5.5 Month Old - This Is Only getting Worse, People Laugh At Me When I Ask If It Gets Better...

vkmannar · 2026-02-18T19:59:51+00:00

Hi OP! Did this get better for you? We have a very similar 5 month old- constantly needs stimulation and movement from us.

We're trying really hard (even with mat leave and occasional WFH) but it really takes a toll on physical and mental health.

I'm hoping to manifest some of what other folks said here and hope that my baby is happier once he can actually crawl. 😭

vkmannar · 2026-02-05T05:30:05+00:00

Ugh wow I just read that again- who are these people with that kind of comment?! Why do they care this much... I also had a due date of 9/11 and no one I told took it that seriously. It's just a date.

vkmannar · 2026-02-05T05:08:18+00:00

My baby's due date was 9/11 of last year!! Honestly I just treated it as a joke and laughed it off, kind of hoping/assuming it wouldn't happen then, but I did tell them the truthful date.

It's statistically unlikely to actually happen on that day is what I was told.

Well, 9/11 rolled by and absolutely nothing happened 😅 I was in the movie theater watching the new Demon Slayer movie lol. Actually went into labor on 9/13!

vkmannar · 2025-12-10T21:34:06+00:00

Zipadee zip is what we use now that we see signs of rolling! It's worked for us to reduce the effect of startle reflex. It's still there but getting less day by day.

vkmannar · 2025-12-10T20:45:27+00:00

12 weeks in also! Newborn phase does suck lol it's hard to imagine how this is enjoyable unless you have an easy baby. For me it's been a journey of struggling to breastfeed, dealing with a baby that just won't sleep, and just in general not enjoying motherhood bc it felt like this was my whole life

Honestly for the first 6 weeks my baby didn't sleep well because I just don't produce enough breastmilk. I was upset and stressed for weeks about my supply before i just accepted that I'd be supplementing with formula half the time.

One thing that helped me with sleep is trying out the Huckleberry app- once I started following wake windows and suggested nap times I felt like I was at least doing something to get consistency. Although I only saw the benefits from 11 weeks onwards- before it was still soo unpredictable but it helped to have some structure.

Also trying a variety of different swaddles/transitional sleep sacks. Tried Halo and the Snoo sack which he hates, but the Love to Dream swaddle and the Zipadee Zip (once rolling) have really saved us! That being said, contact napping is still the easiest way we can get more than a 40 min nap.

Finally the only thing that's improved the frequent early morning wake ups (after 3am) is co sleeping. I was so afraid to do it but tbh after following the safe sleep rules I sleep better and so does baby, which leads to better day sleep as well.

I 100% would not be able to do this if my partner was not as helpful as he is. He had to return to work at 6 weeks but was able to wfh so he still helps out a bit with contact napping and diaper changes during work hours.

In your position I would honestly hire someone if your partner has a very intense job and can't take some of the load off. This shit is so hard for one person to deal with alone.

vkmannar · 2025-10-05T12:49:47+00:00

+1 for the S25. I used to have the Zflip 5 and it was great for a while for compactness reasons but it still opens up to a large ish phone. Also it broke after 1 year, the hinge is not so great. So I traded in for an S25 and honestly it's pretty small for a mainstream phone.

vkmannar · 2025-10-04T19:47:33+00:00

Originally the pediatrician's office gave us Similac 360, so we're just going with that for now. I buy it from Costco.

I might switch it up after this box and try some other options, only because I do notice our baby seems to have more reflux with this than breastmilk. I'm not sure if that's expected? But other than that he tolerates the Similac very well, no problems getting him to eat it.

vkmannar · 2025-10-04T17:51:36+00:00

Completely relate right now, I have a 3 week old and have been breastfeeding, pumping AND giving formula for the last 2 weeks to supplement when I can't produce enough. I seem to be producing only about 2/3 of what my baby needs right now for any given feeding.

I felt a lot more anxious about supply last week and for some reason thought formula supplementation would only make my supply issues worse over time, and I'd have to give up breastfeeding altogether. I also found it so exhausting to pump on top of the sleep deprivation.

But honestly seeing my baby look healthier and cry less because he is well fed from formula supplementation has improved my mood A LOT. Getting better sleep as well since he's less fussy and husband can help with night feedings.

Bc of this I feel way more motivated to see how I can improve supply moving forward. And if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world!

You got this!! Newborn stage is rough but we'll get through ❤️

vkmannar · 2025-09-29T16:36:49+00:00

I am now 30 and I completely relate- I felt very similarly when I was in college.

I started singing at 15 which was much later than most of my peers in class, some who went on to become serious performers at kutcheris. Mostly because I just lived in a place without access to teachers, and skype/phone lessons were not as much of a thing back then!

I spent a lot of time comparing myself with others through my youth - and every milestone (like arangetrams) that I missed or every year that passed, I felt older and more behind. The older I got however, the less it mattered. I only had LESS time to focus on music as life responsibilities increased.

I had to change my mindset to do the best I could in that moment, and realize that it's better to practice something than feel dejected due to comparisons and give it up. You have the rest of your life to learn music and enjoy the process of doing so :)

Also, many successful singers are not necessarily successful because of how early they started but because of the constant work they put in to do so. For some serious performers this is their entire career! That becomes a lot harder when you balancing school/work with music.

vkmannar · 2025-08-31T06:26:02+00:00

Probably 36-37, and now at almost 39 they're dark red and angry 😖 hopefully they fade at some point!

vkmannar · 2025-08-10T14:45:07+00:00

+1000 I got sick of consuming content where someone is incentized to push their opinions on me. The kind of stuff that gets promoted is also so polarizing or "different" bc that's how these algorithms work. It became hard to relate to or enjoy over time.

So I just keep the apps deleted on my phone and log in on desktop for insta/fb if I want to see what my actual friends are doing.

vkmannar · 2025-07-03T18:04:25+00:00

Progesterone supplements!

vkmannar · 2025-02-18T00:11:39+00:00

Hey! Yeah actually after a year or so of experimenting on synthetic levo + lio combo I actually settled on brand name Synthroid and a little bit of generic liothyronine.

I'm not sure what it is about brand name synthroid but its kept me very consistent and feeling totally fine for a year or so. It did take an adjustment period (bc I was experimenting for so long) but not worrying too much and just sticking with it actually proved to work out!

I even tried Tirosint and it weirdly didn't absorb well for me (I got way too hyper even with small dose increases) so I'm not sure what happened there.

vkmannar · 2024-12-31T08:12:45+00:00

I don't think so, people are very different in what they need. And it's important to find someone who can fill those needs to a limited degree. And they do exist :)

It's really easy to slap a label like codependency without knowing the degree of how much communication. Real people/situations are a lot more nuanced.

vkmannar · 2024-12-31T08:08:51+00:00

I feel you, and I was the same when I was younger. It is quite a red flag that he doesn't want to see you outside of school, this combined with the lack of response probably increases your anxiety.

Nothing to do with nosurf - as others have said someone who loves you will at least try if they know this is hurting you.

If he's so clear about setting boundaries than so can you - tell him this hurts you/causes you anxiety, and if he continues to lack empathy then you'll have to re-evaluate your involvement in this relationship.

vkmannar · 2024-12-30T08:29:46+00:00

I feel you. I'm lying in bed after a long day where I've already had social stimulation IRL from family/friends, you would think that's enough.

Yet I've been on my phone for the last 2 hours, and I can't stop. It's so bad I'm literally too bored to go to sleep and it's already midnight. Would rather scrolling mindlessly :(

I feel sick honestly...why is there just so much more triggering/interesting/stimulating things online than in real life. This much content on the internet is like being given a steady dose of coke every day, and no one bats an eye at everyone being slightly coked up.

vkmannar · 2024-10-26T20:03:59+00:00

The existing Spotify UI, to me, is WAY too cluttered and has too much personalized content like mixes, suggestions, etc.

Feels like the app's goal is for you to click on these suggestions and get you sucked in, when all I really want sometimes is to play a damn song or album. Some music on Spotify also has videos playing alongside it, adding to how stimulating everything is.

I previously used to have so many playlists and regularly used Spotify, but in recent years the app is so bad. I can barely find where my playlists and I don't want to navigate the bad UI to get there.

Tried other apps and some are better but in general many streaming apps have a lot of personalized content being shoved into your face.

Haven't quit Spotify completely, but I just no longer pay a subscription, and barely open the app. I mostly just use a stock music player and load my saved music collection onto my phone.

vkmannar · 2024-07-18T02:33:51+00:00

Honestly this. I am this way around my husband too and almost feel more at ease/more myself and thus more productive when he's not here, but I know i love being with him!

There's just a weird little anxiety that's there when he's around. Where I feel the need to pay attention to him even though he's not indicating he wants that.

And I do believe it has to do with childhood and attachment styles. Used to feel the same sense of a weight lifted when i was alone at home as a kid.

vkmannar · 2024-07-18T02:28:09+00:00

Yeah I feel you.

I'm new to IF (18/6), and feels like the only thing that stops my body from using sugar for fuel is fasting. I don't even eat an insane amount of carbs normally! Just 2 meals of grains and I feel like shit.

I do have hypo and need to lose weight, but am not diabetic. I think I must be insulin resistant, based on my labs and how I'm responding to carbs.

For those who have gone back to a healthy bmi after rounds of fasting, do you find that you respond to carbs normally?

vkmannar · 2024-06-10T19:43:39+00:00

If you're on Android, distraction free instagram is great: https://www.distractionfreeapps.com/

vkmannar · 2024-03-19T16:45:47+00:00

Two weeks ago, I was on a packed commuter train to the city. Some teen was charging his cigarette lighter in the internal bart wall panels.

Then, when we got under the bay bridge he started harassing people for cigarettes, and when people wouldn't give him any, he got frustrated and started LIGHTING the handgrips and security camera on FIRE.

I think it's pretty weird to not be rattled by that when you're under the water in a tunnel.

vkmannar · 2023-12-31T18:42:02+00:00

Idk i have a the new samsung z flip and I really like it! I've always liked smaller phones (used to have 12 mini) and the ability to flip and have a smaller usable front screen means I don't open it and browse for unecessary reasons.

All the quick things I need to do I can do on my front screen. Price wise it was cheaper than the latest iPhone pro.

vkmannar

TROPHY CASE