Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What was your favourite age/stage with your DC?

37 replies

nervousnelly8 · 17/07/2020 20:40

DH and I have been debating what the best stage of childhood is for parents. We have 1 DS aged 17 months and another on the way. We are dreaming of the days when we get an uninterrupted night sleep and our days don't start at 5am (DS is a bad sleeper!). I'm looking forward to actually having conversations with DC and doing fun things, but before teenage angst sets in. So I'm thinking like 5-9 will be a good age range.

That said, I count my lucky stars every day for DS. The baby/toddler cuddles are awesome and a lot of days I can't imagine things getting better than they are now!

What has your favourite age with your DC been?

OP posts:
cptartapp · 17/07/2020 20:50

The primary school years.
They're now teens and although still lovely, are drifting away.

StillThatBitch · 17/07/2020 20:54

Our current one is lovely, 3 and 5. Both mine were horrendous sleepers, so we had our second quite quickly to get the horror nights over with. My first didn't sleep til about 1 year and our second has only just settled now at almost 3.5! There's just under 2 years between them and sometimes they play beautifully, it's great now they can interact and imagine/pretend together. My eldest is placid and second v highly strung, so there's always conflict, but amazing moments too. They are so curious about everything and have been weirdly unbothered about lockdown, and just got on with it. It's been hard financially, but it's reminded us that they actually only need simple things. Eldest saw a load of ladybirds today and was over the moon and the youngest played for an hour with 2 loo rolls taped together as binoculars! Smile. Don't get me wrong, most days I'm wiped out and can't wait to get them in bed, but this stage has been so much nicer than the baby and toddler years.

inthethickofit19 · 17/07/2020 20:59

Mine are 3 and 1 and so far 2/3 has beeen lovely!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Babies & sleep Children's sleep Families
Original poster
nervousnelly8 · 17/07/2020 21:58

@StillThatBitch this is exactly what I'm hoping for! I figured we might as well go for number 2 whilst we were still getting broken sleep. Ours will be 21 months apart - I don't want to wish the time away but equally somewhat dreading the newborn stage again!

OP posts:
GardenOfRaman · 17/07/2020 22:03

From 6 and up, but mine aren't teens yet! I love our conversations, and we can do things that are mutually enjoyable. Plus, they sleep!

GardenOfRaman · 17/07/2020 22:04

I also enjoyed the nonmobile baby stage, but found the toddler bit utterly tedious.

Ocies · 17/07/2020 22:05

The teen years were great, the best bit by far for me and mine.

tempnamechange98765 · 17/07/2020 22:11

I loved walking age to about 2 and a half, and I also now love 4 which my older DC is.

I did not enjoy 3! But my second DC was a newborn and I was suffering PNA so that didn't help. Still a horrible age though.

Hidingtonothing · 17/07/2020 22:19

1 year to about 3 was my favourite time with DD, I just remember laughing all the time, they're so much fun at that age. DGS is coming up to his first birthday now so I'm getting to enjoy it all over again, lucky me Smile

EssentialHummus · 17/07/2020 22:27

With DD around 7 months to 18 months - sleeping through, napping, easy to entertain, portable. She's now just about to turn three - I love her inquisitiveness and how bright she is but dear.god the non-stop talking, whinging for snacks, testing boundaries, crying at the most minor of minor things. Hasn't helped that it's been combined with lockdown.

BillywigSting · 17/07/2020 22:35

Mine is 6 now, nearly 7 and just gets better the older he gets. He was a cute but hard work baby, a headstrong toddler and now he is becoming a great little human.

Turning points for me were sleeping through the night properly and regularly, and being able to articulate his needs (hungry, thirsty, tired, want the thing) - around 18 months. Being able to dress himself around 2. Potty training just before 3. Being able to fetch his own drinks and snacks (fruit, crackers, yoghurt etc) about 4 and school at 5.

Once he started talking though he never stopped. He even talks in his sleep.

I'm not convinced he's stopped for breath in the last 4.5 years.

His conversation is getting more interesting as he gets older though.

daisypond · 17/07/2020 22:37

Primary school years - roughly four to ten.

DramaAlpaca · 17/07/2020 22:37

@Ocies

The teen years were great, the best bit by far for me and mine.
Same here, though I expect we might be in the minority!
Thornhill58 · 17/07/2020 22:37

I don't have a favourite age as I've enjoyed all of it but 4-5 were very enjoyable. Our son is 14 and still pretty great.

BillywigSting · 17/07/2020 22:38

The newborn stage I found horrendous and I would be lying if I said it wasn't a factor in ds being an only child.

I really don't cope well on no/bad sleep. I was run down/sick with a constant cough/cold, even in the summer, until he was about 2 and I could finally get some consistently good sleep.

WinWinnieTheWay · 17/07/2020 22:41

All of it, but I do miss the bond with a baby who looked at me as if I was her whole world and she was besotted. Having said that, babies and toddlers are hard work and the routine is boring.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 17/07/2020 22:43

DS is only 7 so I haven't had the teen years yet but I much prefer the older years. The baby stage was OK but dull, the toddler stage way too full on. I like being able to have proper conversations with him, that he sleeps through the night and is able to do some things independently but still wants me to play with him sometimes.

EasilyDelighted · 17/07/2020 22:44

Teenage here too so far (they are 14 and 16).

doublemix · 17/07/2020 22:46

I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 7 year old. I think different ages are good for different reason. My youngest is really funny and I love the learning to talk age with the jumbled words but he is full on non stop all day so it's very tiring. My eldest is brilliant at having chats to and he still loves a cuddle but I can see he's pulling away abit more he likes watching YouTube and playing minecraft etc. I enjoy age 3-5 the most I think they're still learning and are funny and want to play but you get a little break to appreciate them more when they go to school for 1/2 days so you get some breathing room.

doublemix · 17/07/2020 22:46

I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 7 year old. I think different ages are good for different reason. My youngest is really funny and I love the learning to talk age with the jumbled words but he is full on non stop all day so it's very tiring. My eldest is brilliant at having chats to and he still loves a cuddle but I can see he's pulling away abit more he likes watching YouTube and playing minecraft etc. I enjoy age 3-5 the most I think they're still learning and are funny and want to play but you get a little break to appreciate them more when they go to school for 1/2 days so you get some breathing room.

IdblowJonSnow · 17/07/2020 22:47

Ages 3 and 4. Lots of fun, interesting chats and questions, nappy days over and sleep vastly improved!
And very cute of course. You're also aware they're about to go to school and life is quite different then!

thismeansnothing · 17/07/2020 22:50

DD1 is 8. 0-2 nightmare. Hellish. 2-5 has been the best so far. Now we're entering the attitude era and I can't say I'm loving it.

DD2 is 18 months. Birth to 14 months is were amazing. Absolutely loved it. Past 4 months a nightmare. Although lockdown hasn't helped, she really is a completely different child to her big sis

Dancingalong · 17/07/2020 22:50

Ours are 8 and 6 next week and I think it I could keep them at these ages now I would. I miss the younger toddler days but they are really good company now and we’ve had some really great adventures with them.

MilkRunningOutAgain · 17/07/2020 22:52

Mine are 17 and 14. I loved the baby sitting up but not yet walking stage, and as DD didn’t walk until 20 months, I got this for ages! I also enjoy having teens, seeing them start to be independent is fascinating.

Foxinthechickencoop · 17/07/2020 22:52

4 to 6. Absolutely brilliant. Great sleeper but can stay up late fine.
Can ride a bike, A pony, swim, scoot, Decent walk. go for meals out etc. Great conversations.
But they still think you are the best thing since sliced bread. My DD was absolutely my favourite person to hang out with ever at that age. We had so much fun together.
She’s still bloody amazing and the apple of my eye. But she really needs friends her own age now, and she sees me and all my flaws and getS cross at me etc. She is now aware more of being ‘cool’ and I am not that at all 😁 all Perfectly normal and natural. But I did love being her superhero for a few years.