About to have a baby? Get ready for a first
NEW parents will have more than 2,500 arguments in the first year of their baby’s life according to a study of 2,000 mums and dads.
The survey found they’ll have up to seven arguments a day about how to look after the baby, and who is doing the most around the house.
Common disputes during year one include who is the most tired and who should get up in the night – but 16% of couples will grumble about the lack of sex.
A further 17% argue about the general lack of affection once baby is born,
Division of responsibilities also set couples off bickering – with housework not getting done, who should be responsible for feeding, burping and changing the baby also featuring in the list.
Sadly a fifth of couples surveyed split up for good within the 12 months of having their child, after the disagreements proved too much to handle.
Siobhan Freegard, founder of parenting site ChannelMum.com says: “Even those couples who usually communicate brilliantly can find the first few months of having a baby tough, and arguments are a really normal part of the adjustment process.
“Lack of sleep during the early months, and getting used to the new-found responsibilities can pile pressure on new parents and contribute to arguments.
“Making time for each other can be just as important as learning how to look after the baby, as happy parents will naturally result in a happy child.”
The study also revealed more