https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:25:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573936 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:52:57 +0000 lioneyes 2573936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>16-18 months.... he was learning to walk, and getting a lot of words, so he went through a rough 4 week sleep regression. Then he was sick, and then was getting his canines in. I felt so bad for him, but it was rough. He is usually very sweet and chill and this was just like, walking on eggshells because his temper was so short. Now at 21 months he's back to his usual fun and funny self, thank god. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573855 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:34:24 +0000 SweetiePie 2573855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now since I have just one I would say that newborn was hardest. Like 0-6 months. 0-3 was really pretty bad. I also think I had PPD so that factors in. </p> <p>But I think if I had another I wouldn't feel it was that bad.</p> <p>ETA: 21 months is challenging for different reasons. There are moments I am beyond frustrated with tantrums and he is active and exhausting. But he is so funny and cute and the personality is just oozing out of him so that really offsets it. Newborn was hard because you put so much in and get so little out. But I can see now how it would feel easy compared to the current stage.<br /> I'm rambling. Haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573838 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:25:59 +0000 KayKay 2573838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first part of 3 (so not quite til 3.5) was the worst match for downsides of age and my strengths/weaknesses as a parent. It was a brilliantly frustrating time period for both of us! After that it got better (or we both figured out how to cope better?), and so far 4 has been good. Still some frustrating moments, but way less frequent so that makes it easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573817 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:10:32 +0000 LuLu Mom 2573817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: 3 for sure! Newborn/babies were easy for me, we also had unicorn sleepers. But man the 3 year old attitude and blankly ignoring us when we talk to her (discipline) is going to cause me to go fully gray! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573397 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:04:27 +0000 irene 2573397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Newborn, then 3 years old. 4 is hard too but much much better than how I remembered it.</p> <p>9 months to 2.5 years was the best so far. With 1.5 years being an absolute dream... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573396 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:02:37 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2573396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: Yes, 2nd month for me too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573336 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 10:24:41 +0000 yin 2573336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Initially the newborn phase was so difficult. Then I had a second, and it was so easy the second time around. 3 has to be the hardest so far, and I fear what it will look like for LO2. He is already my problem child, and I don't know if I can survive the 3's again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573322 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 10:20:25 +0000 DillonLion 2573322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: Ditto! Age 3 has been so taxing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573243 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 09:41:47 +0000 keepcalmcarrie 2573243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first four months with my first baby were 100% the hardest. Colic was hell for us. </p> <p>He was a dream from 6 months to 2.5 years. Now, at 3 years 4 months, he is pretty difficult. But nothing like the screaming, sleep deprived desperation of having a colicky newborn.</p> <p>My second has been a high-needs fusser from the beginning, but not colicky and he's not a threenager yet so it's so manageable ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573235 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 09:36:52 +0000 looch 2573235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: Yes me too!</p> <p>What I've noticed is that when they're small, the solution can often be purchased...but as they get older the problems get more complicated. The social and emotional stuff is the hardest. How do you even respond without dying inside a little bit when your kid comes to you and tells you that they wanted to play with a child in their class and that child calls them a name? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573223 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 09:33:10 +0000 808love 2573223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2 months. Adrenaline wore off and I was sleep deprived. Still didn't know what she wanted most of the time, researching like crazy about everything under the sun. Everything was a blur. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573021 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 07:55:49 +0000 MoonMoon 2573021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say whatever stage is new (just turned 3). I'm not good at change :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573005 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 07:37:50 +0000 Alivoo01 2573005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS turns 3 next month, but started his threenager this past month and omg!! So damn frustrating!! Things that were never an issue before are now every day headaches. WTH?! And the attitude - *angry puffing out of the nose like an upset dragon* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2573002 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 07:36:43 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2573002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Early three was very difficult. She's kind of mellowing out again. She was having a really hard time with everything for a while. School, new baby, transitioning to no nap, sick, you name it it was wrong in our house.<br /> Mean and stubborn. It was not fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2572999 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 07:35:17 +0000 mediagirl 2572999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Infant. I was worried every second of every day that she was going to die. I may have had a little bit of PPD.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2572929 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 05:41:05 +0000 ValentineMommy 2572929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3-4, definitely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2572690 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 19:33:54 +0000 regberadaisy 2572690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3-4. We have low needs horrible sleepers and 3-4 was still harder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2572685 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 19:30:45 +0000 matador84 2572685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far 3-3.5 has been HARD. Just generally exhausting, and different than newborn exhausting. I feel like they really turn a corner around 4, which is soon thankfully! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2572671 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 19:13:46 +0000 catlady 2572671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it was a toss up between the semi-colicky newborn days, the 4 month sleep regression, and the months after she became mobile but was still not STTN where I was just so exhausted and had such a hard time keeping her out of trouble. Toddlerhood has been much easier in comparison. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2572546 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 16:43:45 +0000 Cherrybee 2572546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For E, the first year. She was colicky and basically miserable all.the.time. She hated being held, hated being put down, hated the car, hated her bed, hated her parents.....! :silly: Three (almost) is definitely challenging, but 60% of the time I think she's awesome. That first year, I could have happily put her on ebay!</p> <p>For S, she's almost 11 weeks and every single minute is a joy. She sleeps like a dream, eats like a dream and, even though she is currently sick, she's still smiling. I'm naively hoping it stays this way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2572516 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 16:33:18 +0000 Foodnerd81 2572516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, this month has been the hardest ever, because we have all been sick non stop. But 2.5 was rough. I don't know if it was bringing the new baby home or the age or that she did get sick a bunch, but it's been really hard. My older LO was a super difficult newborn too though. We haven't reached 3 yet but have already had some epic tantrums and defiance. </p> <p>Thankfully the baby has been relatively easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-has-been-the-hardest-age-to-parent#post-2572505 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 16:29:10 +0000 mrsjyw 2572505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hands down this threenager phase is the most exhausting for me. Even worse than sleepless newborn days. We had unicorn sleepers and good eaters, so the mental anguish that comes from battling a 3yo daily is a new normal for me. </p>