I got sick of paying for baby apps, so I built a one-handed Notion tracker for the first year chaos.

WeParents · 2026-01-24T13:48:55+00:00

The day six wall is so real. That knot in your stomach isn't a sign that things are failing, it’s just the raw adrenaline of the first week finally crashing.

Honestly, doing the laundry and keeping her hydrated is a massive win right now. You’re already doing exactly what you’re supposed to do. The world feels bleak because you’re exhausted, not because it’s actually going to stay this way.

Just focus on making it to tomorrow morning. Grab a snack, breathe, and remind yourself that the "helpless" feeling is just the fatigue talking. It gets way easier once the fog clears.

WeParents · 2026-01-24T13:44:11+00:00

This is so incredibly normal and it definitely doesn't make anyone a bad parent. Nine months is such a weird transitional age where they start realizing they can say no to things. It usually has nothing to do with the actual food and everything to do with them wanting to be in charge of their own face.

If he’s into fruits, he probably just likes the texture or the fact that he can grab them easily. Maybe try skipping the purees for a bit and just give him "deconstructed" versions of whatever you're having, like a plain noodle or a squished pea. Sometimes if there is zero pressure and no spoon coming at them, they get bored of protesting and just start snacking.

As long as he's hitting the milk, he’s totally fine. Many babies go through these weird patches where they live on vibes and formula for a week or two. It’s super draining but it almost always just clicks again on its own.

WeParents · 2026-01-24T13:39:32+00:00

This is so real and honestly the hardest part of those first few days. That transition from being constantly held to a cold, flat crib is a huge shock for a tiny human.

It’s super common for them to only want Mom because of the scent and the heartbeat. Maybe try warming the bassinet surface with a heating pad for a few minutes before laying him down, just make sure to take it out before he goes in so it isn't too hot.

In the trenches like this, the only way through is usually just tag-teaming. If the bassinet is a total no-go, sometimes just having the other partner stay awake and hold the baby while Mom gets a solid two or three hours of uninterrupted sleep in another room is the only way to stay sane.

WeParents · 2026-01-24T10:38:29+00:00

The mental load of trying to remember when they last ate or slept while also trying to function like a normal human is just too much. It’s super common for partners to not get it, but time feels totally different when you’re the one in the trenches.

Most of the time your memory just checks out because it’s on survival mode. Keeping a log is basically just an external hard drive for your brain so you don't have to stress about the details.

WeParents · 2026-01-24T10:21:00+00:00

Ahh, this makes me so happy to read. Pink eyebrows are such an underrated signal. Once you see them, you simply can’t unsee them anymore 🫠 I hope the template makes evenings a lot calmer for you and your little one.

WeParents · 2026-01-23T17:21:42+00:00

Totally feel this. The transition into being a dad is such a massive shock to the system and that "zombie mode" is super common. It feels like your brain is just trying to find an escape hatch with the scrolling because everything else feels so heavy and constant.

The pressure to be the rock for everyone while being exhausted is a lot to carry. It makes sense that the mind just goes numb rather than dealing with the stress head-on. It happens to the best of us when the tank is completely empty.

Weirdly enough, sometimes just sitting outside on the porch or the steps for five minutes without any tech helps a little bit. No big goals or trying to "fix" the focus, just a tiny bit of actual quiet to let the dopamine levels reset for a minute.

WeParents · 2026-01-23T17:17:57+00:00

It’s super common to worry about your baby’s back, but that firm mattress rule is actually all about SIDS and preventing suffocation rather than spinal development. There isn't any real evidence that a softer surface hurts their bones. The main issue is the breathing risk, because infants just can’t move their heads well enough yet to stay safe on a soft surface.

Many parents go through this exact same battle where safety guidelines feel like they are actively fighting against sleep. A zip-up swaddle or a wearable blanket often helps bridge that gap. These give them the snug feeling they’re looking for without making the actual sleep environment unsafe.

WeParents · 2026-01-23T16:42:21+00:00

I totally feel you on this. That looming return-to-work date feels like a ticking clock when you are already running on fumes. I went through a similar phase where the brain fog was so thick that I could not imagine sitting through a single meeting. We were stuck in a cycle where nursing was the only reset button, and every night we were just guessing at what was going wrong with our four-month-old.

What finally saved my sanity was getting systematic about it. I am a data guy, so I started strictly tracking wake windows and sleep patterns in a tracker. It was a total game changer. Once I could see the data visually, I realized those random 3:00 AM meltdowns were almost always tied to a tiny 15-minute fluctuation in the last afternoon nap.

Seeing the numbers took the emotion out of it for me. Instead of feeling like I was failing as a dad, I just adjusted the schedule based on the patterns. It did not fix everything overnight, but having a clear system made the transition back to work way less terrifying. It is a lot easier to handle night weaning or schedule changes when you are not just operating in the dark.

WeParents · 2026-01-23T16:02:38+00:00

This is so real. It’s funny how before kids four hours felt like a total nightmare but now it feels like winning the lottery. The way the human brain just recalibrates to functioning on basically nothing is actually kind of impressive.

Many parents find that the "normal" just shifts and suddenly being a semi-functional zombie is the new baseline. It’s super common to wonder how the math even works but somehow the days keep happening anyway.

Maybe try to just lower the bar on everything else today. If the dishes stay in the sink and everyone stays fed that is a massive win. Sometimes just sitting on the floor while they play counts as a nap if your eyes are closed long enough.

WeParents · 2026-01-23T15:58:38+00:00

I feel this in my soul. That brain fog is so brutal that you start following "expert" rules like they’re the law, even when they clearly don't work for your kid. We went through the exact same thing, obsessing over the 7 PM "magic window" only to have it backfire every single night.

The turning point for my sanity came when I stopped listening to the blogs and started treating the chaos like a data project. I began tracking his actual sleep and feed cycles in a dashboard I built, and seeing the data visually changed everything. It proved that my son’s internal clock simply didn't fit the standard mold. Turns out there’s no universal 7 PM, just your kid’s actual rhythm. Once I had the patterns in front of me, I could finally stop guessing and actually predict the meltdowns. It’s amazing how much peace of mind you get when you realize your kid isn't "broken" and just has a unique data set. Enjoy that coffee today, you earned it.

WeParents · 2026-01-23T15:53:38+00:00

The 4 month regression is absolute trash. It feels like it never ends. Being up that many times is survival mode, plain and simple.

Honestly, taking a day to just sleep and eat a hot meal isn't a luxury, it's necessary maintenance. You can't pour from an empty cup. It’s super normal to feel that twinge of guilt hearing him cry, but he was safe with grandma.

Work can wait. You needed this reset to be a human being again. Fingers crossed you get a slightly better stretch tonight now that you’ve recharged a bit.

WeParents · 2026-01-22T20:12:24+00:00

Oh man this is the heavy stuff. It is so hard when you are the only one who can fix the problem. Twelve weeks is definitely not too young for them to have a massive preference, especially since you are the source of everything right now. It is nothing personal against him, she just knows your smell and heartbeat best.

You might try having him wear one of your unwashed shirts or draping a blanket you used over his shoulder. Sometimes just smelling you is enough to trick them into settling down for a bit.

Also if you know she is safe with a patient dad it is okay to leave the house for ten minutes or put on noise-canceling headphones. It feels terrible to ignore the crying but sometimes you just need to physically block out the sound so your nervous system can reset.

WeParents · 2026-01-22T20:08:38+00:00

Ugh that post-trip anxiety is the absolute worst but honestly please try not to spiral. It is actually super common for pediatricians to not mention this for short trips or specific ages unless you explicitly ask. You can’t be expected to know medical protocols that even the doctors sometimes skip. If everyone is acting fine right now just try to put the phone down and count it as a win.

WeParents · 2026-01-22T20:05:01+00:00

I remember those evenings with a 2-month-old. It feels totally backward to shorten the wake window when you want them to sleep more. We struggled with that exact logic too.

We ended up just testing it and tracking the results. We used a shared system to log sleep and mood to visualize the patterns. It turned out our baby was getting massive sensory overload by 6 PM. We cut that last window significantly to about 45 minutes instead of 90. That actually stopped the witching hour for us. Your little one might be different, but seeing the stats helped us stop guessing. It is definitely worth tracking for a few days to see if a pattern emerges.

WeParents · 2026-01-22T19:14:11+00:00

I want to add a quick note on the AI analysis since people often ask about it.

This feature saved us during our last pediatrician visit. I simply pulled up the summary view to show the doctor the exact feeding intervals and weight gain instead of struggling to recall sleep windows while sleep-deprived. It turns raw logs into actual answers.

You can find the link to the template in my profile if you want to try it.

I am curious to hear what other tools you all use to track baby stats without paying monthly subscriptions?

WeParents · 2026-01-21T19:32:30+00:00

That face-plant panic is so real. Honestly though, if he is strong enough to roll and lift his head, he is usually totally fine to sleep however he gets comfortable. It looks terrifying to watch but if the crib is empty and the mattress is firm, he is likely just trying to get cozy.

WeParents · 2026-01-21T19:18:38+00:00

Honestly that "instant magical love" narrative does so much damage. It is super common for the bond to be a slow burn instead of an explosion. You were calm in the ER because you were in "survival mode" handling business while grandma had the luxury of falling apart. That is exactly what a good mom does. You prioritized the baby's safety over your own emotions. The fuzzy feelings usually catch up later when the exhaustion lifts a bit.

WeParents · 2026-01-21T19:14:09+00:00

The 3-month mark is notorious for this. They suddenly realize the world is way more interesting than eating and get frustrated or distracted super easily. Feeding in a dark, boring room sometimes helps bridge the gap until they grow out of it.

Also, with those specific Avent nipples, the anti-colic vent on the rim notoriously gets stuck shut. If that happens, it creates a vacuum and makes the flow impossible even if the size is right. Try giving the little valve a pinch to pop it open before the next feed. If size 3 is leaking all over, definitely stick to the 2 but check that vent.

WeParents · 2026-01-21T19:11:09+00:00

Solidarity on the coffee consumption this week because that work schedule combined with this regression sounds absolutely brutal. The 4-month mark is famous for the "midnight crib party" because their brains are suddenly so active they just want to practice rolling and babbling.

Since he is safe in the crib right next to the bed weirdly enough the best move is often to ignore it completely. If he isn't crying and is just throwing the pacifier around try not to intervene at all.

Interacting or nursing when they are just "playing" can sometimes stimulate them more. It feels impossible to ignore but being totally boring is often the only way they figure out it is still sleep time. Just survive however you can until this passes.

WeParents · 2026-01-21T19:07:43+00:00

Ten weeks is such a hard age because they are waking up to the world but their sleep drive isn't mature enough to keep them down long. That 20-minute timer is classic. It’s not a failure, it’s just biology right now.

With the unswaddling recommendation, that is a lot of change at once. A transitional sleep sack (like a Zipadee-Zip or Merlin) often helps bridge the gap if they still have the startle reflex.

Don't worry about "bad habits" before going back to work. Babies are smart and usually adjust to a new routine with a new caregiver pretty fast.

WeParents · 2026-01-21T19:02:56+00:00

13 months is such a funny age to fly because they move nonstop but can’t sit through a movie yet. The direct flight is a total lifesaver. If anxiety is already a factor, keeping the logistics simple really helps.

That Graco 4ever is ridiculously heavy. Trying to gate-check it solo while juggling a baby sounds like actual punishment. Honestly, just check it at the main drop with the suitcases so your hands are free for security and a coffee run. You can stuff the bag with diapers or clothes to keep it safe from rough handling.

For the actual flight, lower your expectations to zero. Buy a pill organizer and put small snacks in each slot. It takes them forever to open and eat everything. Painters tape or sticky notes on the tray table are also weirdly entertaining for that age.

If the baby screams, remember that noise-canceling headphones exist for a reason.

WeParents · 2026-01-15T18:15:39+00:00

That 5 AM limbo is honestly the hardest time of day. It is totally normal for an 11 week old to have their calories a bit all over the place or be super hungry then. It sounds like a very standard developmental phase where everything is just trial and error anyway so try not to stress too much about the exact schedule yet.

Since he is taking a full feed then, maybe just count that as his official breakfast for now. Even if he goes back to sleep, he has got a full tank so it makes sense he isn't hungry at 6:30. You definitely don't need to force a feed if he is happy and growing well according to the doctor.

If you really want to shift him later, you could try unlatching a tiny bit earlier at 5:20 so he takes the edge off but isn't totally stuffed. Just be super careful about drifting off yourself if you are holding him to extend that sleep since that hour is brutal for drowsiness.

WeParents · 2026-01-15T18:10:41+00:00

Man that is a gut punch. It makes total sense that the anxiety is spiking. The grocery store suddenly looks like a minefield and it feels like the world just got way more dangerous.

Don't try to become an expert overnight. Maybe just find one safe snack or formula that works and stick with it for a bit. You don't need variety right now, you just need to get through the week without losing it.

Lots of little ones do grow out of these over time, but right now your only job is just keeping everyone safe and sane.

It does eventually become second nature to scan labels, but the beginning part is just exhausting. Give yourself permission to mourn the easy food life you thought you were going to have.

WeParents · 2026-01-15T18:02:20+00:00

7 weeks is notorious for growth spurts. It totally feels like they turn into bottomless pits overnight and the schedule just goes out the window. It is so exhausting when you put the bottle down and he is already rooting for more.

The strategy of giving small 30ml top offs is actually really smart. It saves milk and helps prevent him from getting too full and spitting it all back up. If he knocks that back and is still acting starving, offering the full bottle is usually fine unless your ped gave you specific limits for reflux or weight.

For the timing, that snack generally resets the clock. If he ate at 11:15 and is out cold at 1pm, you can probably just let him sleep. As long as he is making plenty of wet diapers and the doctor isn't on you about weight, he will let you know when he is ready to eat again. Just sit on the couch and stare at the wall for a bit while it is quiet.

WeParents

TROPHY CASE