What I Wish I Knew as a First-Time Mum

Two Very Different Starts: Amy and Harry

When my daughter Amy was born, everything unfolded just as I’d expected. She hit every milestone right on time — walking, talking, rolling over, eating. She was calm, content, and easy to settle. I thought that was simply how babies were.

Then came Harry

From the very beginning, everything was different. He didn’t settle easily, struggled with feeds, and didn’t meet the same milestones on the same timeline as Amy. At first, I wondered what I was doing wrong. I questioned myself constantly. Why was this experience so much harder?

When Reflux Becomes More Than Just Spit-Up

Harry suffered badly with reflux — not just a bit of spit-up, but the full, exhausting, heart-wrenching kind. He was in clear discomfort. His little body arched in pain, he cried endlessly, and nothing I tried brought real relief. The sleepless nights, the constant worry… it was all-consuming.

Back then, I didn’t know what I now understand so clearly — that so many of these physical issues are deeply connected to a baby’s emotional wellbeing.

The Emotional Body Speaks First

I’ve since learned that babies communicate through their bodies long before they can speak. Their nervous systems are still developing, and everything they experience — especially stress — gets stored and expressed physically.

Reflux, colic, gas, unsettled sleep, clinginess — these aren’t just random symptoms. They can often be the result of emotional overwhelm, birth trauma, sensory overload, or simply the need for more physical closeness and regulation.

We don’t talk enough about this — the connection between the emotional and physical bodies — especially when it comes to babies.

Consider Gentle Bodywork Therapies

If your baby is struggling with reflux, tension, or just seems generally unsettled, it may help to look beyond the surface. Sometimes, the birth process can cause physical restrictions in a baby’s body — especially after a difficult or fast delivery — which can affect digestion, sleep, and even their emotional wellbeing. Gentle therapies such as craniosacral therapy or paediatric osteopathy can be incredibly beneficial. These approaches work with the nervous system and soft tissues to release stored tension and restore balance.

I brought Harry to a craniosacral therapist recently, even though he’s now 22. It just goes to show — it’s never too late. He still experiences back pain to this day and wears a magnetic bracelet to help ease the discomfort. I often wonder if things might have been different if we’d known more about the emotional and physical imprint of birth trauma back then.

I Wish I’d Known Then What I Know Now

If I could go back, I would hold Harry closer. For longer. I would slow down, tune in more, and trust that his body was trying to tell me something — not just malfunctioning. I wouldn’t blame myself. I wouldn’t compare him to his sister or to books or charts.

And I’d remind myself that babies don’t follow rules — they follow their own unique rhythms.

This understanding — this longing to support babies in a more intuitive, nurturing way — is what inspired me to create the Babocush.

Babocush Was Born from My Own Story

I wanted to replicate the feeling of being held — close to a heartbeat, supported in the right position, comforted by the rhythms they knew in the womb. The Babocush rocker was my way of helping other parents soothe their babies in those exhausting, helpless moments — especially when their arms and nerves were frayed.

It’s more than a product. It’s the support I wish I’d had.

You’re Not Alone, Mama

If your baby doesn’t settle easily…

If they cry more than others…

If reflux, colic, or “not meeting milestones” has become your everyday worry…

Please hear this:

You’re not alone.

You haven’t done anything wrong.

Your baby is not broken.

You’re being invited to look deeper, trust your instincts, and meet your baby exactly where they are. They don’t need perfection. They need understanding. They need presence. And most of all, they need you — just as you are.

💗 Want to Hear More?

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Kerry xx