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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think in some ways a newborn was easier than a toddler

46 replies

ScariestFairyByFar · 29/09/2012 11:16

I got to go to the toilet alone
She'd happily 'play' on her own so I could do stuff
I could go and drink coffee in cafes without worrying about her charging about
I could leave the house as long as I had my boobs and a nappy I was sorted

Don't get me wrong this is a great age

OP posts:
BeaWheesht · 29/09/2012 11:18

Yanbu

However my toddler goes to bed at 7pm whereas my newborns never did. I remind myself of this often when I consider another

Also dd (2 just) is vvv funny

FuckityFuckFuck · 29/09/2012 11:18

YANBU

DS is very active, talking constantly, running at full speed all day etc. I look back dreamily on the newborn stage

OrangeHorraceTheGoldenOtter · 29/09/2012 11:21

My newborn willNOT play on his own while I do stuff, he screams bloody murder. Neither can I go to the loo alone - he comes in the sling. He will not go to bed before half 9 Sad. I think it depends on the chils so YABU

DoubleYew · 29/09/2012 11:23

Well my newborn wasn't like that, screamed a lot, couldn't be put down so going to the toilet nevermind cafes was a nightmare.

I prefer the toddler, atleast I have some idea what he wants.

DoubleYew · 29/09/2012 11:23

Otter it will get better!

ditziness · 29/09/2012 11:27

I've got a toddler and a newborn at the moment, and the newborn is considerably easier. I almost forget she's there sometimes when dealing with the toddler's outrageous requests. But then my toddler was not an easy newborn, and I find him far easier as a toddler than as a baby, being as he screamed and fed constantly. He still does, but atleast now he uses words and eats anything. So depends on the child, mother and whether it's your first, second, third etc. and probably plenty other circumstances too

PickledFanjoCat · 29/09/2012 11:28

I agree! My toddler is a right handful.

He's here, he's there, he's everywhere!

OrangeHorraceTheGoldenOtter · 29/09/2012 11:30

I keep trying to remember that Double, " this too shall pass" and all that...

sillymoomoo · 29/09/2012 11:32

I found the newborn stage really easy, after age 1 it got more difficult and has now got easy again.

Flisspaps · 29/09/2012 11:33

My toddler is far easier than my baby, I'd happily have 10 toddlers but no more newborns!

Rubirosa · 29/09/2012 11:34

YANBU - I found the newborn stage easy and enjoyable, up to about 12 months ds was a doddle!

PeppermintLatte · 29/09/2012 11:35

they are both hard work in their own ways!

it definitely depends on the child... my newborn was hard graft, cried alot, would never just lay in her moses basket/bouncer, wanted to be carried and picked up alot. whereas my cousin's newborn who was the same age as my DD was a dream!

i think it was alot easier from 6 months and 12 months, then it went downhill until she turned roughly around 2years 10months. now at age 3, she is reasonable and alot of fun.

toddler stage is harder in ways than the newborn stage, and easier in ways than the newborn stage IMO.

OscarPistoriusGirlfriend · 29/09/2012 11:37

YANBU both mine were a doddle (relatively) as newborns. Toddler stage though is HARD work!

Viviennemary · 29/09/2012 11:39

YANBU. At least a newborn will stay where he/she is put. Doesn't usually need entertaining with different activities all the time. Doesn't ask to be taken to the park or soft play centre. Doesn't demand things. I think just before school is the most difficult age.

Ithinkitsjustme · 29/09/2012 11:41

Those who are comparing newbrns to toddlers in terms of "difficulty" - just wait until they hit the teenage years, Grin ! Every age has its blessings and its curses, but I don't think any of them are "easy"

SneakyNuts · 29/09/2012 11:41

YADNBU!!

DD is almost 10 months and getting a right handful.
When she was tiny it was so easy!

MammaTJisWearingGold · 29/09/2012 11:44

Newborns stay where they are put, don't answer back and if they cry they are either hungry, wrong temp or need a nappy change-easy.

Shellywelly1973 · 29/09/2012 11:49

After 5dc...

I love the newborn stage(reason for5!!!)

Its swings and roundabouts, each child will have difficult times. 1of mine was a horrendous newborn but easy toddler. Last one was such an easy baby i used to set an alarm to feed him but at 4 turned into a little monster!

Each phase passes to be replaced by another...

Fairylea · 29/09/2012 11:53

What is this drinking coffee in cafes with a newborn ???

Ds screams blue murder if we go anywhere in the pram and then stop.... and then screams even if I feed him until he's back in the buggy and moving again... sigh.

sleeplessinderbyshire · 29/09/2012 12:00

I agree. I have a 2 month old and a 3 year old and by and large the 2 month old is the easier by day and night. 3 yr old has started waking in the night and tantrumming the house down for 30 mins at a time in the middle f the night where 2 month old wakes, snuggles in for a 10 min feed and goes straight back to sleep. The 3 year old is very funny and engaging when she's not screaming though

RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 29/09/2012 12:01

Depends on the toddler and the newborn

I'd have DS as a toddler over how he was as a newborn any day. He was such a grizzler- I used to dread him waking up because if he wasnt eating or sleeping he was grizzling or screaming. Didnt want to be put down, didnt want to be picked up. God, that was a long year.

But, DD at 7 weeks is easier than DS is now at 2 yrs. If I'd had her first, I would have thought newborns were a piece of piss. I'm sure she'll morph into a horrific teenager to make it "evens"

MyLastDuchess · 29/09/2012 12:34

I had the same experience as Otter and DoubleYew. Couldn't go to the toilet in peace, and forget going to a cafe unless you wanted to deal with screaming and crying the whole time.

DS is now 2 and apart from the odd tantrum he is SO much easier! Yes I have to watch him in cafes to be sure he doesn't run off/get in the way, but sitting and having a coffee is actually an option now. Plus I even get to drink it while it's still hot!

Am trying to make the most of it because DC2 is due in 2 months Shock

But OP YANBU, all kids are different. One of my good friends has a DS who was a very very easy baby. Now that he is 2 he is a real handful (like a lot of toddlers) and she is missing those early days when she did lots of baking and got plenty of time to herself.

LeBFG · 29/09/2012 12:42

I was thinking about toddler vs newborn and came to the totally opposite conclusion: I can cope with tantrums and trouble-finding-missions sooo much better than sleep deprivation. Though by the time DS was 8/9 months and was taking regular naps in the day, lunch invites were far easier than now - he would just drop off in the pram. He will not now, huh. Plus, as another posters says, they are so funny now. I love it. DS just had a six month grot - no fun at all.

Handsfulloffun · 29/09/2012 12:49

I am finding the toddler stage much easier than the newborn, both Dt's had reflux and collic and screamed - a lot. I dont mind the tantrums, demands and running off in sperate directions because I get to sleep at night.

NameChangeGalore · 29/09/2012 12:52

I agree and disagree. Yes, I could leave my newborns for ages whilst doing things, but they'd need a feed every hour and going out with them was nigh on impossible until they were at least 8-12 weeks.

I had very bad, erm, pooing problems after both births and spent ages in the toilet by which time they'd wake up and scream the house down. So I couldn't really do that easily with a newborn either. At least you can talk to a toddler through the door and they understand!

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