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Original poster

To so what’s your least favourite age to parent?

213 replies

SheABitSpicyToday · 26/07/2021 15:44

My sister hates the newborn and toddler phase.

I loved it and now have a nearly 7 year old and am ashamed to admit I hate it. Have another own due in a few months and am worried about giving both enough time as the 7 year old seems to need me so much more than I anticipated.

Anyone else feel the same way? My dad said I was horrid from 6 till about 21 so that’s a long time Grin

OP posts:
zukiecat · 26/07/2021 16:33

My children are adults of 30 and 28 now, and I haven't had a least favourite age.

I've never felt one age was better or worse than any other, loved every stage!

FunMcCool · 26/07/2021 16:33

Love the newborn stage, hate the toddler years.

Minesril · 26/07/2021 16:34

I love toddlers. They're just adorable chubby little bundles of chaos! It's also when they start to show their personality which is lovely. However, my 16 month old is at nursery every day which may colour my opinion on the little critter as I get a break!

Potty training isn't fun, especially when they announce they need the loo in the middle of nowhere. The 7 year old still does this even though he's pretty good company otherwise.

FilthyforFirth · 26/07/2021 16:34

I dont mind newborn when they mainly sleep and eat but babies from when they start teething until around 18 months/2 I hate. DS2 is 8 months old and I honestly am really struggling.

I would take tantrums over teething, midnight feeds, frustration over not crawling/walking etc etc!

Hooplawho · 26/07/2021 16:35

I agree OP - Age 6-7.5 were hard work! I think we had more tantrums then than in the toddler years! All fine again now at 8, I think lockdown didn’t help (obviously) but also looking at how we could give her more independence/control over things (if that makes sense) really helped. Those were tough years though, am pretty sure the teenage years are going to be just as testing ShockConfused

Grainjar · 26/07/2021 16:38

2 to 3. Teen years are much nicer.

Willowtree999 · 26/07/2021 16:39

Newborn was the hardest but found it easier and more fun the older they got. Teens now and love it, they are becoming amazing, interesting, independent people.

thetaleunfolds · 26/07/2021 16:39

I’ve only got to age 3 so far but I think age 2 was the hardest and most unlikable age for me. DS was strong willed but unable to explain himself so it was just tough. Constant bedtime battles, potty training...

3 seems hard (sooo many more tantrums than at 2) but he’s also able to communicate and do some things for himself. I can leave him unsupervised for short periods of time while I answer work emails or clean or something, and he has a better attention span

The newborn days were a breeze in comparison! I’m currently expecting again and wondering how this is all going to play out

I do worry about older stages though. My cousins son is 15 and the stories I hear from her about the teenage years make me dread my DS growing up

BackforGood · 26/07/2021 16:39

Newborn.

Well, anything under 1 tbh.
Anything where I am sleep deprived. Grin

Teen years are lovely.

ViewFromHalfway · 26/07/2021 16:40

Baby stage.

No sleep, constant screaming, feeling tied to the sofa 24/7, just never having a single moment to myself.

I have genuinely never understood women feeling 'broody' over babies. They're noisy, smelly, expensive creatures who all look like angry old men! Grin

Mine are currently seven and nine and every year seems to get better/easier.

I know I was awful from around 8-12 years old and then was a lovely teenager (according to my parents and my own memories) so I if mine follow that, I'm in for a rough next few years!

EssentialHummus · 26/07/2021 16:41

Mine is just rising four but 3.5-6.5 months were awful. It was winter, she wouldn't nap in a cot so I was out pounding the (winter) streets with her in a sling 3x a day, and couldn't come back in before 45 minutes were up because she'd wake. There have been ups and downs since then but it remains the worst for me.

FakeFruitShoot · 26/07/2021 16:41

Specifically 15 through 27 months. That year is tough but mind numbingly dull a lot of the time. By 2 and a half, they're lovely.

carolinesbaby · 26/07/2021 16:42

The first 3 months were torture.
Age 3 1/2 to 5 preschool year was hard work.
Then 11-13 hormones.
Then the whole of Year 9.

Every stage has its positives and negatives.
Even when they're 30 like DSD there are traumas.

AdelindSchade · 26/07/2021 16:45

Newborn definitely. It got easier after that. Teenage independence throughs up its own challenges but at least I am not mad with sleep deprivation. That killed me.

thegreylady · 26/07/2021 16:46

When they are adults ie 25+ and you have no rights , no real responsibilities but you have all the loving and worrying. You just have to stay on the sidelines, do what you are asked and offer what you can. Mine are all 46+ now and I still worry!!
Parenting children was a joy.
Mind you being a grandparent is very special too.

Marriedtothesilverfox · 26/07/2021 16:47

Teen years

SeeYaBeYa · 26/07/2021 16:48

Toddlers. A lot of hard work, not particularly portable, very limiting and truth be told a bit boring. Every other stage including teen, newborn etc just great.

Lotsachocolateplease · 26/07/2021 16:50

Teenage years and the transition into adulthood.

shinynewapple21 · 26/07/2021 16:51

I only have the one but for me it was newborn, I had a very difficult colicky baby who didn't sleep. Also around the age of 2, was OK within the home but I remember a very difficult holiday .

Loved the pre-school phase when they become a little person in their own right, able to chat with you, loved doing the craft activities and early learning, days out.

In fact I don't think there's any age I've found a struggle since very early years . I love my DC as a young adult, enjoyed teen years, watching you-tubers, TV and listening to music I would not have done from my own choice. I didn't suffer too many teen tantrums , poor behaviour, but I'm fairly relaxed as a parent so that may have helped .

Jerseygirl12 · 26/07/2021 16:52

1 to 3 and a half.

ToffeePennie · 26/07/2021 16:53

3-5 year olds. They’re so loud and destructive. And they go like the Duracell bunny.

NeedNewKnees · 26/07/2021 16:53

With the lads, 7-9 with that testosterone surge was hard. In the mid teen years they argued endlessly with their Dad but were lovely to me.

With DD, from about 12. Preteen hormones, then periods - and my peri menopause added to the mix - have meant a very taxing 3 years. She’s 15 now and it’s starting to ease up, but it’s so bloody exhausting. Love her to bits but wish she was a bit less volatile!

WhenSheWasBad · 26/07/2021 16:54

Toddlers, they are arses.

Mine haven’t hit the teenage years though. Genuinely not sure how hard that’s going to be. I’m guessing it’s ok or a complete nightmare.

whistlers · 26/07/2021 16:56

@FakeFruitShoot

Specifically 15 through 27 months. That year is tough but mind numbingly dull a lot of the time. By 2 and a half, they're lovely.
Lovely is pushing it! Haha

I only have one child and he's 3.5 and it's definitely getting so much better.

I couldn't bare from about 15 months to about 2.5!

whistlers · 26/07/2021 16:56

@Reachersloveinterest

The first 3 months were torture. Age 3 1/2 to 5 preschool year was hard work. Then 11-13 hormones. Then the whole of Year 9.

Every stage has its positives and negatives.
Even when they're 30 like DSD there are traumas.

I've seen this mentioned a couple of times now....

What's wrong with 3.5 to 5 years? Mine is just turning 3.5 so I'm getting nervous!

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