BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Summer Babies Can Come With Some Serious FOMO, Mom Explains

Between feedings, naps, sunscreen and more, making summer fun happen for you and the kids can be difficult. In a now-viral TikTok, moms share the unexpected struggles they’ve faced in this new season.
save article
profile picture of Wyndi Kappes
By Wyndi Kappes, Associate Editor
Published July 1, 2024
mom sitting with baby outside of home on summer day
Image: Radoslav Cajkovic | Shutterstock

Summer is all about getting out, enjoying the weather, and having fun, but with your hands full with a newborn, many activities just don’t feel as doable anymore. In a now-viral TikTok and Instagram Reel, midwestern mom Emily, of @takeaminutemama, breaks down the unexpected summer blues she encountered after welcoming her third daughter just four months ago.

“I’m currently struggling with summertime with a baby in the Midwest. It’s hot pretty much everywhere right now, and it’s just hard,” the mom of three notes while rocking her baby. She explains that while she has everything to keep her baby comfortable in the heat, it’s no walk in the park to get it all done, from sunscreen to setting up an umbrella and getting on a swimsuit.

“It’s not like when you go on vacation and you have a bunch of help. This is my day-to-day, and I just feel stuck. Like we’re missing out because I just can’t be out at the beach all day. I can’t be at the pool all day,” she says. Emily equates the feeling to when it’s nice outside and you feel like you have to get outside and do something, and if you don’t, you feel bad because you missed out on a beautiful day.

“That’s how I feel every day. Because it’s just nice, and I know that it’s just a season, and I know that next summer is gonna look different. I’m gonna have a one-year-old running around that will be able to do a lot more. But I’m just here to say that if you also feel stuck this summer with a baby, as much as you love it, as much as it’s everything you wanted, it’s still hard because it doesn’t look like it did last year,” she adds.

In the comments, other parents chimed in with their acknowledgment and support. “Omg girl I felt this all last summer. But hang in there and know it’s just a blip. You aren’t missing out. Just keep snuggling her because next summer you’ll be chasing her and miss the snuggle. You’re doing amazing but you certainly aren’t alone,” wrote one mom. “I feel this! Between the naps and the feedings, it’s hard to fit ANYTHING in,” added another. “I get this!!! I wanna take the big kids places and pool all day but baby,” one parent wrote.

If you are struggling with feelings of isolation or like you can’t give your older kids the summer experiences you want, parents and experts agree that it helps to acknowledge 1) that your feelings are valid and this time can be tough, 2) that this is just one season and it will pass and 3) that there are ways to find little wins and magical moments along the way.

Remember, summer fun isn’t just beaches and pools with the family. It can look like a lot of things, from a friend or family member taking the big kids on a summer adventure to having a short neighborhood get-together with umbrellas, ice cream, kiddie pools and splash tables. Whatever your summer fun looks like, check out these tips for bringing baby along.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

Michael Strahan is seen in studio at ABC's "Good Morning America" in Times Square on August 15, 2024 in New York City.
NFL Host and GMA Anchor Michael Strahan Is Officially a Grandpa
By Wyndi Kappes
mom and toddler reading a book together
Mom’s TikTok Shares the 9 Magic Minutes That Make a Big Impact on Kids
By Wyndi Kappes
Meredith Gaudreau and John Gaudreau posing with their children on the ice hockey rink
Johnny Gaudreau’s Widow Reveals She’s Pregnant With Their Third Child
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
New Sibling Gift Ideas-hero
30 Sweet Gifts for Siblings From Baby, According to Parents
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
gifts-for-pregnant-friend-HERO
42 Gifts for Pregnant Women That Are Cute and Congratulatory
By Martina Garvey
isaac rochell and his baby daughter
NFL Star Isaac Rochell’s Take on Being a Black Dad Goes Viral
By Wyndi Kappes
sofia richie grainge and newborn baby
Sofia Richie Grainge on Savoring That 90-Minute Newborn Nap Break
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
baby baptism shoes and gold cross necklace
17 Baby Baptism Gifts That Bring the Blessings
By Martina Garvey
Eva mendes smiling
Eva Mendes Always Has This in Her Bag as a Mom of Two
By Wyndi Kappes
dad kissing baby at home
The Best Gifts for New Dads, According to Parents
By Martina Garvey
ADVERTISEMENT
mom and grandma sitting with baby in kitchen
Viral Video: Grandma’s Take on Disagreeing With Your Child’s Parenting
By Wyndi Kappes
mom looking at social media on smartphone while breastfeeding baby at home
Viral Video Shows How Overwhelming Social Media Can Be for New Parents
By Wyndi Kappes
Ayo Edebiri attends the red carpet for FX's Premiere of "The Bear" Season 3 at El Capitan Theatre on June 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
The Bear Star Ayo Edebiri Says Kids Should Be Welcomed in Restaurants
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
concerned mom comforting child on the couch at home
How to Deal With Mom Guilt
Fact Checked by G. O’Hara
hilary duff struggles with balancing time with newborn and other kids
Hilary Duff on Balancing Time With a Newborn and Older Kids
By Wyndi Kappes
gerber baby 2024 sonny mcleod
Meet 2024 Gerber Baby and Chief Growing Officer Akil "Sonny" McLeod
By Wyndi Kappes
mother and father cuddling newborn baby in hospital bed after labor and delivery
40 Amazing Push Present Ideas to Make a New Mom Feel Loved
By Martina Garvey
ADVERTISEMENT
chrissy teigen speaking at the aura digital parenthood summit event
Why Chrissy Teigen Believes in Sharing Messy Parenting Moments Online
By Wyndi Kappes
nate burleson and family
Nate Burleson on His Ideal Father’s Day and Parenting Philosophy
By Wyndi Kappes
mom disciplining toddler at home
Moms Share Parenting Things They’re ‘Done With’ in Viral Video
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.