https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:13:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder/page/2#post-1235134 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 01:48:23 +0000 lemondrop 1235134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes! </p> <p>I was just asking one of my students about this since I have LOVED the 1-2 year age range. It was her favorite age with both her boys too. Her first is up for sainthood still at 6 years old, her second has been considerably more difficult (he turns 3 next week). I'm just scared, this past year has been so much fun, I don't want return of the Grumpus! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder/page/2#post-1234312 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:12:06 +0000 Urchin 1234312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>...Here I was, thinking that spacing my kids a little further apart (like getting pregnant with the next when DD is near 3) would be a great idea.</p> <p>...Maybe I'll just stick to one kiddo. haha</p> <p>DD is just 2 now, and while we have our moments, she is a pretty good kid. Very mischievous and easily bored, but usually listens well and gets over things quickly.</p> <p>I'm really enjoying this, I don't want her to turn into a 'threenager" lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder/page/2#post-1223292 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 09:09:56 +0000 Mrs.Panda 1223292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to be a preschool teacher/part time nanny while in college and I have to say that it varies with the child... and situation... and the time of day... okay so both 2's and 3's can be pretty bad.</p> <p>2's are bad because you can't reason with them. They just know how they feel and when they feel it and sorry about your luck, here's a tantrum.</p> <p>3's are bad because you can reason with them somewhat, but I don't really care because this is how I feel and that's all I care about.</p> <p>Of course there are so many wonderful things about both ages but the difference between the tantrums and the defiance just for funsies can be maddening! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1223281 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 09:05:06 +0000 rachiecakes 1223281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>this thread scares me, haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1223278 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 09:04:04 +0000 MamaBehr 1223278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For the record, I found the beginning of 3 to be just fine. Her "threenager-ness" (@Mrs. Jacks: that's TOTALLY appropriate!!) started exactly at 3.5 years old. Another friend of mine, whose daughter just turned 4, said 3.5 is when it hit for her too. Just last night we got so much sass my husband whispered to me "I thought I had 10 more years before she thought I was the dumbest thing on the planet!" </p> <p>I've also heard that when they turn 4 they find their halos and that is a great phase that lasts awhile. So here's to hoping! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1223275 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 09:02:23 +0000 Honeybee 1223275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: @Mrs. Jacks: "Threenager" seems very appropriate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1223268 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 08:58:36 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1223268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I heard a 3 year old referred to as a "threenager" the other day. I thought that was very apt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1223213 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 08:27:48 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1223213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: great points! charlie was a great communicator at 2 so there weren't that many frustrations. but he is dealing with a lot more emotional stuff as a 3 year old... i call them mini teenagers! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1223187 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 08:17:36 +0000 Mamaof2 1223187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3's!</p> <p>Terrible 2's lead to the Tumultuous 3's! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1222716 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 20:42:55 +0000 Mrs. Chocolate 1222716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The threes are definitely harder. I call around eighteen mo.ths to about two and a halfish the sweet spot. its the best as they can walk and talk but haven't quite struck it out on their own yet in the independance department. Once they start figuring out that they dont always like doing what you want is when the tantrums and testing limits comes and it becomes rough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1222376 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 17:29:22 +0000 HLK208 1222376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SAHM0811: I agree with the first child being the hardest - I didn't know if we would ever get away from the tantrums! I thought maybe it was just that DS had a defiant and willful personality...now I know it gets better! Kind of like newborn sleep in a way :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221875 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 09:47:27 +0000 Honeybee 1221875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if you have a good communicator, the 2's are easier. DD has always been very verbal and the 2's were a breeze with her, even with the addition of a little brother. Sure, we had timeouts and tantrums, but generally she was reacting to environmental stimulation (hunger, tiredness, boredom, etc...). At 3, she's a fantastic communicator, but now she's dealing with all this internal conflict (impulse control, defiance, anger/emotional control) that brings it to a whole different level. She can verbalize the issue but where we struggle is in the resolution. Also, 3 is a really fun, imaginative age, but that also brings about a lot more mischief. I actually have to watch her more closely now than I did when she was 2 because she's a lot more creative about getting into trouble. :)</p> <p>DS is 19 months, and I think 2 is going to be easy for him, too. He's not super verbal like DD was, but he communicates well through signing, gestures, showing us, etc... We'll see how 3 goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221807 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 08:26:29 +0000 yin 1221807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haven't experienced the 3's yet but 2 has treated us well so far. We ran into a few rough patches but overcame them without too much trouble. Even having a little brother around, DS1 has been on his best behavior. I can only cross my fingers and hope that he smoothly transitions into 3 without too many issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221732 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 01:26:49 +0000 banana 1221732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the 2's were harder because my son can be fairly easily reasoned with now that he's 3.5. If I give him choices and options, he's usually pretty good. At 2, no amount of talking or reasoning helped and it drove us nuts! So for us, I'd say 2's were harder! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221657 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 23:07:00 +0000 Andrea 1221657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: you can give us a real time side by side comparison. that is exciting. :-)</p> <p>@Mrs. Bee: wow, that just goes to show how every kid is different because DH and I were just talking about how tantrums disappeared once DD turned 3. And baby sis came along at that time, too. So you just never know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221607 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 22:28:10 +0000 SAHM0811 1221607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>aw, sorry to hear this thread is scary! HB wasn't around when I was going thru the 3s, and most of my friends have kids younger then my first, so at least you guys have some heads-up? </p> <p>The more I think about this, the more i think it's usually either the 2s or 3s that's worse for each kid. I think at some point, a toddler is just bound to hit a certain rough spot with his/her parents, whether it's at 2, 3, or 4 yo. But some parents are graced with pretty easy rough spots more than others! It seems so with a few answers in this thread!</p> <p>But don't worry, we've reached 5 (almost 6 soon) and survived... I hear 5-7 yo are the golden years of childhood. I have to agree so far, because I just love it! So there is light at the end of the tunnel! I also think going through it with the first child is partially harder because it's a learning experience for the parents too. By #2, you're better prepared! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221589 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 22:10:06 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1221589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh you are all making me want to jump off a cliff. Two was just peachy for us until little bro came along. Now ... Notsomuch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221586 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 22:05:19 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1221586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The 2's have been pretty good to us, and I found myself thinking, "Hey toddlerhood isn't so bad!", but now I'm worried I haven't really experienced it to its full extent! As DD approaches 3 (in Jan), she has become more purposely defiant and harder to redirect. I'm also pretty mentally burnt out trying to answer all her "why" and "what's that" questions. Ahhhh why did I start this thread!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221555 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 21:39:40 +0000 Boogs 1221555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are at 2.5. I was looking forward to 3s, but now I'm scared! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221537 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 21:34:19 +0000 googly-eyes 1221537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lindsay05: I used to feel that way but now I just take it with a grain of salt. All kids are different! :) (My LO seems to be the independent/stubborn type so far at 14m...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221469 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 21:06:41 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1221469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The 2's were pretty great. It started getting a lot harder in the 3's. I think in the 2's, it's a lot easier to redirect and cut down on meltdowns by preventing hunger/overtiredness like @SAHM0811: mentioned. </p> <p>But when they're 3, they fully understand everything so you expect more from them. Their deliberate willfullness, defiance, etc. can drive you up a wall. And the tantrums are way, way bigger. It's even harder when you have two kids because you expect more from the older child since the younger one doesn't understand, so it's a lot easier to get frustrated with them.</p> <p>I'll be glad to put the 3's behind us. I hope 4 is a lot better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221453 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:55:33 +0000 mrs. bird 1221453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lindsay05: 15-20 months are hard too, by ~20 months it'll get easier.... until they turn 3, gah, 3 is rough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221412 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:16:08 +0000 mrbee 1221412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: I hear it's different for every kid!! We also didn't really know how to manage toddlers that well at first. Now we have a lot more tricks up our sleeves, which helps a lot!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221408 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:13:49 +0000 Lindsay05 1221408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You know, I find HB so comforting, warming and inviting until we have threads like this! Scares the hell outta me :( At 1.5, DD is already so stubborn and headstrong. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221404 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:03:56 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1221404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2a haven't been so bad for us except for the sleep. We will see how it goes (2 yrs 3 months) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221398 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 19:58:24 +0000 autumnlove 1221398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm totally curious about this but I guess it doesn't matter...I'll have a 2 &amp; 3 yr old at the same time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221392 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 19:50:55 +0000 Rubies 1221392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: *sob*<br /> @mrbee: *sob* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221366 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 19:32:16 +0000 chopsuey 1221366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The 2s haven't been too bad. Now that we can understand and reason with her life is good. She still gets time outs only because she likes to torture her brother sometimes. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221363 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 19:28:22 +0000 Andrea 1221363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: Don't despair! I guess I'm in the minority, but I think 3s have been pretty easy so it's different for everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-settle-this-the-2s-or-the-3s-which-was-harder#post-1221341 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:44:59 +0000 mrbee 1221341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The twos weren't so bad, but the threes almost killed me. </p>