Crash Test Mummies & Daddies

With the babies arriving, the couples strap themselves in for the ride of their lives as first-time parents. Leaving behind the last bastion of security of the maternity ward means the couples have to face this adventure on their own. But the first time parents aren’t the only ones who must adjust to a changed reality. As the bundles of joy settle in at home, doting grandparents and bemused pets must also grapple with the latest addition to the family and for some, it’s a confronting new world order. Glamorous newlyweds Kiri and Damien, who are hoping for a dream birth, discover the true meaning of hard labour. When things don’t quite go to plan Kiri’s mum steps in - as well as a cast of thousands, and the event turns into a joyous big fat Greek birth. Meanwhile schoolteacher Jennifer and trainee surgeon Alan’s expectations are thrown into turmoil as Jennifer is sent for an emergency caesarean leaving Alan in charge of a screaming baby. But he has at least one trick up his sleeve. Going home presents an even bigger challenge as Jennifer’s mum Tina gets her daughter started on the traditional Taiwanese confinement regime. Being stuck at home for a month on a strict diet will test the new mum to her limits. Party couple Marti & Harrie are in for some surprising life changes after the birth of baby Katie. Accidental dad Marti discovers he has some special gifts while Harrie finds herself questioning her abilities as a mum. For young battlers Charlene & Rhys the birth experience is bittersweet as the financial reality of becoming parents sets in.

The first few weeks at home throw routines into turmoil and the focus firmly shifts to the breasts as the breast milk, and the hormones, start to flow. As the feeding sessions step up so do the sleepless nights and the couples discover just how much parenthood can put the brakes on their lives. Frustrations mount when the couples get their first taste of first-time parent problems like assembling a pram, let alone fitting it in the car. Back from the brink of a break-up, Harrie and Marti, are beginning to come to terms with their new identity as parents in very different ways. When Marti is called back to work early, Harrie’s confidence is tested. Damien is determined not to let baby Matisse’s unpredictable sleeping schedule get in the way of his daily gym routine, despite wise words to the contrary from Kiri’s mum Alida. Kiri is also ambivalent about the changes to her life and wants to recapture their halcyon pre-baby days. But this is much easier said than done. Surf film-maker Glen is more comfortable on a bodyboard than pushing a pram and he’s champing the bit to teach Mako about the important things in life. Meanwhile Amy finds a phone app is just what she needs in a household that’s packed to the rafters with experienced parents and grandparents. Schoolteacher Jennifer keeps a spreadsheet to chart baby Kaiden’s every movement while Alan’s paternity leave ends. The hands-on dad reluctantly returns to long shifts at the hospital leaving his mother-in-law to rule the roost with her strict Taiwanese confinement regime.

Life after birth intensifies and relationships are put under even more pressure as serious sleep deprivation sets in. Tempers are frayed and the parents’ patience is wafer thin. On-again off-again couple Harrie and Marti’s relationship takes a turn for the better but their newfound confidence as parents is shattered when they can’t find a way to settle baby Katie. With nerves frayed and tempers short, they are shocked to receive a call that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Amy & Glen head out of town for a relaxing stay in the country with Amy’s parents but things get very messy when Mako develops a nasty cold that threatens to put a dent in Glen’s work plans, and Amy develops a mysterious illness. Workaholic Damien is doing overtime at the office again and without the help of her mum Alida, Kiri is starting the buckle under the burden of a 24/7 workload. Alan struggles through long shifts at work and sleepless nights at home but when he’s called to work at a country hospital, Jennifer is faced with a difficult decision. Being confined to their one bedroom apartment for 30 days, also leaves Jennifer looking desperately for ways to bend the rules. Charlene and Rhys discover that baby Isaac has a tongue tie that is hampering his ability to latch onto the breast properly. The cash strapped couple are worried that a procedure to correct the tongue tie might strain their budget further, but for the irrepressible Rhys, the cup is always half full.

As the intensity amps up for the families, so does the laughter, the tears, and the tantrums. And the new parents start to feel the urge to spread their wings. But getting out of their comfort zone can be fraught with surprising discoveries as they realize that their priorities are changing. Harrie & Marti embark on a family photo shoot which leads them to believe that Katy still has an undiagnosed health issue. As the couple reach breaking point, their relationship takes an unexpected turn. Young mum Amy gets dolled up to join her baby-free friends at a hen’s night, while Glen gears up for a raucous “wet the baby’s head” celebration with his surf mates. As the boozy pub crawl kicks off, Glen’s mate Mitch regales the party with his opinions about Glen’s new responsibilities as a dad. But it’s baby Mako who has the last laugh when he bestows an unwanted gift on Amy’s bestie, Monique that is guaranteed to cramp her pick-up style. Kiri is worried about Damien’s work taking over his life. The sleep-deprived couple visit Kiri’s family in the country for a weekend of down time. Reconnecting with Kiri’s Dutch-Greek heritage brings their values and ideas about family into sharp focus. Tina returns to home to New Zealand and, after 38 days cooped up at home, Jennifer wastes no time in celebrating the end of her confinement with a very special treat. The couple are finally alone with their newborn for the first time since Kaiden was born.

Self-esteem is high on the agenda. The mums are desperate to get their old bodies back, while the dads get to show off their skills in the babysitting department…with mixed results. While Allan is doing a work stint at a hospital in the country town of Orange, Jennifer finds herself looking after baby Kaiden by herself, for the first time. Once back on her home turf, she gets the fright of her life on her first solo trip out of the house with Kaiden. Kiri’s first encounter with a breast pump gives her the freedom to treat herself to a girls day out. Reluctant babysitter Damien is forced to care for baby Matisse on his own with hilarious and surprising results. Charlene is also excited about a baby free night, but disaster strikes. She can’t fit into any of her pre-pregnancy clothes. Despite Rhys’s efforts to boost her confidence, Charlene is devastated. But shopping for bigger clothes is a whole new experience for the young mum. She’s also worried about leaving dad Rhys alone with baby Isaac for five hours. Amy’s still trying to come to terms with her post-pregnancy “bowling ball” sized breasts and changed body shape. She’s in for a big learning curve when she goes shopping for a bra with Monique. Meanwhile Glen and his best mate Mitch have a frank ‘man to man’ about sex after birth. Now that baby Katie is on a feeding schedule, Harrie finds she has a lot more freedom. She starts her exercise regime and attempts to implement some new household routines but finds that Marti is back to his old distracting ways.

The five couples face their new responsibilities head-on as their babies’ needs change. They reflect on their journey to date and their futures together. They celebrate what it means to be a family in different ways. As Harrie and Marti’s relationship grows stronger every day, Zeke the cat is feeling increasingly left out. When he behaves badly towards Harrie she puts him on final notice. If Zeke can’t find a way to settle into the new family, he will be evicted. Jennifer regains her confidence as she learns to read Kaiden’s cries. The schoolteacher mum discovers an exciting new routine for him that makes them both happy, while Allan plays catch-up in the babysitting department. Hard-working daddy Damien has a big surprise in store for Kiri, while Matisse’s blessing at the Greek Orthodox Church brings family traditions front and centre for the new parents. Rhys and Charlene are thinking about their role in Isaac’s future. Baby Mako tests Glen’s patience when the boys get some bonding time. Amy is thinking more and more about moving out of the extended family nest and they make a start by embarking on a new adventure with just the 3 of them.