Are Second Kids Always Easier?

[NotQuiteCockney]

DS1 is 4y3m. DS2 is 1y3m. DS2 is less work. He just carries on and does his own thing all the time. I can get quite a bit done with him underfoot, without having to deal with loads of requests and questions.

Yet I'm sure DS1 was more work at one year than he is now.

Also, whenever I borrow other people's kids, I find only kids to be the hardest work, followed by first children. Second, or better still middle kids are easy!

Is this true for everyone?

[hoXMASchick]

it is for us so far. but dd is only 5.5 months...

[NotQuiteCockney]

I have borrowed one third child who is quite difficult. But I think all that family's kids are difficult.

Last night, I had an only child who I actually had to discipline! Normally, "spare" kids just do what I ask, no need to repeat myself, no need to fuss. At worst, I talk about whether I'll tell their mum they were good or bad!

[Glitterygook]

Nope, ds1 was easier than ds2. In fact, ds2, so far, is the hardest work of all 3. Maybe it's his age though - he's just turned 3 and I think age 2.5 to about 4 is quite tough personally.

[bsg]

Oh no. DS 4.7 was and is so much easier than dd 3.6. Apparentlely she is just like I was as a child. I can see the big smile on my mums face when she says that. (it's your turn now!!!!).

[NutcrackingXmas]

Read the thread title and nearly fell off my chair laughing.

Dd2 is most definatly, without a doubt the hardest of all 3 kids.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Weird. DS1 is certainly the hardest, by a large margin.

Although, thinking about it, a friend with four, I think her hardest is her youngest. Although I've had her over, and she's been pretty easy. Her third daughter is really really easy.

[littledonkeyrach]

DD1 was easy' looking back, except never ate well.

DD2 was bloody hard work for the first 6 months, now she is a dream.

DD1 is now quite demanding, though I keep telling myself it's tiredness from scholl, blah blah!!

[BourneInAMangerVille]

Nope, sure each kid is just different. My friend has an only child who is an absolute dream, my dd is an only child who is also a dream (though she was extremely clingy for first 1.5 years)

[ParrupupumScum]

i was easier than my younger sis, apparently.

[SenoraPostrophe]

no. we were lulled into a false sense of security/smugness with dd. ds was a bit of a shock to the system.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, there was a local mum when I was growing up, whose eldest daughter was really easy and lovely. The next daughter! She ate her mom's paycheck. She woke her big sister up by chucking rocks at her! She was a real nightmare.

[SenoraPostrophe]

flockets. crying for 6 months sounds familiar to me too. My ds is also a climber and a runner away. but it could be worse - I could have 3!

[hornbag]

Our second is definately easier -eats well, sleeps well, mixes well etc. Mr Chilled!

Best friend has the opposite as her second was a nightmare and screamed for first 18m of his life.

[SenoraPostrophe]

yes, I think that's the rule isn't it? alternating easy and tricky. just don't have 4!

[christmasdinnyer]

dd was v hard work as a baby to feed/settle and cried all the time. she's fab now, though has her moments. ds easier in some ways but is much harder as he's had some health problems. but he was a much more content baby, generally. am sure if breastfeeding works easily, it makes for a much more content baby, ime.

[LIZS]

Nooo ! dd has always been more difficult than ds was.

[santabops]

my second is usually much easier than number 1

[SnowsyPosey]

2nd born (ds) was a much much easier baby, but as a toddler far harder. With dd (1st born) once we'd got past the first 6 months it has been relatively plain sailing (she's now 8.5)

[NotQuiteCockney]

I wouldn't say DS1 was hard exactly. I think, compared to other people's kids, he's actually pretty easy. He's not very helpful, but he does do what we want, he'll go wherever, eat most things, go off with anyone, play with anyone.

But DS2 is just so much easier! As long as he's got some stuff to play with, he's fine.

Heh, bet I've jinxed myself now, and DS2 will spend tomorrow screaming at things.

[expatinscotland]

dd1 is a doodle. she's always been the mellowest, most contented soul about.