To ask which are more trouble - toddlers or teens

[ProudAS]

I'm not a parent myself but I am curious

[OpalQuartz]

What's the verdict then Britney92?

[soontobeslendergirl]

Arrggghh - just early into the teen years here and I'd say toddler years were physically exhausting but the teen years are mental torture :o

...and I would add that so far mine are remarkably well behaved and compliant.

I am already worrying about them being out in pubs and clubs and driving etc and dreaming of the times when they were happy to stay within an arms length of you and went to bed safe and sound at 7pm.

On the plus side, you can go out to the shops and leave them behind which you couldn't do with toddlers.

[notso]

Ah but hopping with toddlers you can go on cheap holidays in term time and they sleep during the day so you get time alone. Plus they don't roll their eyes at you when you enjoy a cold beer with your breakfast or record you shagging on their sleep talking app.

Although toddlers do shout embarrassingly loudly "look Mummy a big fat willy" when you accidentally take a stroll on the nudist section of the beach.

[hoppingmad]

Do you want to tell dt's they are supposed to nap - they stopped that months ago.
I'm not even going to ask about the recording incident

[firesidechat]

Definitely the teens, but that may be the control freak in me.

With toddlers, you always know where they are (totally ignoring all the occasions when the eldest went missing). They need more care, but aren't much of a worry on the whole.

With teens it's one long worry, even if you have reasonably well behaved ones. Late back from parties, dodgy friends, being driven around by other teens who have just passed their test and the list goes on. So happy that they are adults now and it's all behind us.

One word of warning though. You never actually stop worrying about your children.

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

Of course you can only go on cheap termtime holidays with toddlers if you only have toddlers (no older, school age kids) and are not a teacher

[notso]

for the loss of naps. I am lucky enough to be able to still enforce naps by making them lie down under a blanket boring them to sleep by putting radio 4 or some daytime drivel on. 3 yo is awake half the night though so it's no wonder he's tired.

[AndIFeedEmGunpowder]

Survivingthechildren: Imagine your toddler can drive. And get access to alcohol.

I think you have my answer

Oh shitbags.

[gingermop]

toddlers harder phsically but teens emotionally, give me a toddler any day

[RedandChecker]

I only have a four year old, enjoyed the toddler years. Dreading teenage years based on the experience of having been one myself!

[AcrylicPlexiglass]

I agree it depends on the child and also the adult(s) involved. I have twin teens and a just out of toddlerhood singleton. My "easiest" child by far is one of my teenagers. He sleeps, is sweet and lovely when I ask things of him, accepts boundaries, more or less, interesting person who I love chatting to, approachable and affectionate but not needy.. My other teen shares most of these traits apart from the boundaries bit and he is a source of constant extreme stress! He is constantly out, never willingly reveals where he is/ is intending to go, when grounded climbs out of the window to escape, loves graffiti, dabbles with drugs. Basically a nice kid, I think, but impulsive and thoughtless and desperate to be in the thick of things. My little one is very high maintenance in a completely different way. Needs me constantly, wakes up at 5am, bolshie as a bolshie thing at times-far more overtly defiant far more frequently than her teenage brothers. But I think the posters below are right when they say that even a very difficult toddler is easier to keep safe than a teenager.

[OwlCapone]

I can't belive anyone who has had teens, and mine are generally good kids, thinks toddlers are harder.

Maybe they had different children to you. Just a thought!

[TheBody]

but the aching tiredness of toddlers doesn't compare with the worry of teens.

you can't alter the fact that you can tuck up your toddler at 7pm and generally they sleep until 7am, well mine did, but teens are out and about and you aren't there to keep them safe.

it's lots of worry even with 'good ones'.

[TheBody]

owl no you miss the point. I am not talking about specific toddlers or teens, actually mine were fairly good as both but you can always protect your toddler and you can't ah ways protect your teen

huge difference.

[hoppingmad]

Well either way I have the best of all worlds - twin toddlers, pre teen, teenager and some SN thrown in for good measure
Still, if anyone offers to give me a break its the dt's I'd hand over far too happily

Notso dts didn't sleep through until 18 months. Even now he considers sleeping past 5 an outrage

[NCISaddict]

Mine were much more trouble when they were toddlers, just keeping them alive was a struggle. I remember a poster on here saying if she reached the end of the day and they were 'fed and not dead' the day was a success, that typified my days exactly.
My teens were a breeze compared to that.

[BoysMum1]

At the moment mine are age 6, 9, 11, 13 and 14.
I realised last night that in 4 years time I will have 4 teens in the house. Someone shoot me know please.

[OwlCapone]

No, Body, I've not missed the point at all. People's experience of teens v toddlers will depend very much on their experience of both. You said you can't believe anyone who has had teens thinks toddlers are harder. I would never make such a sweeping statement as I can't possibly say what other people's experiences were like.

[ISeeYouShiverWithAntici]

depends what you mean by trouble, I suppose.

Every stage has its unique challenges.

You don't sleep as much when they are babies but at least they don't answer you back

they are far more independent when they're older - which gives you more to worry about

I don't think they are 'trouble' at any stage but certainly you go through a whole load of different experiences at different ages and how you behave as a parent has to change a LOT!

[jacks365]

Toddlers are harder or at least mine is but when she completely exhausts me one of my wonderful teens will always help out. I have been very lucky though with my teens.

[MaddAddam]

I have a nearly 14 yo, a 12.5 yo, and a 9yo.

So far I am finding the teen and almost-teen stage one of the best bits of parenting. Much easier than having toddlers. I come and go, they come and go, and when we interact they are capable of lively interesting discussion.

They are no moodier than they previously were, yes they can be critical but I quite like that actually. And I probably still win the house prize for argumentativeness.

[wigglybeezer]

Teens, toddlers don't have exams!

[TheBody]

owl
however whatever your experiences of individual toddlers/teens the fact is that toddlers are far easier to protect from life's difficulties and dangers than teens.

unless your toddlers roam the streets after dark, drive, party and are exposed to alcohol, sex and drugs,which I am guessing the average toddler is not, then they are generally protected by adults 24/7.

teens arnt.

I didn't read the op as individual teens/toddlers but as a generic group.

[KellyElly]

unless your toddlers roam the streets after dark, drive, party and are exposed to alcohol, sex and drugs,which I am guessing the average toddler is not, then they are generally protected by adults 24/7. Ah, but do you have to hide the bleach from teen in case they try to neck a bit or stop your teens from licking wheelie bins and trying to eat cat poo

[TheBody]

Kelly not yet but never say never!!