https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 09:08:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler/page/2#post-1806865 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 07:36:15 +0000 immabeetoo 1806865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I think it is so crummy that most folks only get to SAH Inthe early days; that was my least favorite part and when I would've been most likely to try and find a job if not for nursing :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler/page/2#post-1806821 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 05:19:10 +0000 HLK208 1806821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm...both are equally fun/rewarding and difficult. The baby can be worn and sleeps easily but the feeding/changing/crying can be demanding. The toddler is more independent but the tantrums kill me! I love listening to her express herself though. Playing with her has also become so fun lately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler/page/2#post-1806809 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 03:34:36 +0000 Cherrybee 1806809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with everyone who says babies are harder!! I'm not a SAHM but I had 6 months off with E and it such a hard time; I was so glad to get back to work! Now she's a toddler, I love our weekends together and always feel sad when Monday rolls around. We go swimming, play in the paddling pool, go to soft play, paint, bounce on the bouncy castle, meet friends for play dates - there's always something to do! I would love 6 months off work now to spend with her!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler/page/2#post-1806786 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 00:53:00 +0000 birdofafeather 1806786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>toddler. although i'm a WAHM, so it's skewed, but my toddler requires so much more attention and but as a baby she was happy to chill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler/page/2#post-1806756 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 22:33:46 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1806756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i am a WAHM and hands down think the baby (i have both) is a million times harder. i would choose staying home with toddlers any day!</p> <p>i am really active and love the physical side of parenting toddlers. running all over the place, climbing, chasing, building on the floor, etc. i absolutely love it. i can also think of a million things to keep her occupied, like running through the sprinkler, the water table, movies, baking with mommy, coloring, etc.</p> <p>the baby, on the other hand, nurses every two hours, cries and has no way of telling me what's wrong, always needs to be held and cries when set down, needs to be monitored closely when eating and playing.....i find it MUCH more draining. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806715 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 21:33:42 +0000 winniebee 1806715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an extended maternity leave (5 months) and then stayed home starting at 14 months. I don't think either was easy but I have a very spirited child. I think toddler is more enjoyable/rewarding but it's hard still. My son doesn't nap a lot and doesn't play much by himself - he's almost 27 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806704 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 21:10:37 +0000 Bao 1806704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A toddler and a baby at the same time! It's not bad if it's just one or the other, but man oh man do I struggle most days. My toddler doesn't nap and is independent but yet wants me within 2 feet of her at all times. My youngest is teething and going through sleep regression. It's tough all around but if I HAD to choose, the baby age was easier because at least I got breaks during naps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806688 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:54:16 +0000 MoonMoon 1806688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Reading through this thread, it occurred to me that those early days didn't feel isolating or boring to me, I found it refreshing and pampering to be home more, and be expected to rest, eat, and take care of myself. If I'd wanted or expected to be out and about very often, the earliest days would have seemed tougher to me for sure. But it suited my couch potato bookish ways just fine to chillax at home with baby and let him do his thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806681 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:45:35 +0000 MoonMoon 1806681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only stay home some days of the week, but for me the baby days were so much easier (even though I had crazy anxiety!). All he did was sleep and nurse, nurse and sleep, and hang out in his bouncy seat. I could leave the room for a minute, eat, drink, watch TV, read, use my phone, the house wasn't baby-proofed, I didn't have to worry about entertaining him because everything was fascinating...not so much these days! Toddlers are fun, but so much more exhausting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806667 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:26:28 +0000 heffalump 1806667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me it depends on the kid. My first is an easier toddler and my second is an easy baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806634 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:41:14 +0000 knittylady 1806634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: totally agree. 100% </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806630 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:38:15 +0000 Kemma 1806630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think toddlers are physically harder but babies are emotionally harder! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806429 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:18:06 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1806429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: I am so so happy to hear this &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806400 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 15:51:58 +0000 emg86 1806400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For now toddler...cause I'm huge and pregnant and just don't have the energy to keep up with her and I feel bad. I miss being able to cuddle with her for naps and putting her down in the same place and finding her there again, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806370 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 15:37:49 +0000 MamaBehr 1806370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it was harder to be home with just one kid. When dd was two and ds#1 was a baby, it wasn't as bad as just having dd as a baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806332 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 15:18:30 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1806332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am finding the 2's to be the toughest. I am a girl with many hobbies, so the feeling of being "trapped" while baby napped and wasn't so interactive honestly didn't bother me much. And the early toddler stages were glorious - honestly those days were the best. But now that we are in the "terrible 2's" with meltdowns and whining and toddler antics, I just find that I don't have the patience. I relish in my few afternoons of work (I work part time now, since C was 20 months or so), just to have a break from the constant discipline battles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806288 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 14:58:42 +0000 twoofeverything 1806288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really struggled when they were babies, but I think it's because it was so hard to keep them on the same eating/sleeping schedule, and they took 40- minute naps. Now that they can play independently, nap consistently, and take some direction, it's way less stressful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806024 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 12:54:05 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1806024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>SAH with both is definitely the hardest! LOL! I think after age 2 it gets much easier- talking, longer attention span, less/no diapers. My least favorite is age 1; getting into everything but you can't reason with them yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1806002 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 12:43:40 +0000 immabeetoo 1806002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baby!! I love the toddler age. We have so much fun. When he was tiny he hated sleeping and every day felt like Groundhog Day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805937 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 12:15:27 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1805937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote SAH with a baby AND a toddler! Nobody wants to do the same thing, can't eat the same things, and on different sleep schedules. Argh! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805929 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 12:11:41 +0000 skipra 1805929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far the hardest for me is a baby AND a toddler... but really I think it depends a lot on the time of year and your personality. Having a tiny baby in the summer is hard because you're stuck at home a lot when it's nice and you want to be out doing things. The beach is tough with a baby plus they can't be in the sun and you don't want them to overheat, etc. Winter can be hard with a toddler because they need to burn off a lot of energy and it can be tough if you can't spend a lot of time outside. I think the hardest thing for me personally with a toddler is having to be "on" all the time and making playdates with people I don't know because I am normally very quiet and reserved. That's not as big an issue with babies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805848 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 11:41:39 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1805848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me the order from hardest to easiest:</p> <p>Infant-- not STTN<br /> Toddler<br /> Baby STTN</p> <p>When LO was taking two naps a day I had a ridiculous amount of time to myself! My house was clean and I did hobbies etc. Now that he is a toddler I spend a lot of time cleaning and disciplining. It is more fun, but definitely harder. But nothing was more difficult than the first few months before his naps settled down and he wasn't STTN.</p> <p>ETA: I guess by toddler I mean down to one nap, walking, etc. For me LO started becoming a true "toddler" around months 15-18. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805846 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 11:41:04 +0000 wonderstruck 1805846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baby. Scheduling everything around constant naps sucks, and there's so much less you can do with them! I'm getting pretty impatient waiting for my almost 15 month old to start walking so that he's able to do a lot more when we go places! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805844 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 11:39:56 +0000 mrsjyw 1805844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Different factors at each stage. The one that matters most to me is my sanity and I think I'd do better as a SAHM to a toddler than baby. Even though I might be exhausted, I do better with activity and being out of the house. With an infant it was harder to leave the house and very isolating! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805840 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 11:37:41 +0000 Boogs 1805840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are pros and cons to each, I think. While toddlers really keep you on your toes it's nice that they can do some things on their own unlike babies. For me a baby was easier to entertain than a toddler. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805828 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 11:32:59 +0000 sunny 1805828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Toddler for sure! The tantrums are tough on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805786 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 11:19:56 +0000 lamariniere 1805786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: yes, totally! At least, that was the experience I had when my DS was a baby. He was much easier as a toddler. My DD is a super easy baby in comparison though, so it's easy to take her out of the house and be somewhat social. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805604 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 10:21:08 +0000 pinkcupcake 1805604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, toddler. She's so fun, but also so challenging and tests my patience and limits everyday. The first year was (relatively) a piece of cake... she was such an easygoing baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805585 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 10:16:13 +0000 Dandelion 1805585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A baby. So boring. I'm tied to the couch too much and it's hard to keep him stimulated while not over stimulating.</p> <p>Plus, D slept great as a toddler. Hoping for the same from M. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-is-harder-for-you-to-be-a-sahp-to-a-baby-or-toddler#post-1805385 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:23:37 +0000 MrsLilybugg 1805385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm more SAHP than WOH (work three days a week), and I choose that it's harder with a baby than toddler! Like others have also said, even though they sleep a lot more, it's so boring and isolating! I love planning activities with my toddler. Or even just hanging around the house and playing! So, I'm "on" more, but it's so much easier on me mentally than when she was a teeny tiny! </p>