Having a sizable family, I’ve found that welcoming my fourth child marked a significant shift in my parenting approach. At this stage, society seems to transition your status from a “normal large family” to a “remarkably large family,” but that’s beside the point.
With Baby No. 4, it feels like a transformation occurs within you as well. You become something of an expert on baby care, embracing a more relaxed attitude. Below are some notable differences in how I managed my first child compared to my fourth (and fifth and sixth).
First Child vs. Fourth Child
First Child: Are they really letting us leave the hospital with this fragile little being?
Fourth Child: Who even watches the discharge video anymore? It’s like 20 minutes long.
First Child: We had the baby’s name finalized and the nursery theme picked out by the second trimester.
Fourth Child: The nurse has asked for the birth certificate form several times! We need to figure this out fast!
First Child: I’ve meticulously researched the best educational toys for infants and compiled a top 10 list for our registry.
Fourth Child: You know what newborns love? Being awake and observing the chaos around them.
First Child: Personalized items for the baby are a must!
Fourth Child: It’s fine if his bibs say “Little Miss Sunshine,” right? I mean, these towels have his brother’s name on them.
First Child: Why didn’t anyone warn me how challenging breastfeeding could be?!
Fourth Child: (nursing while bathing the older siblings and answering a phone call)
First Child: We had our baby last Friday! Have you received our birth announcements?
Fourth Child: Honey, it’s been two months. Can you just post a quick update on Facebook?
First Child: We need to baby-proof the house: secure furniture, install gates, and cover outlets.
Fourth Child: Well, the stairs are carpeted, so we should be fine.
First Child: Oh no, that pacifier fell! It’s no longer usable.
Fourth Child: (look around, then wait five minutes before putting it back in the baby’s mouth)
First Child: Bath time is a nightly treat for us!
Fourth Child: If I wipe the spit-up off the baby’s chin during the next diaper change, she should be fine for another few days.
First Child: Oh, that’s right during naptime. We’ll need to reschedule.
Fourth Child: Whenever works — she’ll just nap in the car.
First Child: Is everything packed in the diaper bag? Diapers, wipes, changing pad, etc.
Fourth Child: Boobs? Check. Diaper? I’ll toss one in my bag, and we’re good to go.
First Child: After months of anticipation, she’s finally crawling! I’ve documented it all online.
Fourth Child: Anyone in need of size 6 months pants? We’re switching to dresses to delay crawling.
First Child: “And they all lived happily ever after.” Care to read it again?
Fourth Child: “Once upon a ti—” Hey! Stop yelling up there! “Once up—” Don’t jump on that! You’ll break it! “Once upon a—” That’s it! I’m coming up there, and everyone is getting a time out!
As you can see, whether it’s a matter of becoming more relaxed or simply having less time and mental energy, parenting changes significantly after your first few children. It’s probably a combination of both.
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In summary, parenting evolves as you navigate through the various stages of raising children. Each child brings unique challenges and joys, and with each addition to the family, your approach and perspective shift significantly.
Keyphrase: Parenting a Large Family
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