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Original poster

What age did you enjoy your child at the most?

46 replies

HaychEss · 02/03/2026 02:24

FTM and not enjoyed my baby as much as I thought I would, she’s nearly 6 months now. What age was most enjoyable for you guys?

OP posts:
Renenma · 02/03/2026 02:26

I really disliked the baby phase with my first born, I found it sooo hard! With my second born it was easier but still not very enjoyable.
I loved the toddler phase from around 18 months/2 years old.

Parrlorwarrior · 02/03/2026 02:29

Strangely it was the teenager years. We did so much together as a family during those years. My teens would prepare food for a BBQ when they got home from school and we’d sit in the garden in the evening eating and having a laugh. They weren’t ashamed to be seen out with their parents and we went to see various bands with them. My eldest played in a band and we supported him and went to see him play.

Ghht · 02/03/2026 02:36

I think it depends on the child/baby and your own circumstances and feeling at the time.

I really enjoyed my 1st child from 0-2 years tbh. I just didn’t realise that he was generally quite happy go lucky, which made everything so much easier. I had my 2nd baby around 7 years later and I think I’m starting to enjoy it now she’s 8 months, but it’s still quite hit and miss. High needs babies are a different league. Also, for some reason I’m really feeling the loneliness this time around despite maybe being less isolated than before.

I struggled so much and I really did not enjoy the first 6 month of my 2nd baby, which surprised me after the experience I had with my 1st. Hold on because it will get better and you’re not the only one. Sometimes we feel broody and we can’t wait to have our tiny babies, but in reality the tiny babies take so much from us that it’s just too much to fully enjoy. They get better with age x

Original poster
HaychEss · 02/03/2026 02:40

Ghht · 02/03/2026 02:36

I think it depends on the child/baby and your own circumstances and feeling at the time.

I really enjoyed my 1st child from 0-2 years tbh. I just didn’t realise that he was generally quite happy go lucky, which made everything so much easier. I had my 2nd baby around 7 years later and I think I’m starting to enjoy it now she’s 8 months, but it’s still quite hit and miss. High needs babies are a different league. Also, for some reason I’m really feeling the loneliness this time around despite maybe being less isolated than before.

I struggled so much and I really did not enjoy the first 6 month of my 2nd baby, which surprised me after the experience I had with my 1st. Hold on because it will get better and you’re not the only one. Sometimes we feel broody and we can’t wait to have our tiny babies, but in reality the tiny babies take so much from us that it’s just too much to fully enjoy. They get better with age x

I get the loneliness thing- I have no mum friends and find it difficult to make friends as an adult. Also moved to a different town which is pretty quiet and don’t know anyone so I look forward to going to my parents and seeing my family. Do you get out much with baby?

OP posts:
Iocanepowder · 02/03/2026 03:09

I absolutely hated the baby phase and maternity leave both times.

My kids are only 5 and 2 but i’ve enjoyed them more once they’ve been able to communicate better with me.

I will fully enjoy DC2 once she bloody sleeps at night.

Miniaturemom · 02/03/2026 03:16

I’d say it’s pretty normal to find the first months isolating and hard. It’s so draining but I found the first smile/physical milestones hugely rewarding. My oldest is uniquely wired and it’s taken until now aged 7 that I truly understand her. Her sister is 3, and easier in general. It takes years for them to experience genuine empathy. I have found it helpful to just enjoy watching them experience everything anew for the magic that it is and not take their superhuman self-centeredness personally. 2 is amazing, they are hilarious when they are learning to talk. Also I didn’t really make mom friends until the oldest was at preschool and now through school. It gets easier!! I have documents for both girls where I’ve written the funniest things they’ve said, I still add to it now.

Ghht · 02/03/2026 03:20

HaychEss · 02/03/2026 02:40

I get the loneliness thing- I have no mum friends and find it difficult to make friends as an adult. Also moved to a different town which is pretty quiet and don’t know anyone so I look forward to going to my parents and seeing my family. Do you get out much with baby?

Show quote history

I’ve started getting out with the baby more now as of the last 2 weeks tbh. I’m still going out mostly by myself, but I find just going to the shops helps. I also just started going to some baby groups in the library. There are mainly toddlers and childminders going but I don’t mind so much, having a little chat here and there makes it easier. I just try to go out once a day to do something. The loneliness is so difficult isn’t it.

I don’t have mum friends, but I’m finding getting out more and having the chats here and there is making it a bit better. Even if the baby groups seem scary, I would recommend just trying some. It gets easier as your baby gets older because your baby engages more and you can just interact with the baby, which can be lovely too. It’s tough at the 6 month mark xx

nowayho · 02/03/2026 04:13

I would say ages 5-9 have been the best for me. They are so much more independent, sleep well, don’t kick off in restaurants/.cafes anymore, you don’t have to follow their every move to make sure they’re not doing anything dangerous. They are fun to be with and have great personalities, make you laugh etc.
It’s just way less hard.

I now have a 3 month old as well, so back to square one.

I did enjoy parts of the early days as well, but I found older nicer.

CharlotteSometimeslikesanafternoonnap · 02/03/2026 05:19

I also did not enjoy the newborn phase and found maternity leave hard. DD was a very sunshiney kid (after the initial opposite) and so there have been some ages where she was pretty brilliant - 8m - 3y, 7-9, were notably great. 13-17 had some lows that were quite low. She's 20 now and fab company.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 02/03/2026 07:51

Under 3- no. Went back to work at four months.
The primary school years were the golden tears
Teen years - mine were ok tbh,
Now early 20’s- great. Don’t see a lot of them but kind of reaping the rewards of our input with their earlier years now, watching them succeed.

Rocknrollstar · 02/03/2026 08:00

HaychEss · 02/03/2026 02:24

FTM and not enjoyed my baby as much as I thought I would, she’s nearly 6 months now. What age was most enjoyable for you guys?

Let’s be honest - babies can be boring. But pretty soon your baby will be sitting up and starting to play with toys and then they will start to try to communicate. I found it gets better as they get older and you can do more activities with them.

UnsocialButterflyy · 02/03/2026 08:23

From the age of about 2-3. I mean, they weren’t the hardest of babies but the lack of sleep, early mornings and having 2 under 2 was exhausting. By the time my youngest was 2 (eldest 4) they were more independent and developed these little personalities, always making me laugh and I found I had more time to get things done.

Cattatonic · 02/03/2026 08:29

Having had them 1yr apart I’d say the first 18 months were hard going. Each stage brings its challenges but tbh overall I’ve enjoyed all of it.

lljkk · 02/03/2026 08:33

About 12yo was great, they could be my best buddies.
Also would like to endorse teen years. Both maddening & lovely.
Babies & toddlers i could enjoy sporadically & about 6-7yo was the hardest to enjoy.

MissyB1 · 02/03/2026 08:36

All of the stages up to age 11, genuinely really enjoyed the baby, toddler, junior years. The teenage years however….. 😱

BigFishLittleFishCardboardBoxes · 02/03/2026 08:41

Probably from about 8 or 9 upwards. Now we can have proper conversations and they’re more independent. They really make me laugh now and I love that. We have some good chats.

Mabiscuit · 02/03/2026 08:42

Around the age of 9 as they're still quite little but more independent and you can have a laugh with them.

ExcellentDaydream · 02/03/2026 08:43

Probably about 16-20 years, now they are a bit older we don't spend so much time together and I think that was a special time. Mine are ND and a bit young for their age so I was probably still more involved in their lives at that stage than I might have been if they weren't IYSWIM.

When they were babies I seem to remember it getting better after the first few months, we were getting out more, they were starting to move and communicate and really develop.

Marchspringss · 02/03/2026 08:45

I think 5-9 years age were lovely.
My child is now full rebellious teen and nothing like 8 years ago!

TurboGirl2 · 02/03/2026 08:47

Cuteness wise around 4/5. Enjoying spending time with them i'd say around 10+.

SweetDreamsAreMadeOfFizz · 02/03/2026 08:47

I quite liked ages around 7-10 and I'm enjoying him now at 16. Much of the rest was grinding and thankless! It does depend on your level of support and on the individual child and school/friendships though. We were isolated, zero support, chronically poorly premature autistic child who had no friends and was hideously bullied. It shapes your experience.

ObliviousCoalmine · 02/03/2026 08:48

Newborn until she started crawling/5-7, 15 onwards have been the best bits.

Tillow4ever · 02/03/2026 08:50

I remember with my eldest thinking every new stage was the best. So newborn I was like “newborns are amazing, this is the best stage ever”. Then we’d get to smiling, laughing, being more alert and I’d be “oh no this is the best stage ever” and so on til about 3 years old. So basically, I found each stage got progressively better.

Toddler years are my favourite - I think toddlers are bloody brilliant! But they can be hard work too. 5-8 is supposed to be the golden age - big enough to do things for themselves, but before they get the hormone changes. And they still think you’re awesome lol.

All stages can be shit and can be amazing. So don’t worry if you aren’t enjoying one stage, it will pass!

elliejjtiny · 02/03/2026 08:51

It really depends on the child tbh. I loved the stage when entertaining them was cheap because they loved going to the park or going to watch new houses being built. Still haven't got to the stage when all of them will reliably sleep all night and feeling doubtful it will ever happen now.

Babies are unbelievably cute but the lack of sleep is hard and you always have to think about when and where you will be able to feed/change them.

BoysNameHelp · 02/03/2026 08:51

6m-3y absolutely golden!! But with a punishing lack of sleep haha