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Your first baby is the little miracle you’ve been dreaming about.
You’ve stocked up on every baby gadget imaginable, memorised every parenting book, and rehearsed all the techniques to perfection.
Baby #1 gets your undivided attention, the best of everything, and probably a tiny fan club dedicated solely to their well-being.
And honestly? Why not? The universe does seem to revolve around them.
Then along comes baby #3. Suddenly, life looks a little… different. Not because you love them any less, but because by baby #3, parenting has gotten a little more pragmatic.
Here’s a humorous look at how parenting shifts from baby #1 to baby #3.
First Birthday Party 🎉
Baby #1: One word: Extravaganza! Think more guests than your wedding, a cake that took 12 hours to perfect, pony rides for the older kids, and a cocktail station for the parents. And don’t even get me started on the presents.
Baby #3: Casual Saturday BBQ. Dad’s best mate swings by (sans gift). Siblings put on clean-ish shirts. A few cousins are invited last-minute. The birthday song is sung around a lone candle stuck in a Coles muffin. But hey, smiles all around.
Bedtime 😴
Baby #1: Nap times dictate the entire day. The cot is sacred, outings are meticulously timed, and silence is golden. A sneeze? A creaky floorboard? Forget it!
Baby #3: Nap times are flexible. The hand-me-down stroller works fine at the local farmers’ market. Back home, you and your partner play rock-paper-scissors to see who sits in the car where #3 has nodded off. Life goes on.
Feeding Time 🍽️
Baby #1: Only locally sourced, organic, perfectly portioned meals make the cut. Every feed must happen exactly on schedule. Routine is everything.
Baby #3: Baby-led weaning is in full swing. Also known as “whatever’s easiest for the parent.” Hot chips as first solids? Perfectly acceptable if it keeps #3 happy.
Bath time 🛁
Baby #1: Baths every second night, precisely timed. Water at 37°C with a few drops of chamomile oil. Gentle hand washes, tiny splashes, then straight to bed.
Baby #3: Baths happen when #3 really needs one — or sometimes tomorrow. If it’s a hot day, backyard sprinklers or the paddling pool will do the trick. Bonus: A swim counts as a bath.
Clothing 👕
Baby #1: Only the finest. Matching outfits, spotlessly clean, multiple changes for every outing. OshKosh B’gosh and Ralph Lauren all the way.
Baby #3: Whatever fits. Hand-me-downs rule. Clean clothes? Optional. Matching colours? Pure luck. Sometimes it’s pink and blue. Other times, it’s orange, brown, and mauve. Bonus points for Bluey costumes.
The Bottom Line
Baby #1 is perfection; baby #3 is survival. And that’s okay.
Parenting isn’t about flawless routines or Instagram-ready moments.
It’s about love, laughter, and making it through the day (sometimes with a supermarket muffin in hand).
Because no matter how different the journey looks, every baby is a little miracle. And every parent? A superhero in their own right.
Dr Elaine Sung is a renowned local GP and owner of Doctors of South Melbourne. She’s not currently seeing new patients.
However, you can make an appointment online with most other doctors practising at the clinic. Alternatively, call us on 8579 6838.
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