As a new mum, you’ve probably wondered: When does it get easier? Is having a toddler easier than having a baby?
And often, you’ll hear the answer: Never!
While it might be said in jest, this is probably one of the worst responses a new mum can hear.
I get it – it’s meant to be funny. But I think many of us have forgotten how challenging those first weeks and months of motherhood can be.
A new mum is navigating so much, both emotionally and physically.
What she needs most is HOPE — hope that things won’t always be this hard. And I can assure you, they won’t be!
Honestly, nothing compares to the intensity of the early days of a baby stage.
When I became a mum, I couldn’t understand how other mothers could say it was “all worth it.” I used to think, What could possibly be worth this kind of torture?
But now, I completely get it.
Let me explain.
The Shock of Becoming a Mum
Becoming a mother is a massive shock to both your mind and body.
One day, your life is one way, and the next, you’re holding a tiny, crying baby who is completely dependent on you. It can feel like someone locked you in a room with an elephant and tossed away the key.
But as your baby grows, something magical happens. Your maternal love deepens, your baby starts to progress, and as you bond with them — especially when you get that first genuine smile — everything starts to shift.
Before having children, I thought my priorities would immediately change the moment I laid eyes on my baby. But that’s not quite how it works.
Your priorities evolve slowly, growing alongside the love you feel for your child. They change from the heart, not just the mind.
By the time your little one is a toddler, you won’t be able to imagine life without them.
The reason you can’t fully grasp that in those early weeks is that, as a new mum, you have very little foundation to build on. But as time passes and you peel back the layers of motherhood, you start to build a strong foundation for a brand new, beautiful life.
The Baby Stage: The Hardest Time
For me, the first few weeks and months of motherhood were the hardest time in my life.
Now, as I write this, my boys are two years old, and I would do anything for them.
It’s not because life has suddenly become easy, but because my perception of it has changed.
My love for them has grown and settled, we’ve bonded, created memories, laughed together, and they’ve taught me so much about what truly matters in life.
And, thank goodness, they now sleep through the night!
Motherhood isn’t about losing yourself in your new circumstances.
Rather, your love and bond with your children add to what you already have, rather than replacing it.
Yes, it’s harder in many ways. My boys are heavier, stronger, and much more demanding than they were as babies.
It’s harder to watch them. It’s harder to change their nappies. It’s harder to keep them still. It’s harder to get out of the house. It’s harder to get them dressed.
Yet, despite all of that, it’s so much easier.
Trust me — once the initial overwhelming feelings of being a new mum settle (and they will!), you’ll feel like you can handle anything.
Think back to when you were in love. It felt like nothing was impossible.
Well, being a mum — once you’ve fully adapted to the new rhythm of life — feels just like that. It’s like living in a constant state of love.
Is a toddler stage easier?
So, if someone asks me whether things get easier, I now confidently say: Yes!
Even though my kids drive me crazy sometimes, I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
That’s something I could never have said during their baby days!
Now, I’m curious: What do you think?
Do you prefer the baby stage, or the toddler stage?
Let me know in the comments or drop me a DM on Instagram! 🙂
Love,
Ivana xx