I'm finding the toddler stage to be much more difficult than the newborn-12 months stage. She is developing quite the personality, throwing tantrums, testing us etc. I hope it gets easier soon because it's exhausting some days!
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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.
Maybe I've just blocked out how hard the newborn time was, though
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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.
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@lovehoneybee: I think you do block out the bad!!
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I second the toddler stage.
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Toddler stage right now has been much more difficult that infant stage. She's so independent, stubborn, & has a temper...so she likes to do things HER WAY so it gets interesting
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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!
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@Mrs. Bee: oh great!! Something to look forward to...
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@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.
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.
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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.
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Anytime before 14 months was easy. I find the toddler stage to be fun but tiring.
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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.
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The young toddler stage! Tantrums, whining, etc
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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!
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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!
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Toddler stage - I'm dying right now. SO. HARD.
@Mrs. Bee: This scares me... I'm only at 22 months
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Newborn stage. Nothing harder than that!
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The first 12 months were the hardest for me, by far.
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The elementary stage is the easiest of all! It's so nice when they can do things for themselves!
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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!
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The newborn stage was AWFUL. Colicky baby combined with birth trauma and emotional issues as not good.
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.
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@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.
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@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.
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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.
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.
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!
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@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.
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@loveisstrange: You are giving me hope since we had very similar newborn experiences. I might die if having a toddler is harder!
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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.
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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.
Months 4-7 have been the hardest so far due to being back at work, DS not sleeping, and being exhausted.
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Toddler stage WHILE pregnant has been the hardest.
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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.
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!
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.
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@loveisstrange: exactly. Newborn stage was stress city!
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