Stubborn husband

Hi! I’m a new mum to a 5 week old baby boy and there is zero routine!
My husband is so good at helping me despite being at work full time. He still does at-least 50% of the housework and cooking and gets up once in the night to feed the baby.
I do the other 50% and then look after the baby during the day and do all bar the 1 night feed.
Whenever I get overwhelmed my husband steps in and will take the baby - however, whenever he’s clearly overwhelmed he will not give me the baby!
Last night for example, the baby woke up at 4:30, my husband got him back to sleep, 35 mins later he woke up, my husband insisted it was his turn so went to put him back to bed, he got him back to sleep at 6, put the baby back in bed and he started to wake up straight away - each time he came back in the room I could just tell he was getting more stressed out but he would not take my offer to swap, despite the fact he needed to be up and getting ready for work by 7:30 and had been up settling him for over 2 hours.
I think he just wants to do an amazing job, which is lovely, but how do i make sure he’s willing to accept my help? Did anyone else’s husband/partner react to having a newborn like this?
He massively struggles with change and has dealt with depression previously so I worry about how having a newborn who is so unpredictable is effecting him.
Tia x

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Off topic. Baby should be in your room for safety reasons.
Regarding your husband, during the day just sit him down and talk to him about. Tell him, you want to help and be involved as this is a job to do togetehr x

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I think all you can really do is communicate with him. Explain how you're feeling and that you would hope that if you were particularly overwhelmed one day/night that he would do a little extra to help you so you'd like to be able to do the same for him.

I think there's a lot online about Dad's being uselss and not stepping up which can really put pressure on the good ones. He may be feeling like because of work he doesnt get enough time with the baby, or doesnt have the opportunity to help out enough and just really wants to step up and do his best for you both, and thats why he's being a little stubborn so maybe even reassure him that you're grateful for everything he is doing and you do feel like its a 50/50 partnership.

I know sometimes in situations like that when someone offers I help, I feel like maybe they don't think I'm capable so that could be a factor too.

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Thats very interesting. Never heard of that but that completely makes sense. Sorry!

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what would you do?

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i don’t receive child maintenance from him and i’m so against him as a person due to his past behaviours and actions that i find it very difficult to communicate with him regarding our son. he messages and calls me constantly but most of it is asking about me- where i am, what i’ve been up to, who i’m with, what my plans are tomorrow etc etc. he doesn’t seem to take much interest in our son.

my social worker has been very clear with me that i am in control and if i don’t want him in the picture that they can make that happen because he isn’t a good person and it truthfully would be easier for my son growing up if he just wasn’t there (he’s 2 months old)

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Stubborn husband

Hi! I’m a new mum to a 5 week old baby boy and there is zero routine!
My husband is so good at helping me despite being at work full time. He still does at-least 50% of the housework and cooking and gets up once in the night to feed the baby.
I do the other 50% and then look after the baby during the day and do all bar the 1 night feed.
Whenever I get overwhelmed my husband steps in and will take the baby - however, whenever he’s clearly overwhelmed he will not give me the baby!
Last night for example, the baby woke up at 4:30, my husband got him back to sleep, 35 mins later he woke up, my husband insisted it was his turn so went to put him back to bed, he got him back to sleep at 6, put the baby back in bed and he started to wake up straight away - each time he came back in the room I could just tell he was getting more stressed out but he would not take my offer to swap, despite the fact he needed to be up and getting ready for work by 7:30 and had been up settling him for over 2 hours.
I think he just wants to do an amazing job, which is lovely, but how do i make sure he’s willing to accept my help? Did anyone else’s husband/partner react to having a newborn like this?
He massively struggles with change and has dealt with depression previously so I worry about how having a newborn who is so unpredictable is effecting him.
Tia x

Avatar

4

Getting to work on time

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