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AIBU?

At what age did you start enjoying your DC?

118 replies

StrawberryMummy90 · 14/10/2017 20:54

I have 2 DD's (DD1 is 2yrs and DD2 is 2mths) and I obviously love them to pieces but after having DD2 I've realized I don't really enjoy the baby stage much at all. Feeding, sleepless nights etc. I don't enjoy them depending on me for their every need and I find myself daydreaming about DD1 being a few years older and being able to watch movies with her and having more conversation etc

Just wondered what age you started to really enjoy your DC or have you just loved every minute from the newborn stage and I'm just a selfish, shit mum!

OP posts:
GetYourRosariesOffMyOvaries · 14/10/2017 20:57

More and more each year, was glad to see the baby stage go! DD is 6 now and great company!

WhooooAmI24601 · 14/10/2017 21:00

DS1 is 12 and DS2 is 6, but DS1 became genuinely enjoyable after around 18 months; he was a bit 'meh' before then. DS2 I enjoyed a little more as a baby, but not much more' I genuinely think the best part is when they begin to really find their personality and sense of 'fun'.

JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame · 14/10/2017 21:01

Not until my DS was 4. Babies and toddlers are overrated imo!

paia · 14/10/2017 21:01

The baby stage isn't for everyone, but personally I love it. My DS is 7 months and gives me so much joy, has done from the start. I'm excited for how much more fun we will have as he gets older but also already kind of miss the newborn stage as despite tiredness I really loved it, so much cuteness and all the sleepy cuddles.

StrawberryMummy90 · 14/10/2017 21:02

That's kind of how I feel get DD is only 2 but I'm enjoying her now much more than when she was a baby and my gut feeling is as she grows more, I'll enjoy her more.

Just not sure if it's normal to really dislike the baby stage as some of my friends claim they love it and it's the best time etc whilst I'm a constant sleep deprived mess nodding along like yeahhhh this is great I love it....Confused

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 14/10/2017 21:02

About 23.

They are currently 22. Grin

ineedwine99 · 14/10/2017 21:04

Enjoyed every second of her, she’s 14m old and awesome, i do miss the teeny baby stage when they are snuggly

FeedMeAndTellMeImPretty · 14/10/2017 21:05

I've simultaneously enjoyed and hated every stage with all of my DCs!

When I look back at the baby years I realise how contented I was and forget all the exhaustion and sore boobs. I watch videos of them as toddlers and they are so adorable and I obviously doted on them, but gosh they were hard work.

Now they have (pre/) teen attitude but they are also interesting and independent people who are able to give back in useful ways as well as with cuddles. Having DCs who can make me a cup of tea and ask about my day is priceless.

Divingheadfirst · 14/10/2017 21:05

About 3 I really started to enjoy Ds now 6. Of course I enjoyed him before then, he was insanely cute and so funny but also hardwork a lot of time. Now hes an absolute joy. Hardwork maybe 5% of the day, 95% just lovely to be around.

Dd is 12 months, still wakes during the night but is gradually getting a bit more fun.

I love the thought of babies but in reality they're so hard its almost not enjoyable!

Raver84 · 14/10/2017 21:05

I have enjoyed all my 4 from the start though the newborn stage can be a bit boring once they hit you with some smiles it's all good from then on so i guess about 3 months. I have found with the more children I have the more I love it.

Jenijena · 14/10/2017 21:06

Having recently hit 18 months with DS2 (4 year age gap), I’ve been reminded that I like toddlers...

edwinbear · 14/10/2017 21:07

I don't enjoy the baby stage. For me, it's from about 3 onwards, once they are old enough to communicate with and can understand sometimes they may have to wait for something or even they don't always get everything they want.

CurlyWurlyHairCoveredChocolate · 14/10/2017 21:08

My DD is 2yrs 3 months and I'd say I've enjoyed the last 6 months more than any other time. She was a late walker due to some extra needs so once she started walking I started enjoying her a lot more as she became a bit more independent as she could go and get toys herself etc. rather than needing me 100% of the time.

MrsHarveySpecterV · 14/10/2017 21:10

From day one with DD now 2 and a half. With DS who just turned 1 I didn't enjoy the first six months at all - 2 under 2 was tough! But for about the last two months I've loved parenthood again!

StrawberryMummy90 · 14/10/2017 21:11

A lot of these responses are starting to make me think I'm just not maternal. You seem to be able to see past the sleep deprivation and relentlessness (is that a word?) of the baby/toddler years but I couldn't with DD1 and can't the second time round either. Maybe I'm just selfish.

OP posts:
Allthewaves · 14/10/2017 21:12

Once they were all sleeping through most of the time and I wasn't a zombie - so when youngest was nearly 2

Ohwell14 · 14/10/2017 21:14

I'm 4 weeks into the baby stage with my first and absolutely loving it. Don't care if I get tired, when I see her gorgeous little face looking at me I don't think about anything else. It helps that she is smiling already. Maybe I'm just weird.
And plus the cuddles are a great bonus Grin

AmpleRaspberries · 14/10/2017 21:14

18 months. I enjoyed dd to a degree when she was tiny, but loved 18 months onwards. I really enjoyed my mat leave with ds because dd was 2.5 and I did loads of stuff with her. Ds just came along with us.

NoFuckingRoomOnMyBroom · 14/10/2017 21:15

Youthecat Grin
I agree the baby stage is utter shite, mine both got way more interesting at around 18 months-they are now 6 & 8 & fucking hilarious, still hard, hard work though unfortunately Hmm

Allthewaves · 14/10/2017 21:15

I started really enjoying them when my second started school and could breath a bit and my youngest was 3. Enjoyed them even more when youngest started preschool and I found me again. I appreciate them so much more now

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 14/10/2017 21:17

The baby stage I don't mind. The toddler stage I could really do without. if I have to deal with one more tantrum in Tesco I'm going to throw myself on the floor and kick and scream and drown the little fuckers out

soundsgreektome · 14/10/2017 21:17

16, 18 and 20. They are quite pleasant. One has moved out.

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SimplyNigella · 14/10/2017 21:17

I really struggled with the baby and toddler stage, now he's almost 4 I am enjoying being a mother a lot more. Don't beat yourself up about feeling this way, sleep deprivation is used as torture for a reason, it can make everything seem so bleak.

whensitmyturn · 14/10/2017 21:19

I love from 0-1 and then after 3 when they can talk and have their own little personality. Oldest is 11 and so far have enjoyed all these years.


Age 1-3 is a hard slog!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 14/10/2017 21:19

Didn't like the new born stage at all.
If I'd have had my way my dd and my nephews would have came out as toddlers.
I could eat them at that stage. They're starting to talk, abd saying funny things. I love the way they mispronounce words. Grin
You can do activities with them etc.

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