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Original poster

What's the hardest stage between 0-5 years old?

79 replies

TVsh · 05/01/2023 21:04

I'm just looking at my 8 month old, pulling himself up on everything, putting everything in his mouth. He's crawling so much now and I need to be on him constantly.

It's made me remember this stage with my 3 year old. She's still hard work, but she's getting a bit more reasonable. She's able to play on her own a bit. But it took ages for her to get to this stage and a bit less intense. I am remembering the stage when she started walking, she was just all over the place, never staying still. I would just spend hours on the floor with her. I couldn't let her out of my sight, even for a moment...

Anyway, I'm just thinking about what I've been through so far with my kids and I would say that the baby stage is hard, for sure... but especially my oldest, was quite a chilled baby and before she became mobile, it wasn't so so hard. So I would say that for me the baby stage was kind of OK. Age 8 months until 2 and a half is really very difficult.. 3 seems a bit easier.

What's to come ? Does it get easier after 3 again ? Or harder ? What were your hardest times, up to 5 years of age ? Just curious if you also found the baby stage a bit easier ? Or was that the hardest stage ?

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 05/01/2023 21:05

I found newborn the hardestI think. DS is now 3.5 and I am finding this not quite hard now. He's never been a particularly tantrum-y child but he's definitely getting a lot more attitude and just laughs in my face when I tell him to do something.

HaggisWurst · 05/01/2023 21:07

I think it'll be completely dependent on the child. My son is only 2 and a half so I can't comment for your whole time frame but our worse stage was 0-4 months. It was absolute hell on earth with daily screaming 5-7 hours nonstop. Cmpa is horrendous. He got easier from 4 months when I gave up dairy and from 9 months, it got MUCH easier. he's been a great toddler too, he's funny and calm, doesn't tantrum. His grumps last a few minutes then he gets over it and moves on to something else.

Original poster
TVsh · 05/01/2023 21:08

mynameiscalypso · 05/01/2023 21:05

I found newborn the hardestI think. DS is now 3.5 and I am finding this not quite hard now. He's never been a particularly tantrum-y child but he's definitely getting a lot more attitude and just laughs in my face when I tell him to do something.

That's what a lot of people say, that the newborn stage is the hardest..

My 3 year old was / is the queen of tantrums.. big, big tantrums. It's getting a little easier recently, thankfully. But from 15 months or so, it was intense !

OP posts:
Palmfrond · 05/01/2023 21:08

The little fuckers never stop being a pain in the arse till they leave home. So just enjoy it while it lasts!

Original poster
TVsh · 05/01/2023 21:09

My Boy also has CMPA, so a lot more crying than my girl..

OP posts:
Stupidbonfire · 05/01/2023 21:09

Undoubtedly age 12months ish to about 3 years

Basically once they can move around independently you have to micro supervise every waking moment until they can manage not to try and kill themselves with every move they make. It’s utterly exhausting and you can’t even ‘think’ on your own. Their attention span is about 3 nano seconds.

once they are about 3 it’s significantly easier, and I can’t think of anyone better to hangout with than my 4 year old. So it’s worth it. But tough

Original poster
TVsh · 05/01/2023 21:09

Palmfrond · 05/01/2023 21:08

The little fuckers never stop being a pain in the arse till they leave home. So just enjoy it while it lasts!

Well said Smile

OP posts:
Delatron · 05/01/2023 21:09

I found around 16-18 months the hardest. They are on the move, no reasoning with them, crazy tantrums. Want to do things over and over again - like walk up and down stairs for hours. They hate certain foods, they can’t speak very well…

At least babies stay put (before crawling).

From 3 it got a lot easy.

4/5 is nice.

Original poster
TVsh · 05/01/2023 21:10

Delatron · 05/01/2023 21:09

I found around 16-18 months the hardest. They are on the move, no reasoning with them, crazy tantrums. Want to do things over and over again - like walk up and down stairs for hours. They hate certain foods, they can’t speak very well…

At least babies stay put (before crawling).

From 3 it got a lot easy.

4/5 is nice.

The walking up and down the stairs thing is a great description

OP posts:
Cuddlesinthekitchen · 05/01/2023 21:10

My DS has just turned 1 so of course I don’t have wealth of experience but my god, he is so much harder now than the newborn stage.

He is crawling and cruising but not yet walking so gets easily frustrated with that. He touches everything he can reach and feel like I’m constantly saying ‘leave that alone’ ‘don’t touch that’ - of course he smiles at
me and does it anyway!

I’m finding this an awkward stage in terms of things to occupy him/days out/activities as he’s not really happy being restricted in his pram, but obviously doesn’t have the freedom to walk either!

NuffSaidSam · 05/01/2023 21:13

I'm a nanny so lots of experience with different kids in this age group. I think it really depends on the child tbh. They like to keep you on your toes!

My favourite age is 18 months to 3 though.

Least favourite 0-6 months.

BuffaloCauliflower · 05/01/2023 21:13

I think it depends on the child and their temperament at different ages, they all vary so much. I have a 2yo and I’m enjoying him a lot at this age, he’s not a tantrumer (at the moment!) and his language is great which makes things easier. I didn’t find the newborn stage particularly hard, 6-10 months was hardest for me. He crawled at 6 months and was into everything, but also couldn’t do much yet and lots of separation anxiety. When he walked at 11 months and we could do more it got better. Others have chilled babies and more demanding toddlers for example, so will have a different experience.

Cuddlesinthekitchen · 05/01/2023 21:13

And as a pp said, has an attention span of about 3 nano seconds 😂

ShillyShallySherbet · 05/01/2023 21:14

I found between the ages of 1 and 2 the hardest. With DD1 I found that stage hard because I was pregnant with DD2, with DD2 I found it hard because I also had a 3 year old! Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if you just had one child of that age but in my experience one-year- olds are tiring, you need to be watching them like a hawk all the time and they can’t communicate with you very well yet. Both of mine were also terrible sleepers/nappers so it was exhausting.

Beseen22 · 05/01/2023 21:15

Baby stage is a bit of a slog for me. They become so much more interesting when they can move and my youngest who was speech delayed is just starting to chat now and it's literally my favourite stage ever. He's had all these little opinions that he hasn't been able to vocalise and I love it. Once they were out the baby stage and bedtimes fairly consistent its been pretty plain sailing.

Tiredforfive45 · 05/01/2023 21:15

The stage while they’re awake.

SchrodingersKettle · 05/01/2023 21:17

First year is hard. Age 3.5 to 5 is utterly lovely! My ds is 4 and I am now remembering my dd at the same age: they make me laugh every day and the cuddles are the best. Even when they are angry it is cute.

im glad we are past tantrums - age 2 was less fun!

idonotmind · 05/01/2023 21:19

Depends on the kid.

DS was tough around 2 - 2.5 as he literally never sat still and had no fear of anything. But slept through form 3 months and never whinged about anything.

DD was tough around 14 months as she was still not sleeping through. She also moaned a lot still does

MonkeyPuddle · 05/01/2023 21:20

2-3.
It’s where I am now with DD and I didn’t enjoy it with DS when he was the same age either.
Hes 5 now and an actual dream. Not without his issues (back chat, a billion questions a day) but he goes to bed, he’s interesting, he doesn’t bite, I can reason with him.
Fuck me, I don’t like being a toddler mum much.

Anon778833 · 05/01/2023 21:21

I think newborn is easy. 2-3 is the hardest!

morekidsthanhands · 05/01/2023 21:21

I found the newborn stage ridiculously hard. Everything after that I loved.
When my first born had just turned one I ended up becoming a guardian for my niece and nephew aged 1 & 3. I found having three toddlers 100 times easier than having just one newborn.
I haven't had another haha.

MaryShelley1818 · 05/01/2023 21:25

I hate the baby stage...not being able to put them down, the constant screaming, reflux, just awful.

DS at 5 is amazing, my absolute little best friend, DD age 2 is starting to become brilliant too, she's absolutely hilarious.

I prefer it when they can talk, you can enjoy things together etc

SmileWithADimple · 05/01/2023 21:27

I found 18 months to 2 years hardest. Into everything, still can't really understand or be reasoned with. It gets easier from age 3 IME and much easier from age 5.

Iwonder08 · 05/01/2023 21:38

Baby stage was amazing. 2-2.5 was rough, no tantrums but lots of attitude and independence

maybein2022 · 05/01/2023 21:43

Totally depends on the child and circumstances.
I have 3. First child hardest stage was definitely newborn to 6 months. Never slept, nightmare to feed, screamed constantly. She wasn’t easy after that to be honest, but easier. Second, again newborn stage was very hard, partly because he didn’t sleep again and partly because I had a demanding 3 year old. Baby number 3 is 3 months old and I have absolutely loved the newborn bit, amazing sleeper, good feeder, smiley and engaging. And no toddlers to deal with, but two much older kids.

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