Babies are worse than toddlers when going out.

[Sianlouise432]

A genuine AIBU because I'm coming from a place of 0% experience with toddlers.

I know I've got the terrible twos to look forward to, however I just think taking a baby out and about is SO ANNOYING.

DS can stay awake for max 1.5 hours before he gets cranky. He fusses and cries. Toddlers have tantrums but you can kind of ignore them.. Babies cry for genuine needs which makes it so difficult cause you HAVE to act.

So AIBU? Babies are worse to take out and about.

But when a baby isn't being cranky it may sit happily in a pushchair for an hour or two while you do things. A toddler wants to walk and will be vocal about getting bored!

Baby definitely easier. How old is yours?

Sorry to say I find that the baby stage is easier than toddler. I have a 2 month old and a nearly 5 year old and I can't believe how much easier the baby is now I've been through all the toddler years. When they are walking they quite often refuse to go in pram, the tantrums can't really be ignored - you have to deal with it somehow even if it is carrying them out. I find a baby crying much less annoying than a toddler crying. Im really dreading the age 1 - 3. And my first wasn't even particularly bad for terrible 2's. It gets easier around 3-4 but then you get the back chat

There’s no good/best age. Well maybe 18 years I suppose but that still comes with it’s problems

Basically whenever you plan to go out if you have a baby they will cry/poo as you step out of the door/be hungry 5 mins after last feed
If you have a toddler they will decide the buggy seat is lava they don’t want to sit in and if you’re stupid enough to get them out getting them back in when they’ve decided they are a plank of wood then requires immense skill to somehow wedge them in and get the straps done up whilst they scream and you simultaneously snark quietly with gritted teeth ‘just sit still and be quiet’ and have an insane grin on so everyone around you thinks you’re coping well.

Get them hooked on some kind of non messy snack as soon as possible to use in situations where bribery is needed. Whatever it is call it ‘sweets’ And save for these occasions. We used to call cucumber sweets for ds1🤣 he thought he was getting something great

*snarl

Although snark sounds interesting

Enjoy it now, OP. It definitely gets harder!!!

lol, babies are the easy part (sorry OP).

Well we'll see how easy it is to ignore your hysterical tantrumming 2 yo whikat you sit in the cafe eating your cake, unless you're going to be one of those parents who think it's fine for everyone else to endure your child too.

As a baby DS would nap as soon as in tbe pushchair so I'd go into town and usually get a coffee before he woke. Today I walked int oa cafe, DS screamed because his tail fell off and I told him if he kept screaming we would have to leave becasue the people didn't want to listen to it. I'm sure they'd have all appreciated me just ignoring beyond meeting his basic survival needs!!

However I don't think either is easier or harder. Both come with their own joys and their own difficulties. That's parenthood for you. Try not to make it into a competition

My son was super fussy as a baby reflux etc so I found it hard to do anything. I'm finally really enjoying him at 14 months but I guess he is only just a toddler ..

Yeah...
Babies require baggage and can be fussy.
However they are easily restrained, often sleep so you can drink/pee.
They don’t run off, they don’t argue, they don’t insist on doing everything themselves.

I miss the baby days sorely. I adore my toddler but he’s hard work.

And as for ignoring a tantrumming toddler.
Oh jeez, this as a concept is largely hilarious.
On rare occasion maybe, other times it’s like poking a bear with a sharp stick.

Yep, YABU Though you generally only find that out when you get to the second.. I found it SO TOUGH with baby one.. the days I only had baby two to deal with (whilst baby one was at nursery) actually felt a bit like a holiday.

Many babies are happy to be in a peak watching the world go by, maybe sleeping.. A toddler wants to be doing stuff, which requires much more energy Though I concur that (especially when they get over two) it's easier in terms of not having to lug so much stuff out with you.. It's easier to leave the house admittedly.

Babies are the easy part! They just go in the pram. The hard bit is lugging all their stuff around, nappies, changes of clothes etc. And putting the pram up and down. Otherwise they're so easy! DS as a baby would happily sit in his pushchair or high chair in cafes just people watching or being entertained, until he became mobile and then all bets were off.

Toddlers won't hold hands in shops, try and climb out of trolleys, grab things off shelves, scream and make a scene when they don't get their own way. Even my lazy, chilled DS who was happy to be pushed everywhere in a buggy would turn into the exorcist and want to come out as soon as we were in a shop or cafe etc.

As they get older they're marginally easier to take out, eg DS 3.6 will (most of the time) reliably hold hands, but as PP have said you get the back chat and it's almost as if they know how to make a scene/embarrass you in public at that age. But they're hands down more challenging to parent as they get older, sadly. I've got a 3.6 year old and a 5 month old and I'm enjoying my 5 month old while he's easy!

Though apart from when they're at the age where everything is a battle and it takes about two hours to get them dressed...

Silversun83 I feel exactly the same! DS1 is in nursery all day today so it's just DS2 and I, these days are so easy! Hence all this time to browse mumsnet

YABU as you can’t compare something in which you have never experienced. I would have said the same when mine was a baby but now I can see toddlers are so much harder. You also can’t really ignore tantrums as it disturbs everybody else so you have to leave.

Oops I accidentally posted this twice :/

I felt exactly like you but YABU toddlers are so much tougher. I used to love going for brunch with my baby - now it would be hellish