Hellobee Boards Topic: More difficult period: 2's or 3's

Hellobee Boards Topic: More difficult period: 2's or 3's https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:02:11 +0000 Maysprout on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234851 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 11:25:38 +0000 Maysprout 2234851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Two for us. We had a lot going on when she was two. Traveling for long periods, I was pregnant or had a newborn and then getting ready to move. So it messed with routines and schedules and I needed her to behave to get through everything. So I think we went through trial and error at two to figure out what worked best for her when there were temper tantrums or misbehavior. By the time she was three we had a good foundation of consequences and there were still meltdowns but bc I knew what action plan we were following they weren't as stressful. She threw less tantrums too. Mamasig on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234823 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 11:10:01 +0000 Mamasig 2234823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Three! Two was not bad at all for DS1. He's two months away from 3, and he's so emotional about everything now. And yes, he's a lot harder to distract. But I still think he's on the easy side! hellobeeboston on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234734 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 10:02:38 +0000 hellobeeboston 2234734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Oh god this is terrifying. Two has been a challenge. Three is coming along with a new baby, yikes!! @sometimesshesings: yup. Same boat. Scared! Mrs. Jacks on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234675 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 09:15:47 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2234675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Oh lord, threenagers! I've gone through it twice now. The reason it's so much harder than two is that you can no longer distract the child. The good news is that it is so much easier the second time around! BelugaBean on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234582 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:57:26 +0000 BelugaBean 2234582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. High Heels: We seem to be following this trend with LO so far, even though we just started getting into the 3s. They can be hard but because she's verbal and seems to be coming out of her shell, it seems easier. mrsjyw on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234570 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:50:05 +0000 mrsjyw 2234570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DS is 2.5 and it hasn't been too trying us yet. So I have a feeling we're going to be in the 3s are harder camp...esp with lil bro due to appear in the next couple of wks... mediagirl on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234553 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:38:49 +0000 mediagirl 2234553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 3s. And they have just started. Mrs. Lion on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234518 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 06:57:01 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2234518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @PrincessBaby: a thousand times this.... I think it is totally kid dependent. 18 months-2.5 have been really really hard for us due to exactly what you said, but things are slowly getting easier now that he can talk more and has some firm boundaries. But for some of my friends they have said 3 was harder due to power struggles and tantrums. looch on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234498 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 06:35:35 +0000 looch 2234498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Looking back, 3 was worse than 2...2 was pretty bad, lol. lamariniere on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234459 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 04:33:17 +0000 lamariniere 2234459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My son was a breeze at 2 and 3 was more challenging, but not completely terrible. I'm curious to see how it plays out with my DD as she's only 19 months, but so far a much more challenging toddler than DS was. sometimesshesings on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234424 Sun, 12 Jul 2015 22:54:51 +0000 sometimesshesings 2234424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Very challenging 2.5-year-old boy over here! The first half of his twos were fine, but the second half has tested us as parents. He's super verbal and bright, so it's also been such a fun period. But the whining and defiance and physical aggression... Yikes! Crossing my fingers for 3. We'll have a newborn then. :-/ irene on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234403 Sun, 12 Jul 2015 22:00:13 +0000 irene 2234403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Three!!! Terrible Two is a hoax. For 3 years old, there were several times that I REALLY REALLY REALLY understand and sympathize why my mom beat me when I was a kid. LOL. Freckles on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234396 Sun, 12 Jul 2015 21:48:34 +0000 Freckles 2234396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Yoyo: ahhhh yes, what is it called again - defiance with a smirk? Threes for sure. Twos were hard, but the threes just drive me crazy all the time. JennyD on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234385 Sun, 12 Jul 2015 21:40:52 +0000 JennyD 2234385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Three! Omg three! But at 3-1/2 it's improving. Mrswonderwoman on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2234375 Sun, 12 Jul 2015 21:30:49 +0000 Mrswonderwoman 2234375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Oh boy, this makes me nervous....especially since DS will be 3 right when #2 is born. Fun times ahead. erinpye on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2178773 Thu, 14 May 2015 17:24:42 +0000 erinpye 2178773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For me, 2s. DD1 was extremely difficult from 18 months to 3, it peaked around 2.5. It's like a switch went off after she turned 3 last month, and while still has moments, she's mellowed considerably. cascademom on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2178690 Thu, 14 May 2015 15:51:35 +0000 cascademom 2178690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Judging by the responses, if your kiddo is easygoing not big into tantrums, opinionated, etc. at 2, they might be a terror later at 3. I feel like since 2 and switching daycares, LO's gotten more vocal, opinionated, and wants to negotiate. If that's the rate he's going now, I'm scared of 3 or will 3 suddenly get easier? Winterbabies on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2178679 Thu, 14 May 2015 15:44:51 +0000 Winterbabies 2178679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 3's .....it's only been four months since DS turned 3 and it's been taxing! His birthday can't come soon enough! changingtides on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2178379 Thu, 14 May 2015 13:47:03 +0000 changingtides 2178379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @travellingbee: @ValentineMommy: Me too! :shocked: Mrs. Yoyo on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2178075 Thu, 14 May 2015 11:32:35 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2178075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 3, no contest. Because that's when they start to piss you off deliberately, or at least was for us! HLK208 on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2178045 Thu, 14 May 2015 11:07:21 +0000 HLK208 2178045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Threes. DS was a sweet two year old and DD has only been slightly more difficult at 2. There's a month left until DD turns 3 and I'm enjoying the calm before the storm right now because DS was a HARD 3 year old!!! su9su9 on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2178035 Thu, 14 May 2015 11:01:07 +0000 su9su9 2178035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For my daughter, 3s was harder than 2s. She started preschool at 3 and hated the separation and it was just terrible for all involved. Her behavior at home changed too...it seemed. Now she's 5, loves school, and is pretty pleasant! My son is 3 and half, and he's my easy going guy. Nothing is too difficult with him. cascademom on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2177966 Thu, 14 May 2015 10:31:09 +0000 cascademom 2177966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 2's have been difficult. He's so vocal, getting more and more opinionated about everything. I swear it feels like a month ago or something, he suddenly just wanted to pick out his clothes. He used to be totally fine with what I was picking out for him. I feel like 2's have been all about negotiation, etc. I'm afraid for 3-4's as my SIL warned how bad they were for my nephews and niece. PrincessBaby on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2177958 Thu, 14 May 2015 10:27:05 +0000 PrincessBaby 2177958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I am told over and over again that it's the 3s that cause gray hair. I have a 2.5 yr old and she is definitely trying at times, but the main thing that is so hard with her is that she is always bouncing off the walls and wants to run off or do dangerous things. I have to constantly be on top of her bc she will bolt off or climb something in the blink of an eye. She has zero sense of danger/safety and I have daily heart attacks trying to corral her. Having a newborn is easy compared to just keeping the toddler safe and happy. I spend 75% of my awake time negotiating with her. I feel like my nickname should be "The Negotiator." birdofafeather on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2177948 Thu, 14 May 2015 10:21:31 +0000 birdofafeather 2177948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm expecting changes at 3, especially with baby #2 coming a couple months before. She's pushing boundaries at 2, but nothing crazy. DillonLion on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2177781 Thu, 14 May 2015 09:14:28 +0000 DillonLion 2177781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm expecting a difficult 3 year old, but we'll see. The 2s have been mostly fine. ValentineMommy on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2177780 Thu, 14 May 2015 09:14:16 +0000 ValentineMommy 2177780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ This frightens me greatly. Mrs. Bee on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2177777 Thu, 14 May 2015 09:12:31 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2177777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 3's were way harder with charlie. 2's were fine with him. With Olive, the first half of her 2's were hard. She started throwing tantrums much earlier than Charlie. But from 2 1/2 - 31/2 she was great! Now she just started becoming so defiant at 3 1/2. So it's been a mixed bag. Overall she has been much easier than Charlie though. travellingbee on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2177770 Thu, 14 May 2015 09:08:31 +0000 travellingbee 2177770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ This makes me super nervous! DS is 2 and already a terror. :shocked: Maysprout on "More difficult period: 2's or 3's" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-difficult-period-2s-or-3s#post-2177766 Thu, 14 May 2015 09:05:47 +0000 Maysprout 2177766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ About the same for us, slightly different challenges. . She's so much more independent and capable at three though it makes life a lot easier in that way.