'A baby boy...you'll have your work cut out!!'

[Cosycottage4]

I'm expecting DC2 in a few weeks time, I already have a DD(2) and am excited to be having a little boy this time.

However, pretty much anyone who asks the sex of the baby replies with some variation on the thread title. I largely brush it off, but it's starting to make me slightly nervous, esp as DD has always been quite 'easy' (relatively speaking).

AIBU to think (hope) that not all boys will be more difficult than girls? Or am I being hopelessly naive?!

I've only got a son (and he's wild!) but my mum's always said its nonsense. She has 4 kids, the 2 eldest (boy and girl) were wild and always into everything, the youngest (girl(me) and boy) were both chilled and very compliant. I think it's just down to personality.

I have two boys (4 month twins) and they are really 'easy' babies. My best friend has a girl around the same age and a screamer and wakes up every two hours in the night. I think it really depends on the baby not their sex/gender.

Peoples comments are annoying. I often get 'oh you'll be trying for a girl next time then' 'I bet you were dying for a little girl' errrr no my boys are lovely, ta

Agree with Garden I've often stood bemused watching my ds as a toddler throwing himself around the playground confidently while considerably older girls are being helped on the climbing frame by parents, congratulated for getting the whole way up the slide etc. Girls must be held back by this crap.

to be honest my friends with girls the same do seem to have a different experience - calmer, more likely to respond to 'no' by at least the 3rd time (with mine it takes about 25 times), they don't seem to run off as much etc

I've found this too. I've got dd (5) and ds (2 1/2). I find ds easier to deal with - he sleeps, is happy to entertain himself without demands for stories constantly. But he is so much more physical than dd with zero sense of danger.

I think if people say "oh you've got your work cut out" they are probably basing it on their own experience with their own children. I'm pretty sure I've said something similar when very sleep deprived to someone expecting a girl.

It's bollocks. It's personality (and the fact that how they behave gets gender categorised continually from birth, pushing them towards socially 'acceptable' behaviours.
DD is a crap sleeper, always on the go, never still and climbs and throws continually. She has not yet grown a penis but is only 15months so maybe there's time?!

I have two girls and one on the way (don't know the gender of third) my first was and still is an 'easy' child (most of the time). My second is a handful and so energetic. We call her our little ruffian lol. They're both girls so according to stereo types they should be the same coz they both are girls ridiculous. They literally could not be more.different. I agree with the second child thing lol x

I feel the same as you MrsCog! Agree with really about confirmation bias and unconscious gendering.

My 3-yr-old DS (like many children) fits lots of descriptions - great climber, noisy, active, loves trucks, tractors and public transport - but also loves jigsaws, books, craft, role play and is very verbal. Any activity in the first category always gets "boys eh" type comments from people. All the other stuff is ignored.

How does the second child theory work if DC1 is a fearless human dynamo? Scared now!!

I think every baby is different, sex is irrelevant.
My DS was a breeze as a baby, I really enjoyed the newborn stage. He's 2 now and still reasonably laid back.

My friend has a DS the same age and she hated every minute of the newborn bit, he was a grizzly nightmare. (She ha planned to be a SAHM but ended up being the first of our postnatal group to go back to work!)
He's a lovely toddler now, but still a bit more "spirited" than my DS.

And I know girls who are chilled, and girls who are whirlwinds.

windinthepussywillows I have two girls and pregnant with my third child, having a surprise so don't know the gender. I am so sick of people asking either 'do you want a boy then' or worse 'so are you having another for a boy' ermmm, nope. Im having another baby because we wanted another child and I couldn't care less about what gender they are.

Depends on the baby.

I have 2 boys. 5 and almost 3. DS2, from the beginning, has been an easier baby and then an easier toddler in almost every way to DS1. Slept better, took to breastfeeding easily, calmer, listens better, more obedient.

The only way DS2 has been more challenging is his current separation anxiety, and his physical confidence when it comes to climbing. DS1 has always been very wary of heights, had to be helped on climbing frames, slides etc. DS2, as soon as he could walk, was merrily throwing himself at playground equipment that made DS1 quake with fear.

I have had gentle boys.

The warning from experience I would give is that I did notice that they spoke far later than some very communicative girls. Now my one boy and his friend who used to pretty much ignore each other up to school age and play in parallel are very verbal and witty.. Maybe this was just individuals anyway!

I only have DS (20m) and he is such an easy baby. Happy, eats anything, likes everything, enjoys himself, is loving, sleeps well. Yes, has the occasional 'do' but I thought it would be much harder than it has been. About to start TTC DC2 and wondering how we'll cope if we get a more difficult one. I have a friend who hasn't had more than 2 hours sleep in any 24 hours in 3 years and has a little girl who is so whingey.

My DD is 2, crashing headlong into terrible 2s. Her vocab and attitude would rival some teens! DS is 5 months and already crawling, very headstrong too. Neither is more difficult than the other but both together is a bit like being in a hurricane.
YANBU to hope. Good luck OP.

I have a boy and he is a classic 'easy' baby, has always slept well, very independent, will go to anyone, hardly ever cried etc etc etc. Yes, he has bundles of energy and no concentration span but I think that's all one-year olds to be honest.

I would be delighted to have another boy (would also be delighted with a girl)!

I always hear the opposite. As I didn't know what I was having (not through choice, dd was very awkwardly posistioned and I wasn't going to pay for a scan just for her to hide away again!) everyone always said "ooooo, hopefully its a little boy as they are so laid back and easy, girls are more work". Bollocks, they are all individuals right from when they are born.

I already have a dd & when people found out I was having a boy I got a variation of 'oohhh! Your dh must be so pleased having a son!' Like having a girl is a bit shit for a man.

DD is both girly and boyey, she plays with DH in all sorts of games. Makes me so cross!!

One of each and they are different personalities. But I never found one harder than the other, they just each had their moments.

There's a huge variety of temperaments for both sexes. I have 2 sons (and a daughter ) and they are opposites but also complement each other (when they aren't fighting!)

Yes you will have your work cut out. Trying to fight of all the lovely kisses and cuddles he will give you

Another one here for the second child theory

My DD was a full on nightmare at times - her younger brother the calmest, kindest, easiest going person I have every come across. It's down to their personalities not their birth order or their gender.

Depends what you mean by "easy" and "hard work". IME, independent and daredevil also equals less clingy and whiney. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

(not unrolling any huge gender theories here).

DD doesn't have much hair and generally looks like a boy. Conversations at soft plays and similar places go like this: 'Darling, let the little boy play as well! Oh, it's a girl? Darling, careful, don't hurt the little girl!'

No wonder girls are more quiet 'by nature' soon, if they're constantly treated like delicate little flowers.

I have 2 of each and I can honestly say the girls were much harder, much more demanding and challenging
The boys were pretty laid back
But I don't think that's anything to do with gender it's just each child's personality..id ignore that silliness from people really
Congrats on your little boy xx