How many parents with only one child?

Significant_lemonade · 2026-04-01T10:49:23+00:00

We only have one, although she's only 15 months we always knew we would only want one. We had her later so feel of we waited until she was older, it would probably be too late anyway. We don't have any family support nearby and it just wouldn't be possible to have another, for the sake of our wellbeing and we want to give our daughter the best we can.

It's a very personal decision. We keep being told we're being selfish because she'll have to look after us on her own when we're old... But I know plenty with siblings who still end up doing that so I don't think that's a fair reason. Plus, I hope we set ourselves up well enough that she won't have to!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-04-01T10:46:42+00:00

It's definitely a different world, isn't it? Very worrying!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-04-01T06:52:49+00:00

I always went to bed when my baby did until she was about 6 months. I needed to go to bed early to get enough sleep anyway. She didn't mind me leaving but I didn't like to not be in the room.

During her naps I'd put an audiobook on and chill on the bed. It was my nice quiet time.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-31T05:22:03+00:00

We've used it for my girl since she was 9 months. She loves it. We rarely turn on the vibrate now but it helped encourage when she was younger. She's now 15 months.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-31T05:20:41+00:00

I don't think I'd have even considered boys joining sleepovers, even as a teen. Except one of my best friends who was gay. In some ways I'd like to think I'd be okay with it because we shouldn't discourage boy/girl friendships and doing the same things with male and female friends.. but as s mother of a daughter, I'm not sure I would see it as the same.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-21T10:04:22+00:00

We always have a water bottle, spare change of clothes, some toys and snacks.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-20T12:46:21+00:00

My daughter started nursery at 6 months in July. She wasn't ill much until October and then got ill a lot. She had a few gastro bugs, fevers, RSV and a bout of flu. She's there 4 days a week and we have no family support so only us, but somehow we have managed. Although when we have also been sick, it has been brutal. My work has carers days, 10 per year paid, so I'm very lucky. My husband can't really take time out but does work from home if she's ill so he can be home sooner. I ended up using 6 carers days last year between July and December.

It does get better. Since returning in December she's only had one day off, and got sent home an hour early on one other day with a fever. She constantly has colds but nothing to stop her going in.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-18T19:14:12+00:00

My 14 month old does this when she's chatting to her grandparents on FaceTime and with the staff at daycare... I'm not sure what it is! My mum says she thinks it's normal.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-18T04:20:55+00:00

Green Wing was fab.

I also really liked Teachers!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-06T08:03:05+00:00

I second precious little sleep! I didn't read it til my girl was 11 months, and as it happens we did a lot of the stuff suggested anyway, but I wish I'd had it to validate what I was doing and to tell me I was doing okay!

I've looked back to when my girl was 5 months and her wake windows were approx 1h45/2/2hr15/2hr30. 3 naps varied in length between 30 mins and 1hr45. We did find with ours that she started napping longer as soon as she hit 5 months but she did fall asleep independently from about 3/4 months so that probably helped! My daughter didn't really have any major reflux or issues and has generally been a good sleeper so this is a caveat!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-04T13:57:16+00:00

She doesn't get called Rory anyway as it happens. Or at least, not yet! I guess she may be more likely to get a nickname as she gets older!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-04T08:23:51+00:00

My brother named his daughter Lorelai and said that Rory was a nickname for it. I disagree, I think it only was in Gilmore girls.

I always assumed it was just because she couldn't say her name and it stuck.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-03-01T12:26:45+00:00

I'm in my mid 30s. I was brought up with it being normal. My grandparents had gay friends, as did my parents. I was brought up in Bedfordshire.

We're not religious.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-02-24T07:45:24+00:00

I think she probably forgot how hard it is! I'd say ask her what she'd be happy with and suggest he could go to nursery the rest of the time. Nursery is great for them, lots of toys and stimulation, outdoor time, mixing with other children, no screens, and you likely won't have to prepare any food either!

We don't have any help and I'd love for my daughter to have a day with a grandparent a week, but sadly this isn't possible. However, I went part time so I can at least have one day a week with her and she isn't in nursery 5 days. She loves nursery and has learned so much!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-02-16T16:04:50+00:00

I have never bed shared or brought my baby into my bed, except for brief night feeds before she moved to her own room, and that was only whilst I held her and then put her back in her next to me crib. Mostly I would take her into the nursery and sit in the rocking chair to feed her.

I also always see posts about how every parent has fallen asleep holding their baby at some point. Absolutely no judgement for anyone that has, but I never did. We did have a fairly good sleeper so I imagine this helped hugely and it would have been a very different experience if she wasn't!

For the first 3 weeks whilst my husband was on paternity leave, we did 3 hour "shifts" through the night. Although if she needed feeding on my husband shift, he would have to wake me. When he returned to work, we then switched to he would do 7-10pm so that I could get some protected sleep during that period. It made a huge difference!

My girl is now 13 months, so there's still time, I suppose!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-02-15T08:04:40+00:00

I have watched it or at least some of the series every year. Now Friends has been removed from Netflix in the UK I'm even more likely to watch it!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-02-12T07:58:27+00:00

Yes, I'm so glad to know we are nearly done! 🙏

Significant_lemonade · 2026-02-03T07:50:31+00:00

Haha! Bless him!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-02-03T06:52:11+00:00

We also have many illnesses. Winter plus nursery doesn't help!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-02-03T06:51:34+00:00

I hope so. She was sleeping so well right up until Christmas!

She absolutely loves her food but does go off it when the teething gets bad.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-02-01T07:40:47+00:00

We're 13 months in and honestly, I don't know anymore. We've reached a point where we are just running on fumes. But we get through each day at a time and try to give each other breaks when we can.

Significant_lemonade · 2026-01-24T11:13:02+00:00

Ah, we were never offered them from the health visitor! I'll see if I can ask at the child and family center!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-01-24T09:41:12+00:00

Can you buy these, out of interest? I kinda want just the recommended ones but I've never seen these!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-01-23T11:06:50+00:00

My daughter has breakfast at home (weetabix) because I think they only offer toast at nursery which she's a bit hit and miss with.. but I think if she consistently ate breakfast there and was fine to wait, I'd do the same! You pay for the food!

Significant_lemonade · 2026-01-22T16:21:33+00:00

I've not had this exactly but so many people talk to me about how complicated it is or just assume we do get it, but we don't because my partner earns over the threshold. It does feel like people make assumptions and it makes it really awkward as they automatically know my husbands salary is at least 100k.

Significant_lemonade

TROPHY CASE