https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 20:12:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1326204 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:11:59 +0000 Greentea 1326204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: exactly. Newborn stage was stress city! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1326124 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:45:59 +0000 SAHM0811 1326124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with @Dandelion. DD is 5, almost 6, and the elementary years seem like the best so far. I have loved, loved, loved having a 5 yo way more than any other stage so far. I've heard years 5-7 yo are the "golden years of childhood"... And I do remember my nieces being very enjoyable at this stage, so I can already tell I'll treasure these years dearly, and possibly a little more than the others.</p> <p>Their personalities really come out, their learning curve is amazing, they are more independent, and just a general joy to be around. Everything is so carefree, fun and innocent at 5 yo. There are some difficulties, of course, but it's still the best IMO! </p> <p>Hardest for us: 3s for my eldest and current 2's for my youngest right now. I also think most kids/parents hit a really rough spot at either at around 2 or 3 yo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1326115 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:43:14 +0000 Lindsay05 1326115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Toddler stage WHILE pregnant has been the hardest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1326083 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:36:07 +0000 Boheme 1326083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Having a newborn was easy in the respect that I was too bewildered to know what was going on, I wasn't working, I had 24/7 help, and I slept when DS slept. </p> <p>Months 4-7 have been the hardest so far due to being back at work, DS not sleeping, and being exhausted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1326017 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:22:30 +0000 Jenn23 1326017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find this early toddler stage the hardest, by far. J was a super easy newborn and baby, but now (15 months old) is starting to assert himself and throwing tantrums, so the daily routine is harder. Getting his shoes and coat on to go out everyday is truly tiring for me. And the messy eating stage (while so cute) is definitely much harder than before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1326008 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:20:44 +0000 JoJoGirl 1326008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: You are giving me hope since we had very similar newborn experiences. I might die if having a toddler is harder! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325987 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:15:12 +0000 cascademom 1325987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: ahh true. Sometimes, I just have to let him work through it. I definitely have a better attitude now as a seasoned parent versus a new mom with a newborn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325983 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:14:48 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1325983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>well i think if the 2's are hard, the 3's are often easier and vice versa. our friend's daughter's 2's were really hard, but the 3's were much easier, and the opposite was true for us.</p> <p>the 3's were also hard because we had Olive too, and juggling two kids is a lot harder and brings up other issues (sharing etc) that don't exist with one kid.</p> <p>in some ways it's easier as they get older because they are more independent, but honestly the tantrums make even less sense in the 3's than in the 2's. i'm addressing this point in charlie's 4 year update which i'll publish later this week! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325958 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:10:11 +0000 loveisstrange 1325958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: haha, handled one a couple hours ago. I find the tantrums less irritating because at least I generally know what she wants or what's she's upset about. Maybe it's just the difference in my state of mind as a new mother and my state of mind now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325824 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:48:05 +0000 cascademom 1325824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: Can you handle toddler tantrums that last 20 minutes!?! I just went through one recently. Man, it wasn't fun, but kind of funny too. LO's tantrums have been more epic since he spent time with my parents. I'm convinced that he saved it up for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325801 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:44:52 +0000 loveisstrange 1325801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The newborn stage was AWFUL. Colicky baby combined with birth trauma and emotional issues as not good.</p> <p>I have found the toddler stage to be hard too, but more rewarding. Newborns just sleep and cry when they're not eating. Toddlers are fun. They play and laugh and dance and sing and interact. It's amazing to watch them soak up life like little sponges. I'll take toddler tantrums that last a few minutes over pacing with a screaming newborn for hours any day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325795 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:43:31 +0000 hilsy85 1325795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Months 4-7were tough because he wanted to be mobile but couldn't move on his own or sit up, and his sleep was bonkers. Now, at 14.5 months, things are also tough because he is constantly testing limits--he knows what he's not supposed to do, yet does it anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325787 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:42:26 +0000 Dandelion 1325787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The elementary stage is the easiest of all! It's so nice when they can do things for themselves! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325780 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:41:34 +0000 betsyboop 1325780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first 12 months were the hardest for me, by far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325779 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:41:21 +0000 Greentea 1325779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Newborn stage. Nothing harder than that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325772 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:39:17 +0000 pinkcupcake 1325772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Toddler stage - I'm dying right now. SO. HARD.</p> <p>@Mrs. Bee: This scares me... I'm only at 22 months :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325746 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:34:42 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1325746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The newborn stage! We'll see what the 3's have in store for us but nothing has compared to a crying baby waking up every 2 hours and us having to blindly guess what's wrong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325670 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:24:35 +0000 Periwinkle 1325670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are struggling at 14 months (today!). While I am sure that I have blocked out the hard parts before (severe sleep issues, etc.) we are learning how to navigate LO asserting his independence. He is extremely strong willed and opinionated (which is also a good thing), but man, it's tiring! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325612 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:14:33 +0000 autumnlove 1325612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The young toddler stage! Tantrums, whining, etc </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325602 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:12:31 +0000 cascademom 1325602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Newborn stage was super hard. It got easier when he started sleeping better. Toddler stage is both hard and easy. It's hard because of the tantrums and independence. It's manageable with a bedtime routine and eating solids happily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325581 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:08:10 +0000 littlek 1325581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anytime before 14 months was easy. I find the toddler stage to be fun but tiring. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325566 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:05:51 +0000 Lozza 1325566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, pregnancy was the worst. I was so freaking miserable during pregnancy. At least once the kids were external other people could help with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325508 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:55:31 +0000 lovehoneybee 1325508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: You know, I'm sitting here thinking "Well, he slept a lot!" but then...he did, but he would only ever sleep in my arms, after being nursed. No swing, or bouncer, or car seat or stroller would work. And he is a light sleeper so when he fell asleep for a nap I pretty much couldn't move an inch without waking him. Ha to pee? You bet I held it. </p> <p>And then I think "well he was a great nurser" which is true...but he wanted to nurse all.the.time. Like 20-30 minutes per hour, every hour. I felt like a freaking cow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325501 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:54:05 +0000 Bao 1325501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: oh great!! Something to look forward to... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325497 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:53:21 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1325497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>preschooler stage was way harder than the toddler stage. the toddler stage was pretty easy for us. the defiance, tantrums, and everything is worse, bigger, louder in the 3's! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325488 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:51:28 +0000 LuLu Mom 1325488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Toddler stage right now has been much more difficult that infant stage. She's so independent, stubborn, &amp; has a temper...so she likes to do things HER WAY so it gets interesting ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325482 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:48:43 +0000 polkadots 1325482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second the toddler stage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325480 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:48:24 +0000 mediagirl 1325480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovehoneybee: I think you do block out the bad!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325479 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:48:08 +0000 mediagirl 1325479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pumping 3x/day at work was the hardest thing ever. Having a toddler is trying, but it's not horrendous. If we ever had another, I am seriously considering formula feeding just so I don't have to pump again. I despised it that much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-easiesthardest-stage-so-far#post-1325470 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:46:22 +0000 lovehoneybee 1325470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The toddler stage has been the hardest for me. He's so independent and wants to be in everything and go-go-go all the time, but also somehow manages to be very clingy. He's not really able to communicate well with us (although I'm positive that he understands most of what we say to him), and it's frustrating all around. He throws a tantrum, I have to struggle to hold onto my patience. </p> <p>Maybe I've just blocked out how hard the newborn time was, though :) </p>