Imagine a baby who beams with joy, effortlessly charming everyone around him. His caregivers describe him as “chill” and “easygoing.” He only drools when teething and seldom spits up. By four months, he sleeps a solid 7-8 hours through the night. At family gatherings, he’s passed around without a peep of separation anxiety. On the rare occasions when he does get upset, a bottle, a snuggle, or a quick walk outside calms him right down. This little angel is your firstborn, and while parenting has its challenges, you’ve hit the jackpot with this one. Congratulations! You’ve got yourself a trick baby.
But hold on a second—this trick baby is not all sunshine and rainbows.
Having a trick baby can make your confidence as a parent skyrocket! You’ll find yourself scrolling through all those sleep-training articles you saved, thinking, “Why would I need these? I’ve got this parenting thing down!” You might even feel a twinge of guilt when your sleep-deprived friend, whose baby howls unless he’s being held, asks about your baby’s sleeping habits. Your baby doesn’t do any of that! He’s a trick baby, after all.
Your trick baby will have you believing that parenting is a breeze. You’ll gaze adoringly at him while he snoozes peacefully, rubbing his back without a worry in the world before sneaking off to enjoy a solid seven hours of sleep yourself. You might even convince yourself it’s not luck but rather some genetic gift! Your trick baby will make you think that all babies are this easy.
When chatting with your mom-friends, however, you might find yourself saying things like, “He had a tough time falling asleep last night. It took him almost 15 minutes!” You’ll realize how awkward this sounds, but you can’t help it. It’s just your reality with a trick baby.
The biggest deception of all? Your adorable little bundle may trick you into thinking you should have another baby—like, right now! After all, look how wonderfully easy this one is. But don’t let this adorable imp fool you; having a trick baby can be downright dangerous.
If you find yourself blessed with this perfect little creature as your firstborn, relish every moment. But be forewarned: your future children may not share the same temperament. Your trick baby is merely an exception to the norm, and it’s likely that your next child will be a colicky, sleep-resistant, clingy darling. In other words, a “normal” baby.
If you let the trick baby charm you into having another kid too soon, you may soon be juggling two children born within 18 months of each other—one that everyone loves to hold and another that nobody wants to touch due to her constant crying and projectile spit-up. And while you’re trying to keep up with a newborn, your trick baby will have just discovered the joys of walking and intends to explore every dangerous corner of your home.
Trick babies are crafty; they know how to exploit your good sense early on. By the time their adventurous spirit peaks, you might find yourself too exhausted to keep up. Don’t even think about blaming trick baby for your poor decisions, because your tired friends will certainly not sympathize with you—especially when your trick baby is sound asleep while theirs is still wide awake.
That’s the conundrum of the trick baby. Consider yourself warned!
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Summary:
Having a “trick baby” can make parenting seem effortless, leading you to believe that all babies are this easy. However, this charming little one may mislead you into thinking you should have another child right away, only to discover that your next baby might be a more typical, high-maintenance infant. Enjoy the delightful moments with your trick baby, but be aware that they are the exception rather than the rule!