What happened to your smiley happy baby?

[Malaysiatrulyasia]

We have a 2 month old who is an absolute delight, he spends all day smiling, sleeps reasonably well at night and barely cries, we can't believe our luck and have to try very hard to conceal our smugness from anyone who asks how its going .

However I'm fully aware (and am constantly reminded by DM and DMIL) that this will likely not last forever, is nothing to do with our parenting and he will soon develop into a tantruming toddler or teenager who hates me haha. So I was just wondering if anyone else had a super sweet baby and how did they turn out?? Is their personality as a baby any indicator of future personality?

[firesong]

My daughter was very easy as a baby. As a toddler she had perhaps 2/3 tantrums ever, and they weren't that bad. She's now a tall, intelligent nine year old who speaks her mind and has a great sense of humour.

My son was smiley but not easy, he cried loads as a baby! He's pre school age now and is still demanding but also very funny, cute, and loving.

[grassisjeweled]

Super cheery enthusiastic almost 6 year old

[rhowton]

Just don't get first time mum with a good baby arrogance. I was arrogant as fuck and was pregnant by my DD first birthday.

My second DD is the actual devil in disguise. I've never known a child like her! My first DD is 3 now and is still an absolute delight. My DD18m is so demanding, stroppy, and dramatic and so like me as a baby 😂 sadly, I haven't grown out of those things, so I'm just guessing DD18m won't either!

[rhowton]

Forgot to mention, one of my close friends actually said "It's clearly not your parenting or nurture, because DD3 is such a babe" 😂

[YetAnotherChicken]

I don't know about content, happy babies but my baby/toddler from hell is now a happy, extremely laid back teenager

[Malaysiatrulyasia]

@rhowton yes, dh and I have questioned whether we should quit while we're ahead as the second is bound to be a nightmare haha!

Very interesting reading these, I was so surprised that babies had such clear personalities, I had sort of assumed that he would just be a generic baby that cried lots and kept us up all night.

[BertieBotts]

Both of my babies were happy although DS2 had the nickname "grumpy face" because he looks angry when he's trying to work something out/curious about something, which was most of the time when he was tiny.

DS1 was a brilliant toddler, easy and fun, turned into a nightmare age 3-5, is now a fairly normal 12yo but quite sensible, funny and extremely sociable.

DS2 is a more typical toddler - into everything and can throw a good tantrum when he wants to. It takes him aaaages to warm up to people and when he doesn't like someone he will just completely ignore them, going to hilarious lengths sometimes to avoid looking at them.

[BertieBotts]

Oh, both of mine kept me up all night :o they were just very happy while doing it!

[Vanillaradio]

My smiley happy baby is now a smiley happy 7 year old. He is, however, extremely strong willed and had plenty of toddler tantrums when he didn't get his way!

[DayKay]

My super smiley chilled out baby niece grew into a lovely smiley chilled out teenager. I don’t remember her ever tantrumming but her mum might have a different opinion.
She’s almost 18 and still loves hanging out with her aunt and family.

[DrDavidBanner]

DS was a delight up to 13, charming, easygoing and very light hearted, even toddler years were quite manageable. Then it was like that Kevin the Teenager sketch, he became grumpy, bad tempered and argumentative almost over night. He reverted to being human around 18 and at 20 he is now a delight again.

[timtam23]

DS2 was a very happy easygoing baby and he is now a happy easygoing 10 year old...he is very sensible. We can explain something to him and he'll listen, nod and then go off and try it for himself. Totally different to DS1 who rushes into things without thinking or planning and then decides it's too difficult and he can't do it (but will not ask for any advice) - although he is also a very lovely child!

[MrsMarrio]

@BertieBotts

Oh, both of mine kept me up all night :o they were just very happy while doing it!

Love this!

[Malaysiatrulyasia]

@BertieBotts haha! Yes when he does decide to stay up in the early hours he's often smiling up at me in the dark!

DH and I were both very stubborn, difficult toddlers apparently so will just have to wait and see I guess!!

[corythatwas]

My second was very sweet and even-tempered. Grew into a world-weary and cynical preteen, but became easier and less gloomy once he got into his proper teens. Is a very pleasant and easy-going young adult, still living at home, very polite and respectful, rather quiet with a quirky sense of humour.

To be fair, there was some pretty tough stuff going on in his life when he was 10 so I don't blame him for losing faith in the world for a bit- or in his parents' ability to keep him safe.

[Stompythedinosaur]

My dc both cried a lot as babies and never slept, both have turned into delightful, pleasant and happy children.

My friend had the smilies and most contented baby in the world, who is now an equally delightful, pleasant and happy child.

No way to tell how dc will end up.

[TheDetectiveBadge]

My smiley good sleeper is now 1yo. Stil smiley but sleep not as good, although it's been back-to-back colds, bugs and teething here since September so that's probably why.

[steppemum]

ds was a happy smiley baby. The smiliest I have ever seen. He slept well and fed well, and giggled and chuckled.

He turned into a very determined toddler, good natured but stubborn as anything.
He was not an easy child, if you said black he said white. He never took anything anyone told him without an argument.

He is now 18, he grew into himself as a teen, and has grown into a lovely young man, full of fun, great sense of humour, but he knows his own mind and has a stubborn streak, also a streak which is pretty selfish
He has learnt, now, to accommodate others, but it is a learning process, I am hoping the selfish streak is part of his teenage side and he will grow past it.

DD1 was quiet and easy (didn't sleep til 7 months, but after that was easy sleeper) she has always been smiley but reserved, sat and watched etc. She is gentle kind and considerate, that watching the world side to her has never changed.

dd3 like a hurricane from day 1. she's 13, it hasn't stopped yet......

[Bumpsadaisie]

My eldest was always the sweetest sunniest little thing. A photo of her at 15mths popped up on my phone today and I was so struck by what a bonny lovely child she was.

I mean she wasn't totally easy as a baby - quite clingy and hard to put down at first -and as a toddler she could be a bit whiny and catastrophising - as they all can.

But everyone agrees that she has always been a delight, it's not just my bias! She is 11 now and although some eye rolling and the occasional door slam she is still very good natured and willing to have a laugh, with you and at herself. She has a friendship group where there are lots of crises and dramas at times but she manages to stay quite even keeled about it. She is funny quirky and good natured I guess! As you can tell I'm enormously proud of her.

My second child DS is also lovely - warm hearted and expressive and has a lot of friends as he is good socially - not shy but not pushy either. But he is a bit more complicated and intense than my eldest, somehow, although as a baby he was more chilled out than my eldest - happy to lie in his cot and look about him and delighted with everything. As a 9 year old things are a bit more challenging (in particular his screen addiction )

[ChristmasTsimmes]

My super smiley baby turned into an anxious ball of stress with autism and tics and rages.

Somv=ber DS2 turned into a relaxed chilled out little dude.

You can never tell.

[Sophoa]

My grimy baby who cried solidly for 18 months and didn’t sleep through until 4 is the best and sweetest 18 year old ever. His teen years have been a breeze. To be fair he has been easy since about 5.

My laid back baby had her moments at about 3-7 but she’s also a great teen

My easiest baby was a horror toddler, a fairly difficult pre schooler and an opinionated and argumentative 10 year old. He is great though but he can be a challenge

[DipSwimSwoosh]

I had the easiest baby in the world. Nothing bothered him. So smiley, engaged and bright. Hit milestones early.
He was very cute as a toddler as he spoke so clearly for his age. Always singing.
He has been an amazing big brother to his 2 little sisters. So loving.
But he is ever so sensitive. Cries easily. Still wants me by his side to go to bed at night. Scared of lots of things. Terrible eater.
He is 7 and he is magic. So special. He is super clever, loves schoolwork and chess, loves classical music and dolls. He wears bright clothes and most of his friends are girls. He is really friendly and caring and gorgeous and I love him to bits.

[feministbias]

First child- absolute angel baby
Hardly cried, very easy obvious cues for what was coming. I.e rubbing eyes for tired, turning head to chest for hungry. Easy to read.

Quite an easy toddler, no memorable horrid tantrums, distractable etc.

A bit moody as a teen but is still communicating, wants to spend time with us.
Fairly easy going - 14 at the moment so not counting chickens.

2nd child was a terror.
Screamed for 4 months solid(allergies). Rules by stomach - hangry to happy in the blink of an eye.
Fantastic tantrums that went on for hours.
Holds a grudge
Sulks
Needs so much more attention
Has major anxiety
Is so funny and on it.
Is 12 and doesn't want to be a moody teen so we'll see

[Jody21]

Mine grew into smiley, happy little boys and are now smiley, happy teens. Could not be prouder of them both and the kind, caring, young men they are growing into. Even though they are teens now they will happily sit with me to just have a cuppa and a chat, we often walk the dog together or just have movie nights in front of the TV. I'm so glad that they are not these angsty, mono syllable kids that spend all their time gaming / on their phones. Everyone warned me about the 'terrible two's' / toddler tantrums and teenage hormones as they got older. Thankfully they seem to have missed it all! I think it helps that we have a similar sense of humor as we seem to spend most of our time laughing at something ridiculous.

[SkyeIsPink]

DS is 4 and a smiley, happy boy. But if his socks get wet, watch out!!!! He will have an absolute meltdown over that and bath time.