Meet your firstborn: the embodiment of joy and contentment. This little one radiates happiness, and his daycare staff describes him as “easygoing” and “laid back.” He only drools when teething and hardly ever spits up. By the time he hits 4 months, he’s sleeping a solid 7-8 hours each night. At family gatherings, he’s effortlessly passed around without a hint of separation anxiety. And on those rare occasions when he gets a little upset, a bottle, a cuddle, or a breath of fresh air sets everything right again.
Congratulations! You’ve landed yourself a pretty easy baby. But hold on.
This is a trick baby.
And yes, he’s dangerous.
With a trick baby, your confidence as a parent will skyrocket. You’ll skim through all those articles on sleep-training and feel a swell of pride for figuring it all out on your own. You’ll feel a twinge of guilt when your sleep-deprived friend, hair askew and eyes heavy, asks how your little one is sleeping. After all, your baby just doesn’t do the things that keep others up at night—he’s a trick baby!
Your trick baby might have you believing that parenting is a walk in the park. You’ll gaze adoringly at him as he sleeps soundly in his crib, gently rubbing his back without a worry about waking him, before slipping into your own bed for a blissful night’s sleep. You might think you’ve inherited some kind of genetic jackpot. But don’t be fooled—your trick baby is an anomaly.
You’ll find yourself saying ridiculous things, like “He’s teething, so he had a rough night—took him almost 15 minutes to fall asleep.” You know it sounds awkward, but you can’t help it. Your experience is limited to this little charmer.
Worse yet, your perfectly adorable trick baby may lead you to the biggest illusion of all: the urge to have another baby—immediately! Why not? Look at how easy this one is!
But don’t be deceived. Your trick baby is not a true representation of what’s to come. Typically, the next child will likely be a colicky, clingy, and sleep-resistant little one. In other words, a normal baby.
If you let yourself be swayed by the allure of your trick baby, you might end up with two small children born within a mere 18 months of each other. One may be the charming little angel while the other screams like a siren and spits up with the grace of a fountain. Meanwhile, your trick baby, having just mastered walking, will be on a mission to explore everything dangerous in sight.
Your trick baby knows how to play the long game. He’ll bide his time until your attention is divided, and by then, you may be too exhausted to keep up. Don’t even think about blaming your trick baby for this lapse in judgment; nobody will get it, especially not your frazzled friend whose child is still waking up throughout the night. Since your trick baby sleeps soundly, you can’t even use exhaustion as an excuse for your poor decisions. But when your next baby arrives, you’ll be too wiped out to point fingers. You’ll be that tired parent with a new baby clinging to you while your trick baby attempts something akin to climbing Mount Everest.
This is the danger of the trick baby. Consider this your fair warning.
If you’re one of the lucky few to have a trick baby as your firstborn, relish every blissful moment. But remember, it’s not a guarantee of what’s to come. For more insights on parenting and home insemination, check out this excellent resource on what to expect when you have your first IUI. And if you’re interested in exploring options for artificial insemination, consider visiting the Cryobaby Home Intracervical Insemination Syringe Kit Combo.
For more tips on navigating parenthood, don’t forget to check out our other blog post on insemination techniques.
Summary:
Navigating parenthood with a trick baby can lead to a false sense of security. While your firstborn might be a dream come true, remember that future children can be a completely different experience. Enjoy your easy baby, but don’t let your guard down when considering expanding your family.