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The Best Parts of Having a Newborn That Nobody Tells You About
Ask anyone who's had a baby what the newborn stage is like, and chances are you'll hear about the sleepless nights, the endless feeding and the fact that you'll probably never finish a cup of tea while it's hot again.
And look, they're not wrong. Those first few weeks with a newborn can be a lot. But somewhere between the 3am feeds and the mountain of tiny washing, there are moments that nobody quite prepares you for. The good ones.
So, as part of our 2026 One Fine Baby Mum Survey, we asked 85 mums who'd been through the newborn stage to finish one simple sentence:
"The best part of newborn life no one told me about is..."
Their answers? Everything from guilt-free television marathons and sleepy newborn cuddles to watching their partners become parents. And while every mum's experience was different, a few beautiful themes kept coming up.
Here are seven of the unexpected joys of newborn life, straight from the mums who've lived it.
Forget the expensive baby toys and perfectly styled nurseries. For more than a third of the mums we surveyed (35%), the best part of having a newborn was something wonderfully simple: the cuddles.
More specifically, those long, sleepy contact naps when your baby curls up against your chest and suddenly there's nowhere else you need to be.
"Those contact naps which give you the best excuse to just sit and enjoy those moments of nothing but baby and some guilt free TV, scrolling or reading," says Leah, mum of three.
Another mum remembered the little movements that come with them.
"The contact naps and the little newborn head tosses as they readjust while sleeping on you!" says Kirsty, a new mum.
And then there was this response, which might be our favourite:
"Watching insane amounts of TV and eating delicious snacks while they contact nap. Bliss!" says Lucy, whose baby just turned one.
Because sometimes the best thing about newborn life is being given permission to sit on the couch for three hours with a sleeping baby and your favourite snacks.
Safe sleep reminder: If your baby falls asleep on you, stay awake and keep their airway clear. Red Nose recommends placing babies on their backs in their own safe sleep space for sleep, day and night. Avoid falling asleep while holding your baby, particularly on a couch or armchair.
2. The beautiful little newborn bubble
Before your baby arrives, everyone seems determined to tell you how little you'll get done. What they don't mention is that, for some mums, that turns out to be one of the nicest parts.
One in five mums in our survey (20%) said they loved the slower pace of those early newborn weeks. The days when visitors have gone home, the outside world feels very far away and your biggest plans involve feeding, cuddling and perhaps making it out for a walk.
"The bubble. No one else exists," says Veronica, mum of twins. Another described it as a time when "the world feels still and there's no expectations on you."
And this response from Kate, mum of a toddler, captures something so many parents only appreciate once it's gone:
"The slow time. It's hard but the slowness of the days is so beautiful."
Of course, not everyone gets to experience a peaceful newborn bubble. But for those who do, there's something pretty special about temporarily stepping away from the usual rush of life. Or, as one mum put it rather brilliantly: "Being a slob with no cares in the world."
There's a moment in the newborn stage when you realise your baby is starting to take you in. Really take you in. They're studying your face, listening to your voice and gradually getting to know the person who's been holding them since the day they arrived. For 14% of the mums we surveyed, those little moments of connection were the most unexpected joy.
"The way they look at you like you are their past life lover, felt so warm and special," says Sherry, who has four kids with another on the way.
Another mum shared:
"When she looks into my eyes and touches my face, my heart melts!"
And then there's the fascination of looking at this tiny person you've made and trying to work out which bits belong to whom. "Finding the things that are similar to you, their eyes are the same as yours," says Marlee, who had her first earlier this year.
It's funny how you can spend hours staring at someone who, at this stage, mostly just eats, sleeps and makes funny little noises.
4. The tiny things you never want to forget
The newborn scrunch. Those impossibly small fingers. The funny little squeaks they make while they're sleeping. And that milk-drunk expression after a particularly satisfying feed. If you've had a newborn, you probably know exactly what we're talking about.
For 12% of our survey respondents, it wasn't one big moment that stood out. It was all the tiny details that make those first few weeks so special.
"The post milk drunk face, I miss it so much already," says Joanne, mum of one. "All the tiny little noises they make," says Courteney, who celebrated her baby's first birthday this month.
And from another mum, just three words:
"The tiny newborn scrunches."
It's the sort of thing that's almost impossible to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it. How a little stretch or a sleepy sigh can become the highlight of your entire day. And how quickly you find yourself missing it.
Nobody looks forward to broken sleep. Particularly when you're waking every few hours and can't quite remember what day it is. But here's something we didn't expect to hear: a few mums told us that the middle-of-the-night feeds were actually among their favourite newborn memories. Not because they enjoyed being exhausted, obviously. But because of the quiet.
"The quiet cuddles in the middle of the night, when the whole world is sleeping and it's just us," says Tiffany, who has a blended family and a new bub.
Another mum, preparing to welcome her third baby, described it beautifully:
"It's quiet and it's you and baby. Just staring at each other. You are the most important thing to that little face right there at 3am."
There's something rather lovely about that thought. The house is silent, your phone isn't ringing, nobody needs anything from you except this one tiny person.
Of course, plenty of parents would happily trade a few of those feeds for a decent night's sleep. Both things can be true.
6. Falling in love with your partner all over again
Having a baby changes a relationship in all sorts of ways, and not all of them are easy. But one of the loveliest surprises mentioned by our mums was watching the person they love become a parent. Seeing them figure out how to hold a newborn. Hearing them invent ridiculous little songs. Watching them fall completely in love with someone you've only just met.
"Their scrunch and my partner's support, him becoming a dad," says Michaela, mum of one who welcomed her first late last year.
For another mum, it was the simple pleasure of "walk and talks with my wife and baby." And one respondent, now expecting her second child, summed it up as:
"Watching your partner bond with this tiny human you created together."
It's a side of newborn life that doesn't always get mentioned among the practical advice about feeding schedules and nappy changes, but it's clearly one that stays with parents.
7. Realising the newborn stage isn't always as hard as everyone says
Here's an interesting one. While so much of the conversation around having a newborn focuses on how difficult those early months can be, a few mums were pleasantly surprised to discover that certain parts were actually easier than they'd expected. Particularly when they compared newborn life with the toddler years.
"Not needing to constantly entertain them," says Beth.
Another mum, already parenting a two-year-old with another baby on the way, appreciated "the fact you can take them everywhere with you and they won't cause a scene like a toddler does."
Of course, newborns come with their own challenges, and every baby's temperament is different. But there's something reassuring about hearing from parents who found parts of the experience less daunting than they'd been led to believe. Especially when you're pregnant and everyone seems determined to tell you how hard it's going to be.
The one thing these mums wish they could get back
There was one sentiment running through almost every answer, whether mums were talking about cuddles, quiet mornings or those tiny newborn noises. It all goes so quickly.
"How small they are. They grow in the blink of an eye," says Jemma, mum to a seven month old.
And perhaps that's what makes these memories feel so precious. The newborn stage can seem endless when you're in the thick of it, but those impossibly tiny clothes, sleepy stretches and hours spent curled up together don't last forever.
That's not to say you need to treasure every second. Some days will be hard. Some nights will feel impossibly long. And if you're finding the transition to motherhood overwhelming, you're certainly not alone.
But we love that these 85 mums have given us something else to think about when it comes to the first weeks with a baby. Not just what you'll lose sleep over, but what you might unexpectedly fall in love with.
And maybe, somewhere between the nappy changes and the sleepless nights, you'll discover your own favourite little part of newborn life.
If you're finding pregnancy or new parenthood difficult, support is available through PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) on 1300 726 306 or at panda.org.au.
What was the best part of newborn life that nobody told you about? We'd love to hear your answer. Come and tell us on Instagram @onefinebaby.
