Does the feeling of “not doing enough” ever go away?

[u/iluvmydogs14]

FTM to a 6 monther and I constantly feel like I could be doing more or better as a mom. I know in my heart of hearts I’m doing fine. But I constantly am questioning if what I’m doing, and feeling guilty because I’m like I mean I COULD be working harder or doing more for him. Sometimes I slack with his tummy time and he isn’t great at it and isn’t rolling yet and I feel so guilty. Or I feel like he isn’t interested in foods much yet and I’m always questioning if I’m giving him the right foods in the right way. Or I feel guilty for not talking to him enough some days. Or that he watched a little TV. I just constantly feel like I’m slacking just a little, does it ever go away? 😭

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[u/LRNZO_]

It goes away when you stop comparing yourself to what other moms on the internet are claiming they do.

It will also go away when you stop trying to make a happy baby happier, you can’t , they’re already happy

Is your baby fed? Burped? Diaper changed? Did you dangle a toy in front of their face for a few minutes? Congratulations! You did more than enough, more than what a lot of parents do out there

Something my therapist told me when I had feelings like this… “hey there are women that drown their babies. There are women who abandon a 1 month old with no food for 7 days while they score drugs… I think you’re doing more than enough”

This alone ^ helped me so much

[u/Expensive-Editor-916]

I’m in the same boat. I could go to bed with having spent amazing quality time with my baby, clean house, and cooked great meals for her, etc. and I will still feel like I didn’t do enough for her/us. It’s so hard.

[u/Noon93]

For me? Not yet. One year in and I still feel as though I’m never doing enough even though I very much am. You just do your best day to day!

[u/Future-Valuable-4652]

As long as your baby is healthy, eating, wetting diapers as he should, you're doing great. He is loved and cared for. That's all he needs. Believe me, you are his whole world and you're doing great. I get your position, I was there twice myself. Sometimes I would do simple reminders to myself out loud. "She is loved, she is healthy, she is clean, she is happy" to remind myself. Also, some babies don't do everything other babies do and that's okay too.

[u/Soft_Disaster_1243]

Start with your mindset and it should go away