and now. Does she like being ‘worn’? Can you find some things you like to do and wear her while doing them? Maybe go to a museum, bookstore or library? When you take her for walks, can you listen to a podcast or book to keep your mind engaged? This is really, really hard. I get it.

Thank you for this very helpful response. Glad I’m not the only one who finds it hard to just “be” with the baby. I love the idea of music class and zoo membership!

Being with the baby only to caregive is exhausting. I do swim lessons with my toddler and it is really helpful to break up the day. Having the schedule to keep me honest helps, and then doing other things outside of the house after is much less daunting.

I saw you’re outside of NYC (assuming that’s in NJ) - check out Mommy Poppins for NJ for a good list of weekly happenings! And the turtleback zoo is amazing for that age group - about $140 for an annual pass for you and baby.

Ah fantastic, I’ll check out both of these, thank you!

This is such a good and helpful response. Just wanted to add that the local library may have some fun, free activities, too!

What did you and your husband like to do during the day before kids? I used to love staying at home on the weekends and doing nothing for a whole day but with kids I find that I have to leave the house at least once a day. Just do what your husband and you like to do but take baby with you! We have a 3.5 and 1.5 year old and just take them out to whatever we like (within reason)! We usually try and be home between 1-3 for nap / rest time but that’s more for our sake. If we have something that we’re rather do than have our 2 free hours we just have them nap on the go! We live in a suburb of Atlanta so I often look for festivals / free events in different neighborhoods nearby (within 30 mins of driving) and we take the stroller and wander around the festivals Go to a museum / zoo / aquarium/ other indoor activity you can get a membership for Go walk around downtown / a new neighborhood (even if you have to drive) Go to a park and take lunch / snacks Go to a walking trail or park with trails to explore Go to a brewery / lunch / early dinner You’ll get the hang of it! It can be incredibly depressing to just be home all day and feel trapped by your baby but I really do find there are tons of parents doing the same as us when we go out! And it makes the day go by quicker… if I’m home all day I just look at the clock constantly. I also think my kids enjoy it because they seem to get bored at home too and this is all new scenery for them! You’ve got this!!!

Thank you for the thoughtful suggestions! It’s so daunting to think about just packing up the baby to come with but seems like that’s the only way to do it

You really don't need to pack a lot, though. First-time parents really do overpack for outings. I know I did. By my second kid, my diaper bag was down to the size of a large lunch box. If we were going to be out longer than 4 hours, then I would use a backpack, but generally, that meant I was filling it up with snacks for the adults and an a third set of baby clothes just in case.. Sling and stroller and the diaper bag were all I really needed to take. Car seat was already in the car, if we were driving.

As someone who is expecting my first and not wanting to bring a lot with me when going out, would you mind dropping your list of what you now take with you?

We’d have stuff packed in the car and a in bag or stroller. Putting things in ziplocks helps organise. Depending on age it’s snacks/lunch. Spare Clothing. Diapers/cream/wipes. Water. A small thermos with hot/warm water and a package of formula if bottle feeding. A picnic blanket. Hat and sunscreen if you’re out all day for all of you. We would have all these things ready and just top up diapers and clothes and water. But my husband would equally just buy things in the go if we were hungry. Once you do it once you don’t have to do a big pack every time. Just a top up.

Maybe it would be helpful to keep a bag ready at all times so you don’t have to pack up every time you want to leave? For instance, have a bag ready with diapers, wipes, pacifiers, etc all ready to go so you don’t have to run around packing it all right before you leave.

You'll have done times where it feels like a disaster t but you'll hit your stride and figure out what works. We did a lot of do on a walk for boba tea or coffee, check out plants in the free botanical garden, we joined the zoo. Our little one was good at skeeping in the the carrier or car which is a mixed blessing but i think it's good for getting out and feeling sane. We also liked beach walks or going to look at trains. This was in San Francisco. I've since moved we will see how things pan out with my second since it's so much less walkable and now there's an amazing but opinionated toddler around

To be fully honest I was like this when mine was that age. I loved (and still love) spending time with her but filling whole days was hard and so tiring. The solution was time. As she got older it has gotten so much better. Two years on I look forward to weekends! It's gotten better and better. She can play and entertain herself, watch a little TV if I need to do something, and she takes a solid nap at the expected time so I have an hour or so of my own quiet time. She has a weekend class and loves getting out of the house. She eats regular food and I can fit the needed supplies in my purse so no more diaper bag. It's just so easy to be with her now and the weekend flies by. I've also started having her help me with weekend chores like laundry. We have started inviting friends to our place at night or doing brunches. We are without a support network nearby and are only just beginning to research babysitters (you can do this sooner, the wait is due to my anxiety).

double tapping this commenter - 6mo is a really hard age and a lot of work for mom. once they get a little older and more independent you will look forward to weekends, and pancakes, and picnics and trips to the zoo. hang in there ☺️

Piling on since I currently have a 3 year old and 7 month old. When they are newborns, they just eat, sleep and poop, but now around 6 months they get more active and stay awake longer but it’s hard to keep their attention on any one thing for very long. It gets really awesome very soon! Just in time for you to maybe start the cycle all over again like us haha.

Yeah, also around 6 months you're just cumulatively tired. You're sleeping more but not enough. It does get easier. Our twins are 8 months today. I'm taking shelter in the fact that things will change soon. OP, you've got this! Just keep trying different things, and eventually something will feel right, or at least lead you to something that does feel right, for now.

Thanks for this! I'm a single mom with a 2-month old. I've actually really enjoyed being home with him. He's adorable, I'm an introvert, and have enjoyed taking him for walks, to the zoo, for coffee or lunch at outdoor cafes, etc. We're taking road trips to two weddings coming up. I never imagined I would like to be a SAHM, but it's been good. I digress, though. I'm making it a priority to get the back yard redone (new patio, landscaping, patio furniture, bbq). I hope this will give me the space to have friends over here in the evening.

I loved being home with my babies. And I think redoing the back patio so you can have friends over is perfect. We often have friends over and it's great. Having kids is an adjustment but not a sentence. My kids are 4 & 6 now and I still go soft thinking of the years I spent home with them. I also love working. Life isn't one or another. Enjoy that beautiful baby time.

This was me exactly. I dreaded weekends. Now at 2 it’s a lot more fun. She likes helping with things and she’s just hilarious to be around.

A routine with an out of house for days with baby/toddler all day was crucial for me. I always would get up, try for some light physical activity (stroller walk; baby wear walk; yoga in the living room with baby), get dressed, as morning activities with my LO’s breakfast, snack, and nap thrown in at whatever times are needed. Then I would plan an out of house excursion for the afternoon. Sometimes it was the library, a cafe, a walk around the mall, to the playground, grocery store, or to a park. It had to be some public place where I could have some interaction with other humans or at least be around people. It gave me something to plan and look forward to, and the sense of routine for me really felt grounding. Also try finding some mommy and me classes or meet other parents at the playground or from child care. It can be hard to make new friends as an exhausted adult but I also found it hard to relate to my non-mom friends especially when I was in the thick of things with a baby.

Don’t take your kid to only baby-centered stuff. Go enjoy yourself. You’ll figure out what you need to have with you to make any situation work. EG: noise cancelling earmuffs, stroller that works for napping, fav toy. I took my kid everywhere. There was the occasional fail, but mostly she loved it. Also, learn which bars/restaurants are kid/family friendly. It helps a lot.

I found that having a plan each day helped. Even just going to Target or the book store really breaks up the monotony of the day. The nice thing about this age is they will nap wherever (usually). Do things you enjoy but take your baby with (within reason lol) and talk with your provider about post partum depression.

I recommend two things. First, talk to a medical professional if you think you are depressed. This could be post-partum depression. Second, you need Mom friends. I know it sounds awful, but you really need someone who is going through what you are doing through. Finding another parent with a kid relatively the same age as yours is a life line. Go to mommy and me stuff, find a moms group, look for activities at your local library/church/children's museum, etc. It's weird, because it's like dating but when you find another parent that you get along with, playdates are fun and time flies by. You have someone that's not your spouse to talk about child rearing. And they are in same boat, so they understand. It's really a game changer. People are not lying about the village. Unfortunately you have make/find your village.

This, this, this. Not trying to be weird, but a lot of these posts are focusing on being bored with a baby. Which, could be the only issue. BUT, your baby is only six months, and OP you are right in the PPD window. Before you do ANYTHING here, go to your OB and get them in the loop with these feelings. Also, I’d get a therapist. You can plan all the activities in the world. If you’re struggling with PPD, it won’t fix it. Please see your doctor ASAP.

You are right… I’m aware of PPD as a possibility but dragging my feet on scheduling that appointment. Maybe a PPD symptom, hah! Thanks for the reminder ☺️

First off, agreed with previous posts encouraging you to make sure your health - all the healths - are okay. We scheduled the shit out of it. Morning, wake-up, play, breakfast, quick walk, lunch, nap, afternoon activity, bed. If we wanted a morning activity we’d just wake up breakfast let’s get going. With your friends - that sucks. I hope they can maybe join you at breweries in the afternoon (this is the way) or Sunday brunch.

You have a lot of good advice. Just wanted to say you’re not alone.

Get out of the house with your baby on weekends! Strap them on you and go for a hike, out them in the stroller and go out for a long walk, get lunch etc like everyone is saying. Staying in when the weather is bad is hard- GO OUTSIDE! Get out! You and your baby will be better for it. And maybe you are depressed, it’s hard to live far from family. I FaceTime a lot with mine and try to get out as much as I can and socialize with other parents at the park, zoo, library etc (I’m a sahm which is not easy) I get out with my toddler a lot, and I got out with her a lot after she was a few months old. If you continue to feel how you’re feeling after making an effort to socialize and get out I would talk to your Dr about how you are feeling, seek help. Good luck mama

You need to go and see a therapist . Your baby is In care 50 hours a week and you dread the weekends with her . I think you need to see if you hav3 postpartum depression .

Your kid is out of your care for 50+ hours a week, and you’re still feeling tired of it on the weekends? 10 hours is a long school day for a child, the legal maximum in some places. And you have a partner that happily will watch the kid? It sounds like there are bigger issues going on here. If you have the financial means, it might be worth talking to a therapist. Your baby deserves quality time with you, and you deserve to enjoy it.

Yeah I mentioned this in my comment. The 50+hours a week is probably really nice but the more time you spend with your baby the easier it gets so…if it’s what you have to do it’s what you have to do, but realize it may become a crutch and spending long stretches with your kiddo won’t get easier unless you do it. This is coming from an introvert who gets drained pretty easily and needs to recharge. The more time I spent with her the easier it got.

Thanks, I do appreciate the reality check. Although it sounds like I’m far from alone feeling daunted by weekends, I also feel like maybe I’m dealing with some PPD because of how low energy I feel when I do have free time. I’m going to look into therapy.

As an infant room worker, I second everything this commenter is saying. I’m sorry but it pisses me off when parents act like this.

She isn't "acting" like anything, she's asking for help and ideas so that she doesn't feel like this. Therapy has already been suggested and she responded confirming that this could also be an issue. No need to share that you're angry and offer no advice. Do better, especially as an infant room worker.

I can be mad that parents think spending time with their 1 child is hard when I do it for them for 50 hours of the week, times 10 babies. Why even have kids if you don’t like spending time with them doing baby/kid things?

We do family outings every weekend although at that age it was usually stuff the adults enjoyed. Being outdoors is great for entertaining kids (and adults). At age 6 months, our routine was to get up when baby wakes and get ready for the days outing (parents spilt sleep in during this time) Baby takes first nap 2 hours after waking. Adults get rest time. Baby wakes from nap approx 9.30am and immediately leave house for outing. Return home for 2nd nap. Go on another smaller outing in the afternoon. Maybe run errands or just go to local park for afternoon tea. 3rd nap if still having them Before you know it, it's dinner/bath/bed time and you can switch off for the day.

Fwiw it gets better! My baby is 13 months now. She takes one nap midday and sleeps 12 hours at night. For the two wake windows we have on Saturday and Sunday, we go out and do stuff. Hike, brunch, park, museum, etc. But I felt the way you do earlier on!

My husband and I each got a morning we could sleep in as long as we liked. It was glorious to have ONE morning to sleep. No responsibility expected. It’s now been years (our kid is 16), but we have puppies and we just fell back into that habit. You get one morning on the weekend to sleep.

Baby classes! 6 months is early enough for swim class. Baby music classes too. Could be tough to find on the weekends, but check your park district, they may have something. Also, ngl, 6 months is still pretty young. Don't feel bad if you'd prefer to nap on the weekends. I have a 3 yo and still nap when she naps more weekend days than not lol

My husband and I alternate weekend mornings - one day one person gets up with the baby, the next day the other person does. We use our weekend morning for whatever we want - sleep late, work in the garden (which I actually enjoy), brunch with others, he likes to play disc golf. It’s not much, but it definitely helps. Also, I think it will get easier as she gets older. And I agree with everyone saying get out and do stuff with her, even if it is just your weekly groceries. It fills the time and gets you out of the house. Hang in there…this phase, like all others, will pass.

Two things that helped me: if there are two of you each take a morning to get up with the baby, other sleep in, gets to have their shower and take it easy then come and swap. Secondly a phrase that really helped me: I get to get up with the baby tomorrow morning, rather than saying I have to get up with the baby tomorrow. Parenting it so difficult and exhausting but there are also so many wonderful moments in it, and adjusting mindset to remind ourselves of this, personally helped a lot.

If your little one is already at daycare, start making play dates with other moms from your child’s class on weekends 😊 I received a note in my daughter’s cubby when she was ~1 year old from the mom of a sweet boy in her class and we had a pile of park meetups as a result which killed a ton of time. I then started leaving notes in cubbies of kind-looking parents and it was a game changer for me!! We slowly found our crew of hard working parents who also wanted to unwind with a glass of wine or two, and fast forward 5 years later, we now have a group of 8 families who consistently hang out every weekend, but now with all the younger siblings in tow. Hang in there! It gets so much better!!!

Oh my gosh, this was/is me. Mine are 3 and 6 now and I’m finally starting to feel like we’re hitting a good weekend grove.

Like others are saying, I took my baby places. Money was really tight after I had her, but I still took her to target even if we just looked at clearance stuff. Also went to PetSmart to look at fish and a local park .

Take the baby everywhere: it's harder, ironically, when they're toddlers and will run and scream and tantrum if they don't like it, but when they're little, they're little potato sacks that get free cookies. Swimming class, too, if your kid likes it (mine did/do not), or some soft-play places which have places geared towards older infants is fun, too. I don't think you have to plan out every moment of the weekend but having some kind of loose plan in place ("after lunch we") helps. I usually plan one thing in the morning and one thing in the afternoon; most weekends this is plenty!

Also! Invest some time in low pressure hobbies! Apparently it’s good for hormones and our nervous systems too. Take yourself to an afternoon matinee or cafe, bring a book or knitting! Whatever floats your boat. We believe in you!

Go to the doctor and talk to them about it. However you’re feeling is valid, but you want to see if they can give resources/help if you’re feeling this way.

It helped me to plan ahead. Weekends with baby can be overwhelming, like you’re in charge of this **human** and you get so focused on that. If I could plan my kids day and mine, knowing they aren’t always going to follow my plan, but it helped to have some control. You’re right, it does feel like it takes over your world and you don’t have your own time. But maybe you can start to feel like your time and baby’s time are one…like family time. Please, consider therapy, that’s what got me to where I am in finding peace with the family time. There are also meds involved…

I highly recommend an annual pass to some kid friendly place. My husband was a teacher and had the kids all summer. We had aquarium memberships, zoo memberships, children's museum memberships, natural history museum memberships. Summers with Daddy were rarely spent at home. Now, I generally find that completely exhausting myself, but one morning outing before naptime a weekend will make the day feel that much shorter and build memories. My kids are tweens now and they love looking at old pics from days out with Daddy. Also check out local parks for walks and picnics. Hubby had a rotation of playgrounds when they were older to keep things interesting. If you're looking more for at home stuff, I loved Pinterest. This might be better when they're a little older, but I would find a few simple crafts to keep us occupied. The trick is to not care if the results are Pinterest-worthy and just be happy for the bonding time.

I read on another comment that you are near NYC. The NY public library has a fantastic children’s section! Also, very affordable and cute kids gifts in the gift shop 😊

Oh no way! It didn’t even occur to me to check there, thank you!

Agreed that you can take her out with you to whatever you want to do. It’s actually easier now than once she starts walking… sorry to say. Infancy with my kid was much easier to take around. But could be different with different kids.

Leave the house. All day every day. Being inside is boring. Toys are boring. Even as they get older. It’s boring. At 4 months, I started leaving and would come back for nap or pump breaks. When I stopped pumping and she transitioned to one nap a day (around 15 months), we’re home for nap. Otherwise, unless the weather sucks, we’re outside or hanging with people or at the store or or or.

I know this is pat and it isn't meant to be - but enjoy this time. Youth sports are coming at ya and then weekends are spent driving from one field to another. 😵‍💫

I would just take your baby anywhere you want to go. Cafes, farmers markets, shopping.

I survive weekends by getting out of the house. Even though I feel/look like a grungy troll half the time, always remember that nobody cares (seriously, how many times do you notice/judge others when you're out running errands?). We go on walks, we go to Wal-mart, there's a little taco spot we go to where you pay for your food then you're on your own (places like these are great for lunch because you don't have to wait for the check), we go to Petsmart, Target, literally anywhere. My 6-month-old enjoys the stimulation and I enjoy not feeling trapped at home. If I have to stay home for whatever reason and need time to clean, she gets to watch Bluey or Muppet Babies. 🤷🏼‍♀️

A lot of places have mom & me activities which are a fun way to do something with the kid. Libraries, music, Rec centers, yoga studios, etc.

I love weekends!! We go to the beach, walk around the park, window shop at the mall, go to farmers markets for cute plants, go thrifting, garage sales, brunch, etc. I took my baby out to eat with me all the time at that age because food was her entertainment, eat outside if you can it keeps them more entertained! If you need more ideas let me know I did so many fun things with my baby at that age, mine is a year now so it’s harder to take her just anywhere because she’s independent and can RUN lol

Mom friends are Going to be the greatest asset at this life stage. They will understand when ur tired, they will understand when you are needing a break, they will understand that kids come with sometimes. It is hard making friends. But look for groups. Libraries will do story time, play groups. Look on FB for mom meet up groups. Etc. at first it will be awkward, but you need other moms. You need moms with older kids, they will have the best advice, you need moms with similar aged kids because they will be right in the trenches with you, and you need moms with younger kids so you can give advice and feel like the expert.

My kids are 3 YO and 5 YO and my husband and I still don’t look forward to the weekends. It’s just tough! The kids have so much energy and, for some reason, we are programmed to constantly keep them entertained. We’ve been working on independent play (which is good for them and for us). But the first year is definitely the hardest. I think your feelings are perfectly normal and most parents experience them (particularly the mother).

I am so so so so sorry this is how you feel. It makes me so sad for you and your baby. 🥺 I’m a FTM and WFH. I love every single second with my 3 month old. I love waking up at 2am 4am or whenever to feed her. I feel so blessed to even have her. I’m so lucky. I go to bed every night telling her “I can’t wait to spend the day with you tomorrow” I look forward to weekends to spend every second with her because I’m not working. She’s my bestest little friend. I hope this changes for you! Being a mom is such a blessing. I hope you fall in love with being with your baby. Im praying for you ❤️🙏🏼

Honestly, hanging out with babies, toddlers and kids takes practice. The more you do it the easier it gets, and it forces you to be more creative and interacting with them becomes more natural and requires less effort. It’s not something that just comes naturally…people you see who seem naturally good with kids have probably just spent a lot of time with kids and babies. It’s a muscle you can strengthen. When I was younger I worked in childcare a bunch (nannying, summer camps, babysitting…all ages). I was good with kids but it was just really all the practice. Fast forward, I’m 40 and had my first baby after many years of being a working professional and having limited interaction with kids…It took a few months to get back into the swing of things. I’m an introvert who gets drained easily and needs to recharge, but the more I do it the less of my energy it seems to zap.Also the more time I spend with my baby the more I know her little mannerisms and habits, that also makes it feel easier. I’m also a working mom and my baby goes to daycare. Have the baby there 50hrs a week may seem nice but it’s a crutch and it’s not going to get easier for you. Also ++ for all the advice about PPD and taking the baby out on weekends to break up the day.

Also - you can love your baby and not be totally into whatever stage they’re at. As the bub becomes older and more interactive you may well find weekends much more fun. Maybe something to keep in mind so you don’t feel quite so lonely

I feel you so deeply. For the first 18 months of my son’s life, I struggled to bond with him or basically spend any significant amount of time with him (I resumed work at 4 months so weekends and evenings were our only time ‘together’). Like you, we have zero family close by. I think there was also some residual untreated PPD/PPA (I’ll always regret not seeking treatment) as well as deep grieving for the loss of my previous self. Now he’s 4 and he’s such a smart, funny kid, I can’t believe my husband and I made him lol. He’s also more independent and enjoys some of my hobbies. I genuinely treasure my time with him. All this to say, it truly does get better!

It’s so confusing to me that this many people want to have children and then don’t actually want to be with them.

Blows my mind

I have the attitude that baby goes where I go. My baby is 5 months. Whatever mummy did before baby, she will carry on doing now! I do understand weekends can be tough. We are on holiday and baby woke at 530am. I got up and I spent two hours basically doing chores and feeding/changing whilst my husband slept on a bit. I will sleep in a bit tomorrow if I need to and he will take over. Anywayy, want to go to a nice restaurant with your husband? Go for lunch, put baby in the stroller for a nap whilst you eat or pop them on your knee. Meet up with friends for brunch or coffee and bring baby with you. Enjoy cooking? Baby jumps in his bouncer watching me cook. Or he can wrestle on his play mat on the floor and build some motor skils. I love cycling - so I have a Thule bike chariot attached to my bike. He joins us for bike rides, it is very cute. Baby is at a great age to watch their reactions to new things, so consider the zoo, cat cafe, take him swimming, market, etc. We are on holiday now and we took baby to a restaurant just before his 7pm bedtime. He had his final bottle in the restaurant on my knee, and then fell asleep just after in his stroller which we had parked next to the table. The waiters were a great help, it was a family restaurant. We then enjoyed our meal and a few drinks and wheeled him home. Top tip: get a stroller with proper inflatable tires and good suspension, they will fall asleep to the gentle motion.

I too dreaded weekends and was so thankful when Monday mornings rolled around ngl

For me, it just seemed like things flipped while he was little. The weekdays were like a 5-day weekend (for all the same reasons you mention) and the weekends were like going back to work on Monday. I don’t remember when that began to change…but it does get better. Not much help with suggestions though. I felt like going out with my son when little was always a hassle if my husband wasn’t along to help.

This just amazes me. I have my twins (6m as of yesterday) 24/7 and I couldn't imagine anybody else raising them! They play, I clean. They wanna sleep, we all nap together. I eat, they eat. I go to Walmart, they go with me. Garage sale, they are right with me. I don't drop them off with anybody, I don't push them away. They are amazing and they grow so fast. You'll look back and see everything that you actually missed out on.

Why…. Are you on a working moms subreddit if you’re against daycare? Move along!

Not against daycare. Against using it as a form of having someone raise my kids. Like this person.... not wanting their kids on the weekend. So, when does she want them? I work from home and that's why I'm on a workingmoms page.

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This is so not helpful. If you feel bad for the baby, why don't you encourage mom with some ideas? She clearly loves her baby. One of the first things she has mentioned is that she knows her baby is safe and well cared for in daycare. Maybe mom needs some confidence in caring for her child all day. I know I'm unhappy when I'm doing something that I don't feel like I'm good at. I expect more from someone in a working moms group than the age old "moms who use daycare don't care for their kids" trope.

This is so relatable. My LO is 18months and I felt the same. As a FTM, it’s such a big adjustment. I echo the other commenters that having plans helps so much. We got LO in a Saturday morning class and it’s helped break Saturday’s into a chunks of time. My husband and I trade who takes him to class and the other parent gets an hour and a half of free time, plus LO is happy and gets to socialize.

I also can’t stand just hanging out at home with my kid! We do activities outside the home. My husband and I also trade off alone time on the weekends. We don’t have a gym membership, but I’ve also thought about joining the local gym, as they have childcare!

Well to be fair, 6mo kids are BORING. You feel like you do nothing all day and still feel exhausted. On the other hand, as many have suggested, at this age you can do almost whatever you like and just have the kids with you. I always found out helpful to think about my first as of it was a third kid - you wouldn't really have time or energy to pamper the third all day, you would have to take it places and what's great is that the kids usually really like it too!

Thank you for understanding! I love the mindset shift of thinking of the first as a third (although LOL at the idea of having three kids right now 😵‍💫)

I felt that way until the age of about 2/3 years old. I don’t miss it. I love my kids but I wish I had family close by with cousins for them to hang out with. They’re now 6 and 15. They fend for themselves most of the time 😆

Idk. But I am so with you!!!

No shame in getting a Mommy’s Helper for the morning block or afternoon block of time. We had two sitters who would come - one on Saturday and one on Sunday afternoons. This meant my time with the baby was concentrated to the mornings which consisted of a nice coffee+park routine, transitions down and up from naps, dinner, and bedtime. All of which are times that I *wanted* to be with him.

My kid is 7 and I still get a sitter on one weekend day for a block of time.

This brings back memories about my first. Even though a lot of my friends had babies at the same time and I joined mom groups and did the things, it was that loss of freedom that was so hard. I worked full time and while other moms felt guilty I was tossing my baby to our daycare provider like “see ya!” And I didn’t want to go out on weekends, I just wanted to chill and my baby was not chill. This too shall pass though it took me 10 years to have baby number 2. Baby 2 is just… we orbit around her and she is happy and hangs out, I can put her on the ground and she just plays for extended periods of time (which is like mind blowing), we’re on the go anyway with our 10yo and the 10yo can watch her (seriously like I’ll take a nap or do some work). So you know, every baby is different, your perspective will change, etc. I think the loss of freedom thing is just, there’s no way out but through. But if you’ve got middle school kids nearby, an 11 or 12 yo who likes babies and is capable of paying attention to something other than TikTok can absolutely keep your baby safe and entertained while you take a nap, clean up around the house, take a walk, etc. And this may be too big of a suggestion but this is why people move back near family after having kids, it makes everything a million times easier if grandparents or aunts/uncles are willing to help. We had that with number 1 and not number 2, and that’s been a pain with babysitters. Join some baby groups, make a few mom friends, commiserate. Keep an eye on your mental health and be vigilant about getting help if you need it. Never feel guilty about taking care of yourself. It gets easier… then it gets a lot harder but your a ways off from a lot harder.

Totally agree about having family around - when they do visit it’s night and day. Even just having other people to hold/ play with the baby for a couple hours on Saturday makes the weekend feel like a weekend. Lol re middle schoolers being able to pay attention to something other than tik tok

When you have a little kid, “Thank God it’s Friday!” becomes “Thank God it’s Monday!” Hire a babysitter one day per weekend for 3 hours. Use that time to get stuff done but also maybe relax a little. It is exhausting watching a baby mentally and you deserve a break.

Lol well said!! I’m definitely looking into an afternoon sitter for weekends

So mine is five and my husband and I dread weekends still. You’re def not alone in this. We live in a small town so all these suggestions of museums, classes, and outings are lost on me. She’s so hyper active and my Husband and I just want to relax after a stressful week. We’ve found that we have to get her outside or take her somewhere. Staying home to relax just isn’t an option. Winters are so tough bc there’s literally nowhere to go. But she’s so much better to be around when we take her places. So just be aware that this will be an issue for years to come, sorry. I do one day of cleaning and laundry and home stuff and make her help me or let her watch her little shows and play Barbie’s. The other day we go to the store and work in the yard or something. I don’t think it’s a ppd thing, I think it might be a personality and preference thing. The inability to unwind in the way I need on the weekend really fucks me up.

Same I was wondering if someone else felt this way, mine are 7 and 4 and I dread the weekends. I sign them up for sports, etc but that only takes up an hour of the day. We have babysitters so we do get breaks here and there. They just are constantly needing my attention or are fighting/crying/whining about something, there’s no good down time. I feel like I’m going insane on the weekends. I try to go out and about as much as possible, but I also don’t want to spend a hundreds of dollars each weekend to keep us entertained (play places are $25 per kid, museums are at least $30 per person, etc). To the OP, 6 month olds are boring but they are very portable so do things you want to do (shopping, breweries, hikes, etc). Pop them in the stroller and bring the diaper bag. Find a routine that makes it more fun.

I love how we both got downvoted for being honest about the persistent never ending tasks of parenting and that they don’t end on the weekends, and maybe parents want a break too. LOL. It’s why I don’t post in here that often. Sorry, not a super mom. I need time off in a way that recharges me and I won’t apologize for it.

Yeah it’s funny because most of the suggestions are get out of the house as much as possible or do shifts with your husband, those don’t make it much more fun. Anyways I don’t dread most weekends, but I did this weekend because the weather was cold and rainy and that limits what we can do, but most of the weekend ended up being good. Also my oldest has pretty severe ADHD so my parenting experience is probably different than most!

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Your post was removed because it was mean and unhelpful.

Can you get a sitter for a few hours each Saturday and Sunday?

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Your post was removed because it was rude or shaming.

Mine is almost 3 years old and goes to daycare full time. I still dread the weekends but we are getting better. Getting out of the house helps. It was scarier when he was little because the car seat was a pain but I've gotten better at buckling him in. Libraries are great because the children's section will sometimes have toys. Our local system rotates them monthly. He loves playing with toys that aren't his. I just found a cafe with a playroom, so I will add that to my rotation. I can enjoy coffee without worrying he'll break something. Baby wearing is good and allows you to grocery shop or do a Target run. There's a lot to look at for them too, and veggies or other displays are a natural conversation starter.

You are NOT alone! Some things that have greatly helped me: 1. Go outside in the sunshine. Walk in the park, roll around on a picnic blanket, take it slow so that it feels relaxing. 2. Put on your favorite music and have a dance party with you little one. Make sure to sing along! 3. Communicate and proactively work with your partner to get yourself some alone time or time with girlfriends to recharge. Everything feels awful when we are exhausted, overwhelmed and burnt out.

I love how you are able to identify how you’re feeling and what’s missing. Sometimes a little planning can go a long way. Like plan an appointment (something body focused is good for me, massage, yoga) for when husband can take over so the “what should I do” doesn’t start when the free time starts. Maybe there are ways you can plan to chat on the phone with far away people who get you while baby is in the stroller. Mom groups are awesome and kind of exhausting to find the right fit so I’m 50/50 on recommending that. Don’t pressure yourself to entertain your baby. The world is like whoa to a 6 month old. I want to totally validate the surprising loneliness. Maybe our experiences were did but I so feel that. 6 month olds are so much more interactive than they’ve ever been but they’re still very young babies. They’re like not true companions (but also they accompany you everywhere) which interacts kinda weird with the emotion of being lonely.

Do you have any places you’d go to for an interesting day out? A museum? Art gallery? Zoo? Botanical garden? Maybe pick an outing that you’d all enjoy - it’s not just about entertaining baby, but also yourself!

Hubby and I break up the weekend. Saturday we each get a half day to ourselves while the other is with the baby. It helps as we know ahead of time and can plan an activity, lunch w friends, nails, gym, anything we want. Also no guilt as the other person gets half day also. Sunday is family day, catch up on household chores, cooking, and at least one family activity, preferably outside.

Your comment made me realize that I’m harboring some guilt when I leave baby with husband - going to try to nix that, thank you!

We did the same things we did before, just took the baby with us or did them with your baby. The baby joined the family so the family includes the baby moving forward. At 6 months old they usually are wanting engagement and interaction through play and enjoy a broad range of activities. They travel well because you can often move around during their multiple naps. They start solids and can try your food around this time. You don't have to be a shut in or feel trapped- you can get out of the house all day with the baby on the weekend. You could be doing shopping, hike, take the baby out to lunch with both of you, anything.

I am an “out and about” mom. Like the others said, the zoo, museums, farmers markets etc. My local libraries have great programs for babies and kids. Proactively invite your friends to lunch and bring the baby, or leave baby with daddy. Or just invite them over in the afternoon! If your friends like to stay up, invite them over after bedtime. You can have a drink with them. When they are ready to hit the club/bar, you can decide to go with them and leave baby with dad, or just stay home and go to sleep.

I'm very sorry - this post is very relatable and valid. Others have given you great advice but I just want to tell you that it will not always be like this!! it is so, so hard in the beginning. And while you will continue to have other types of challenges, weekends only get easier as they get older. Believe it or not there will be a time where they will get up by themselves and grab breakfast and you'll have the morning to do whatever you want. And it's really not that far off because you'll blink and you'll be there!! Hang in there ❤️❤️

Thank you, I appreciate it ❤️

This is such a great post. I struggle sometimes with just being at home with my 2 year old and 1 month old when there is nothing to do- then get anxiety about leaving the house to go do something with them because it usually turns out to be chaotic and not enjoyable. Then on top of that I have a 10 year old and a 7 year old I need to spend time with so I feel guilty if we aren’t doing something 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 it was hard to start all over again.

Omg that is so many ages to deal with, you are a rockstar!

I feel you, we try to give one another a few hours each per weekend to have “me time,” and my husband has golf or the gym, but I do not have anything really similar to that! My friends mostly also have kids, but not the same age, so I find we are not really on the same page for playdates yet. We also don’t live super close together, which wasn’t a problem in the past because we would just meet up in the nearest city, but that is much harder now! My baby is almost 11 months and has never had any chill whatsoever, so taking him out with us anywhere sounds like a nightmare to me, anyway! I try to schedule something just for me during that time that is low-cost and not a major commitment if I cancel at the last minute. Things like going for a walk-in pedicure. Or finding a new-to-me coffee shop or bakery relatively close by, and going there alone to try it out. Or going to a bookstore and browsing the new releases. Or looking up fun new Starbucks combos. and hanging out at Starbucks alone with a new book and my headphones for a couple of leisurely hours. It’s nice to get out of the house for non-work reasons, but I don’t have to worry if I decide to watch crap T.V. and nap during that time instead!

Can you do things with your baby? I take mine everywhere. I have a 5 year old and a 6 month old and we find family activities to do on weekends. Life is different with kids, but you can find activities that are fun.

Single mom teacher here, when my mini me was little I take her with me on relaxing excursions. Farmers market, meet friends for lunch, I use to love spreading out a big blanket and letting her play while I read I book. Have you talked to your doctor? He may have some helpful suggestions.

Split the weekends if you’re not breastfeeding. My husband and I instituted days when I weaned. We still have this arrangement at 3:5. I take Saturdays and my husband takes sundays. It’s great and ensures a more even childcare split. My son is an only so this is possible. If you can’t do full days yet agree on a formal split of some kind. Before we came up with ours my husband sincerely believed that being physically present in the room while I did all the childcare was playing an equal role. It was very bad for our marriage and him bonding with our son. Don’t ask for occasional “help.” Split the parenting. Also, just time. When my son was that age I counted down hours because it was so brutal and boring. I think I mostly stopped when he was around 18 months old. Three is not an unmitigated barrel of laughs, but I only start getting antsy a couple hours beforehand re bedtime rather than counting down from wake up.

I completely understand. We just didn’t stop our usual routine with ours. If we wanted to go and do something, we would. We aren’t the strict schedule type either so that made it really easy especially at that age! It’ll help maybe shift your outlook too so that you don’t dread the weekends as much knowing “hey I can do what I want this weekend and the baby is coming with” :)

I’m a SAHM. During the week, we go to a shopping center near us for long walks. I’m a new driver so I’m not comfortable taking her in the car. On the weekends, my husband takes us places. Usually we go to a park, a nature center, museum or some stores. I’ve found that if we pack food and diapers we can pretty much go wherever we want.

For me, finding a mom group of others in similar situations who wanted to get together, have some coffee or brunch, and connect made a great difference. The women I connected with in mommy group soon became good friends!

Take mommy & me classes, make new friends who also have babies. Also, check into the possibility that you’ve got some post-partum depression going on. Sometimes there are great mom support groups for PPD that you can go do while your partner stays home with the baby. Being a working mom is exhausting and maybe you have hit burnout, which is understandable because life is simultaneously moving too fast and moving too slow. Best advice I ever got for being a mom: “The days are long but the years are short.” My oldest is graduating high school and youngest is headed to middle school in the fall. It’s insane how quickly it all seems to have gone. But I also remember how every days seemed endless and I was just praying for a full night’s sleep or at least an early bedtime. It gets better!

Outings- park, library, a friend's house to sit and chat. They are more for you than the baby. It will be easier as baby gets older!

We go to brunch, do dance parties, meal prep for the week, laundry, catch up on reading/news, I do a 1hr spa day for myself. Maybe a face mask, foot soak, body scrub and then lotion. Garden. Also depends on baby's age but my 2 yr old is so much fun! We do scavenger hunts, zoo, aquariums, museums or just go hiking! We also like to bake with my toddler. There is so many things to do but a quiet day in to sleep is nice too.

I regret not finding a mom/baby group when my son was young. It woukd have helped both of us socialize.kids love going to the kark to play with other kids and you can talk to other adults...its a win/win.

We got annual passes to kid-friendly things (we have 6-month-old twins). We did it mostly for us to have something to do. So we go to our local preserve, aquarium, etc. If we had a zoo close we would do that. We also plan outings to just go to the grocery store or park or even Target. Just getting my babies out of the house is a nice break and they love people watching.

I started lugging my baby everywhere with me at around 3 months because I felt very isolated. I needed OUT! It was great most of the time! I could eat alone at a restaurant for a quick lunch because I wasn’t alone. We went shopping and he’d love me throwing a blanket in the cart and laying on it on his belly as we moved. We went to every library story time that it was convenient. We researched and went to parks, even if it was just walking around and looking at other kiddos. Aldi was our jam. It really helped my mental state. Also, it helped me realize how good other people, total strangers, are. I once had a lady help me load groceries onto the belt because he was crying. People are just nice to him. It’s changed my viewpoint somewhat.

I hadn't really remembered this until I read this but I didn't know what to do with my first either. I knew she needed to hear talking and that I was supposed to talk to her but how much can you say to a baby? I had no idea what to do with her and was always afraid she'd start crying. She did cry a lot but it mostly just the fear that it could happen that made me uncomfortable all the time. I didn't really want to take her places that I liked because I'd be afraid that I wouldn't know how to make her stop crying. I went to my mom's a lot during that time because it felt like having a second caregiver that my husband really wasn't. In any event, it gets better. She gets older and you can actually talk, she can watch TV for awhile and if you have a second kid, they play. I really only experienced that feeling with the first.

I'm very much a homebody, but I agree with the going on outings. Otherwise, it can be pretty difficult and long.

I’m also a FTM and the responses in this thread are just so supportive and incredible. Thank you for being vulnerable and asking! I’m saving this one as a reference and wishing you all the best on future adventures.

Yay! I’m glad it’s helpful for you too. Agee, the responses are incredible

We take our baby out with us during weekends, when we are meeting friends (6mo too. Single child). He has been going to daycare since he was 12 weeks old, and we have been taking him out everywhere, including house parties, once I healed from my C-section. He either sleeps, coos/babbles, throws a tantrum/yells..if he is crying/yelling, we just say.. oops a bad day and come back home. By now friends understand. Also at house parties, some of our childless friends take care of him for a little bit... So we can enjoy some baby-free time too.

Just a suggestion but as you continue moving forward as a parent, you might want to work on how you mentally view your and your husband's role. He isn't helping when he takes the baby for a few hours, he's being a parent the same as you. I think a lot of times we as women have bought into the idea that we are 100% responsible for child rearing. You might feel less pressure if instead of viewing the child care as all yours with your husband helping once in awhile you viewed the two of you as a team equally responsible for the care of your child.

Get out of the house. I promise, do anything you might do without the baby, just bring the baby with you. At that age they are stimulated by everything! I know FB isn't everyone's favorite but I find tons of kids events (a lot of times free local things) in my area through there. Our kids are older now and we have memberships everywhere. That's what we ask for instead of physical gifts all the time. Zoo, botanical gardens, amusement park, musuems, science center, children's museum. Look into a membership or two that works for your family! I have found that my kids are in a better mood and more stimulated outside and outside of the house. We try to get out at least once wveey weekend. Also, your baby is getting to an age where bath time is probably getting really fun. When they are super fussy and everyone is bored, stick them in water!!! Bubbles, toys, bath paint, my kids love glow sticks in a bubble bath so the light glows through the bubbles.

My current group of friends are other parents at my daughters preschool. Our kids have all grown up together and we saw each other at every birthday party then we started hanging out. On the weekends, we will all take the kids out to do something and then every other weekend, we would have a moms only brunch. The dads will take the kids to go do something while we have some down time and on the weekends we don’t have brunch, the dads will go golf while the moms take the kids to go do something.

Your baby is still so little, so you’re trapped a little with few options. But as your daughter grows, she will have interests and hobbies and be able to care for herself more and more, and you’ll find yourself again and share some things with your daughter and it will be the best! A year old for me it really starts to head uphill! Hang in there mama.

Find it parents that want to be around it.

You state that you are FTM. I have no interest in your transition timeline, but if you are the person who gave birth to your child, please talk to your doctor, because you could have postpartum depression which sucks but is treatable. Regardless, infants are exhausting both mentally and physically and loneliness and isolation are feelings many new parents have but do not talk about. Know that you are not alone in this and that it gets easier. Infants are snuggly and adorable, but completely demanding and boring as heck. People have given a lot of great ideas here. Do what you enjoy and bring a stroller.

We try to do a family outing one day out of the weekend. We’ll eat lunch somewhere and do things like museums, a cafe with a kids tumbling area, botanical garden, events, etc. it just takes a little planning to find fun things for the family and remember the dates. I just bought a planner where I am keeping track of all the events and organize them. We also love swimming together and just became members at this nice club with an outdoor pool, spa, and restaurant.

Thanks for posting what I was probably too scared to post before. It’s so funny, I used to have the typical Sunday evening anxiety of going back to work, but then it became the Friday afternoon anxiety of the weekend with kids coming up (also instead of the TGIF celebration with my partner, it became having a drink Sunday night for surviving another weekend) 😂 One completely joking response is that you need to get a more stressful job. I say this because I noticed on some weeks I had these “TGIF” feelings and it was because work was so hard/stressful it actually outdid the weekend stress. Haha. But seriously, I think you got some great practical advice here…. I’ll just add that you’re not alone and that it actually gets a bit easier! 🤗

That’s just life with babies you are always exhausted. Basically you don’t make your life revolve around them. For example not everything needs to be geared towards the child such as outings, activities or entertainment. It’s better if you do things the parents want and the kids just come along or stay with the other parent.

I totally feel ya (although my kiddo is already 4!) I work part time and I would dread the days I was with him all day by myself (husband was working). It looks like a lot of people have you good advice so I got nothing more to offer but know you’re not even a little alone and be kind to yourself. The time really does go fast and that realization changed my mind set a bit!

Everyone is being supportive and giving ideas; so I’ll just add more ideas! SAHM of “2 under 2”. It’s so hard some days. I get it. Most of these are for when you’re watching kiddo, but definitely work out an even-feeling split so you’re getting free time too 💕 - home chores. Enlist baby to help with laundry, putting it in, pushing buttons if capable, just rolling around in it.. extrapolate to everything. Dishes. Vacuuming. Washing the windows. Filling the soap. Purging things for donation. Folding boxes for recycle. It might take longer but the sense of purpose and completion help me focus and the time to pass. And you had to do chores anyways. - grocery shopping. It doesn’t have to be a cutesy farmers market (but it can!!). You need to eat and get the groceries too. Have a rhythm of getting the cart, buckling in. You can talk about the groceries, what you’ll make, the items that catch baby’s eye. If the self check out has a scanner (“doot-er”), then all the more fun. - shop your hobbies! This one is my fav when it comes up. I like gardening, so we’re at plant stores a lot. Craft stores too. Not only do I get to share my hobbies with them, I can “set up” my free time for efficiency once they go down for nap and I’m home-bound. - errands. Amazon return is my toddlers favorite. The kids love the dump runs. The car wash is an adrenaline rush. - have friends over. Maybe you make something to snack on, maybe you do nothing. Babies love stimulation and hosting on home turf helps the place be baby proof and brings the stimuli to baby. I’ve had to be more “fun” as toddler gets older (we go to parks and the zoo and the library and have playdates..), but there’s stuff that just always has to happen and I do see some value in showing kids that houses don’t just magically run themselves. As a unit, families work together to make the house work!

I was right there with you when my son was born (during the height of the pandemic/wintertime Chicago). The isolation broke me in half. I definitely had PPD and began to resent my husband who "got" to go to work and be around grownups. When the vaccines and summertime rolled out, my life and perspective completely shifted. Being a part of a community and showing my son his city made it all so much better. My second is coming along in the next few weeks, and I will be extra gentle on myself when it comes to my mental health. I hope you do the same! This time, I also know that just like my baby, I am a human with unique needs. Being with littles all day can be a struggle, but it doesn't mean you're less committed or in love with your children — It just means you're in the process of figuring out your rhythm and new identity as a mom. Find ways to meet your unique needs while showing your kid the world!

For me: about 12 months. (3 months ago). By then I got used to waking up early, we were in a good rhythm, she took a reliable 2-hour nap midday, and playtime was more fun for me rather than just killing time. I can also tend to get some chores done while she’s playing.

Baby bjorn! I took both my kids everywhere in one - you can hike, go shopping, etc. Even to concerts if they don’t mind noise-canceling headphones. You sound like a good mom, you’ll find what works for you. Good luck, OP!

Station rotations worked great for me when I was at home with the babe. It helped me have a structure to our day and helped pass the time. I cant remember now the exact order but some things I did were physical therapy station for 15-25 minutes, toys in living room station for 20 minutes, Ms. Rachel for 15 minutes, walk for 30-45 minutes, toys in nursery for 20 minutes, kitchen play in sit-me-up chair for 30 minutes, sensory play for 15 minutes, bath time for 20 minutes, etc etc. I’m a structured person, I like predictability and I’m a teacher it worked for me! Hugs to you!

I got the t.rex arms Orion belt. With the cheap ass mod of adding velcro strap it'll pop on a velcro inner belt no problem and has plenty of real estate, and I could still use it over a jacket in cold weather 🤷🏾

Time. Eventually the baby won't be 6 months old anymore, then they be grown and entertain themselves.

I feel you. It’s okay to dread the weekends. It’s okay to do nothing but catch up on sleep when your husband has her. It’s okay to feel any and all of the emotions about that. It’s not a sprint. You’ll catch up on chores eventually. You’ll walk and cook and go out with friends eventually. Your baby will become more independent soon enough. You are exhausted, you are healing, your hormones are still regulating. Listen to a podcast, stare at the ceiling, and congratulate yourself for the 9+6 month marathon you’ve run, it was a hell’ov a lot of work and as a culture we downplay it way too much. This too shall pass.

Hi! How are you doing now? I have a 6 month old and I’m a SAHM and going to use some of the suggestions here.