What to Expect in a Baby’s Journey!

Last updated on June 21st, 2017 at 10:26 am


There are numerous things you can expect from a baby’s journey that are common for everyone and then there are things to prepare for just in case. All babies and all parents are different and no two situations are exactly alike. But you can expect there will be sleepless nights in the beginning, giggles and smiles, first crawling, walking, and talking milestones too.

What to expect in a Baby's Journey and how it shapes her future Aptamil Follow On Milk

I had one baby already so when my daughter Missy Moo was born, I already had some of those exciting expectations to look forward to and I couldn’t wait to experience them with her. At six months she was a lovely, calm baby. We would do anything just to make her smile or laugh that sweet baby giggle that melts your heart. It’s those little moments that stay with you throughout their baby journey of growing up.

We had no trouble weaning her off the night feeds and getting her to sleep all night through methods we felt works for us. I think as a parent you have to know what you think is best for you and the baby is right not what others think is best. Missy Moo learned to crawl, walk and talk in her own time while we stood back impatiently waiting for them to happen. Those big milestones were a beautiful thing to witness, even the second time around as they were still new to her. 

What to expect in a Baby's Journey and how it shapes her future Aptamil Follow On Milk

She took to solid food instantly and unlike her brother she detested baby purees. She went straight to a more baby led weaning approach. I had only ever known making homemade baby purees for my son and slowly working our way to chunks and lumps so this was new to me too. But if I have learned anything as a parent I went with what was best for my daughter. As I said, every parent is different and so is every baby. She was different from her brother in so many ways, unexpectedly. She started eating what we all were eating so meal times got easier and there was no need to make separate meals anymore. That was a huge milestone for us as that meant more time at the table as a family eating together. I loved the time we share at the table about our days and she would sit in her highchair at the table with us, eventually join in with her one or two word sentences. One night at the dinner table, I remember thinking she is really growing up so fast while she explained something to her older brother in her toddler language.

What to expect in a Baby's Journey and how it shapes her future Aptamil Follow On Milk

Our baby journey was so different with MM than it was with our first baby. I think that’s what makes each and every little and big milestone throughout your baby’s journey so special because each one is a unique experience. I cherish the younger days when they want and need you so much because as you grow and they gain independence you miss those tiny little moments that have passed by so much.

What to expect in a Baby's Journey and how it shapes her future Aptamil Follow On MilkWhat to expect in a Baby's Journey and how it shapes her future Aptamil Follow On Milk

We have enjoyed celebrating the big milestones of birthdays, christenings, and family gatherings together as a family as much as watching her swing for the first time or hold her first book in her hand pretending to read. Each aspect of her baby journey is shaping her for the future in one way or another. She is constantly learning and changing right before our very eyes.

My advice to every parent, enjoy the little ordinary moments as much as the big milestones and prepare for the unexpected for each child. When you hit a challenge you were unprepared for think in terms of your baby’s journey and where you want it to take you both together in the future.

Check out my video below of My Baby’s Journey & Shaping her Future.

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This post is sponsored by Aptamil with Pronutra+ Follow On Milk. Discover more at aptaclub.co.uk #ad 

Disclosure of compensation was provided by Aptamil Follow On Milk via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Aptamil Follow On Milk.

65 thoughts on “What to Expect in a Baby’s Journey!”

  1. I totally agree with your advice, Jenny. I have 4 children and they are all so different and each has their own completely different journey. I feel it is so important to cherish every moment of every day that I can with them and help them as best I can to become happy, caring and well balanced individuals. #Sharewithme

    Reply
    • I agree Sarah, it’s what we all should be focusing on. There is so much judgment and how to do it “text book” style parenting and perfect but no child or parent is the same so I think it’s just crazy that there exist such a thing as “text book” parenting. As long as they are happy, healthy, supported and loved.

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    • So true and we are a little wiser and experienced the second time around so there is not as much pressure and stress to do the exact text book way. Which by the way is silly because they are all so different.

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    • I love that each baby has it’s own journey and are so magical and different in their own individual way. You never know what to expect or what’s to come. Keeps life interesting.

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  2. I’m pregnant with my second and even the pregnancies have been completely different. I can’t wait to meet my little lady and see how different she is from her bother

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  3. a lovely look at time with your daughter, I envy you having allthis captured on the blog and wish I had stated when mine were this young too. It’s surprising what you forget with time. #Sharewithme

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    • Oh I bet but I envy the bloggers that have the pregnancies and their first baby’s milestones documented. I started after MM was born but I have none of my pregnancies or B’s first two years documented. I am losing little moments in my memory of it too. I hate that. At least we have some memories documented better late than never right?

      Reply
  4. My girls are so different as babies! Ella stopped night feeds at three months. Sienna is still having them at 7 months!! Ella was quiet and calm. Sienna is vocal and boisterous! Ella loved baby led weaning. Sienna prefers purées! It’s crazy how different kids can be!! Xx

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    • It’s interesting to hear from two sisters I always thought mine fed and weaned differently because they were boy and girl but just shows you each child and journey is completely different even if the siblings are similar they can be so different at the same time.

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  5. Gorgeous photos!! My girls are very much like chalk and cheese!! Although to look at them they are almost identical, they really couldn’t be any more different! My boys too actually, although both are super chilled out which I have decided is definitely a boy thing!! #sharewithme

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    • I love each one is special and a magical journey. Even though mine can be really similar as much as they are different I love that it’s magical individually each time.

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  6. Very sweet. My two are really different too. Youngest was much more difficult to wean, but her speech has developed really fast and early from listening to her sister. #sharewithme

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    • It’s funny how different and similar siblings can be. I think even us parents are different each time too with a little more knowledge and experience under our belts.

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  7. So right Jenny: every parent is different and so is every baby, and it’s good to remember that we must do what works for our children and our family, and not necessarily what everyone else is doing. Thanks so much for sharing your words, Jenny and for hosting us on #sharewithme. Hope you’ve had a nice new year with your family!

    Reply
    • Thank you so much Maria for your lovely comment. I hope you had a lovely christmas holiday break and a happy new year ahead. I look forward to reading more blog posts and I can’t thank you enough for your amazing support this past year on SWM/LTM.

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    • Yes mine as close like this too as you know and I wasn’t fully prepared for them to be different and have to learn to be a different kind of parent the second time around. It was all magical in the same ways but with different scenarios and a different baby. What a journey though!

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    • MM was a dream for sure. I won’t deny that one. But yes I had to learn to parent all over again it was all so different second time around easier baby and a mother that wasn’t so on the edge as you are when you first become a parent. Magical each time though.

      Reply
  8. I totally agree that parenting is about finding your way forward and doing what you are comfortable and happy with. I too wish I had my boys baby journeys recorded in a blog.

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    • It would have been nice to blog before and when they were babies wouldn’t it? At least we have started documenting their lives now. Better now than never. Yes I couldn’t stress more for new time mothers we find what works best for us and our child they are all different.

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    • There are so many ways my two are like identical twins and then feeding and weaning they couldn’t have been more opposites. It is odd. Thank you my accent has changed so much I cringe at the sound of it.

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  9. Aww. I wish I have a new baby. My little girl is now 5, no longer a baby! I do love everything about them (well, maybe not the late nights ;), love their smiles, their smell, especially watching them sleep. #sharewithme.

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    • Oh yes I love the baby stages and I get so broody when I see little babies. I was lucky enough not to have the late nights with either of mine so it doesn’t stop me from wanting more now. I have an almost five year old too and they grow up way too fast don’t they? I feel like it was only yesterday they were both born.

      Reply
  10. Both of our children were completely different and what worked for one didn’t for the other. I felt like I had to learn to be a parent all over again with our second but I guess that is to be expected as no two people are alike #ShareWithMe

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    • I was the very same when it came to breastfeeding and weaning my two couldn’t have been MORE different and had to learn new ways and techniques all over again.

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  11. Such a sweet post! It makes me a little less afraid to have a second child…i have to admit I was worried that the same thrill wouldn’t be there!

    #sharewithme

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    • I thought B was absolutely a dream baby until I got MM and she was the ultimate easiest baby / toddler I have ever seen. It’s funny what I thought was easy now seems alot more than I have with my second. Or maybe we get better with each child so it seems easier.

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  12. I totally agree with you, siblings grow differently in so many ways. I have a little girl as a second child and she’s completely the opposite of her brother. But she’s the best friend I have given to his brother though. Lovely post and lovely video too, have enjoyed watching it! #sharewithme

    Reply
    • Yes I thought my first was good but she is a true dream baby I got lucky. I am enjoying every minute of it as I am prepared since it’s been so smooth toddlerville could get tricky. hahaha

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  13. Beautiful photographs!! A lovely post, although Mia is our 1st child we had quite similar experiences as when you had your daughter. She has always been a ‘good’ child in terms of sleeping, eating, behaviour (most of the time!) and my main worry is that if we ever had another child it may not go so ‘smoothly!’ Of course there are things we have done wrong or would do differently but its all a learning curve! 🙂

    #sharewithme

    Reply
  14. We have one child so I can’t compare her to another child…but lots of friends have multiple children & I notice how different they all are from their siblings. No two babies are the same…there are identical triplets in my daughter’s class & they are all completely different too! Babies are amazing, you have to cherish these moments as much as you can…
    #sharewithme

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  15. You are so right. Every parent is within their right to raise their child however they like. We went with the flow with our Little Miss and she has developed wonderfully.
    She chose baby led weaning by herself too – and although she took her time learning to crawl / stand / coast / walk, she is only just two and talking in complete sentences…
    All out little people are unique and that is what them more beautiful.
    Great post!! #sharewithme
    Katie xXx

    Reply
    • Every is unique and amazing to watch and be apart of their growing up. We all get there in the end no matter how we learned it or when we learned it. Happy New Year.

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  16. I absolutely agree – I’m already finding things go so much faster with my second child even though he’s only 9 months old, and he’s such a different personality to my first son in so many ways – everything with him has been so very different. Each wonderful in their own way.

    Reply
  17. I love all your pictures! I only have one baby right now, and he’s a pretty good baby overall but I still get stressed out as a parent. I know I want more some day, but I confess that I’m a little worried about just how different a second baby would be. I guess there’s no real way to know until you jump in, just like with the first! Thank you for sharing 🙂

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    • Oh yes I still get stressed out as a parent. That never goes away just less on the little things now. I thought the same but actually having two was easier than I ever expected.

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  18. Aw she’s such a beauty!! There are 10 years between my 2 so my parenting styles have been quite different too. There are some similarities between them but they can also be so so different. Fab post hun, happy new year! #sharewithme

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  19. Such a lovely post.
    Both my babies were different too regarding weaning. My son was able to eat proper solid food from the age of 10 months. At 11 months Chloe is not able for it yet. She is well able for finger foods but lumps not.

    Reply
    • Oh yes my two were the same in that regards one could do lumps and solids and the other couldn’t forever. Love how each journey is so different and you get to experience each one differently.

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  20. Look at those photos of her! Adorable. I think that’s one of the main lessons to learn in parenting is that each child is individual and will go at their own pace. Including siblings. Lovely post xx

    Reply
    • Yes it took me two to finally get there but it’s hard if you just have one to see the difference. I wish I just relax and went with it for my first but I was routines and crazy at first about it. Now I have learned more. lol Older and wiser but still learning in the process of it all.

      Reply
  21. I second this — as a mama of twins I can see just how different children can be! My two are the same age — being brought up the same way — but they’re SO different. They’re developing at different rates and in different ways. Where one excels, the other falls down or is disinterested. You just can’t compare; but what you can do is enjoy watching them grow and change. And revel in how special and unique they are. #ShareWithMe

    Reply
    • Oh most definitely we are all our own person that’s why we are called individuals. I think when we first become parents we think once we have done it we the second time will be the same. Oh how we learn as we go hahaha

      Reply
  22. Lovely post and oh so true. Each child is different and what works for one won’t work for another. You just have to try various things out, find what works for you and go with it. Adorable photos. All the best for 2016 🙂

    Reply

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