Content creator Bethany Worrall gives us the lowdown on a day with baby Francis
Hey, I’m Beth, age 30, from Cheshire. I’m a new mum to Francis, who is three months old. Having shared my life online for the last five years (@bethanyfrancesca_ on Instagram and TikTok), I now have the pleasure of sharing my latest chapter. Becoming a parent is the toughest, most demanding job ever, but it’s so rewarding, too!
Here is a real day in my life.
Nappy changing and bottle refusal
5am: The day starts – kind of! I hear our gorgeous baby boy cry, but it’s not that gorgeous at 5am. Thankfully, I have a superstar husband, Nick, who jumps up and whisks him away for a nappy change and feed.
8:15am: Nick jumps in the shower before rushing out of the door for work. It’s nappy and bottle time. Francis side-eyes me as I place him on the changing table and fumble to do his bottle before all hell breaks loose. When it came to bottle vs breast, we opted for bottle as I never felt that breastfeeding was my “calling.” I respect all mamas and their decisions on feeding their babies. But if you are out there doubting your decision, whether breast, bottle or combi, just know, you’ve got this!
8:35am: Nappy = done. Bottle = he couldn’t be less interested. I don’t know how any parent gets their baby into a routine at this age, but Francis has got himself into a routine – refusing his first bottle each day! It does worry me a little, but I know he’ll make up for it later in the day.
9:04am: I dress him in a super-cute outfit – I may look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards, but you take the wins where you can.
9.10am: I prop Francis up on his nursing chair and take a picture, but he is not impressed today and is sick on said cute outfit. Clean baby clothes it is. I love snapping photos of his outfits for social media. My Instagram was once a place for my fashion inspiration and whilst it still is, Francis’ outfits are now centre stage!
We decided not to share our little guy’s face on my public social media channels, at least for now anyway. I love my community and having a platform, but I feel so protective of him. So, I place a little bear emoji over his face. But let me tell you, he’s very cute!
I write a quick caption and upload the baby outfit post before we’re out the door.
9:29am: I start the never-ending cycle of cleaning and sterilising bottles again. I kind of like it in a way, it feels productive! I know some people disagree with babies watching TV, but Bluey saves the day by buying me 10 minutes to get this task done.
To Asda and back
9:45am: Francis still doesn’t want his bottle so in the car to Asda we go, after de-icing the windscreen which falls under jobs I’d happily never do again!
9:55am: He’s asleep! In Asda, I pick things up for a slow cooker dinner and even get five minutes to browse the baby clothes aisle. Two adorable sleepsuits make their way into the trolley.
10:45am: Back home and dinner is in the slow cooker. I feel like I’m mum of the year and it isn’t even 11am.
11:03am: We’re due to leave the house again in 10 minutes but the ‘why are you starving me!?’ cry starts. It goes from zero to 100 and my anxiety is through the roof. I used to meticulously plan my days, but ha, now I can only dream! I give Francis a bottle while explaining that I have been trying to feed him for the last three hours, so why does he act like it’s me who’s been depriving him of milk?!
Out to baby music class
11:23am: We’re on the move again, off to our main event of the day: baby music.
12:01pm: Francis falls asleep in my arms just before the end of the class, wearing an elephant headband. It’s safari week, and we love a theme! I know I’ll miss these moments.
12:15pm: I manage to transfer Francis into his pram and gather some other mums to come for a coffee. I know some people are home birds, but I find it so much easier to look after my bundle of joy when I’m out and about. And noon is absolutely too early for me to head home!
2:05pm: After swapping birth stories, discussing our favourite baby classes and making sure we all text each other when we need support, off home I go. And Francis is still asleep! I’m praying he stays that way so I can grab some lunch as I realise that I haven’t eaten today.
Back home: napping and pooing
2:30pm: A sandwich, banana, two Petit Filous and a Wagon Wheel later, I feel like a new woman. I even manage to catch up on half an episode of Below Deck.
3:05pm: Francis wakes up after three whole hours of nap time! As I give him another bottle, I coo at this little human, telling him ‘Well done!’ I don’t think I’ve ever praised anyone for sleeping before.
4:07pm: Poo noises. Great. The nappy change includes a change of outfit because… well, I’ll let you guess!
Struggling as the day drags on
4:50pm: The witching hour is here. I feel myself burning out as we get closer to Nick coming home. At-home sensory play it is. I put on the projector light and get out the sensory toys to entertain him while I wash and sterilise the bottles yet again, ready for the night ahead. By now all I can think about is bedtime.
6pm: I attempt to rock Francis to sleep as the witching hour is the gift that keeps on giving. He cries for more than an hour tonight. I hear the front door open and the relief that my tag-team parenting partner is home is too much! Kudos to all the single parents out there – you are amazing!
Daddy’s home!
6:30pm: Francis has just slept for a whole 30 minutes. I’m taking it as a win. Nick gives a bottle to a very hungry boy who again, acts like we’ve been starving him!
7:00pm: We’re both very thankful for past Beth and her slow cooker antics, but my dinner doesn’t taste great – I added way too much salt! Nick runs to the chippy, and we settle on a nutritious tea of fish and chips instead. Just glorious!
8:30pm: The projector light goes back on one last time before bath and bed. ‘Is he in a routine yet?’ is my most-asked question and my answer is ‘no.’ There’s no need for an explanation because I don’t believe anyone with a 12-week-old baby has a proper routine!
Bath and bed
9:15pm: Nick does the bath and bed routine as I sit and do some internet shopping. Click and collect order on George = done. Yes, I absolutely do need a new pink and red jumper.
10:30pm: Last feed of the night is a snuggly one on me. It’s lovely until Francis is sick all over my new PJs. It’s like he knows which ones are new.
11:00pm: He’s down and we both head to bed wondering when our next wake-up will be. But we’re also thankful we managed another day keeping our tiny human alive!
My final thoughts
When anyone asks me how I’m finding being a new mum, I always answer: ‘Some days I feel like I’m thriving and others just surviving’. I think today was a bit of both and that’s totally okay. There are more highs and lows to come tomorrow, but when I see my little bean smiling up at me, it’s all worth it.
