Was your second baby easier than your first or the other way round?!

[Heatherbell1978]

Reasonably lighthearted thread- I'm due DD any day now and have a 2.5 year old DS. DS was a pretty straightforward baby. Nothing out of the ordinary; fed well, napped well and slept through the night from around 7 months. Wouldn't say he was especially difficult or especially easy for that matter.
Friends who have had second children (either sex) have generally had an easier time. Whether that's their attitudes or babies, not sure.
I'm expecting a girl this time around and just wondering what your experiences were (because I'm bored and haven't got much else to do)

I'm having my second next week. I sincerely hope he is easier than DD because she nearly killed me off. I do know my younger sister was a much harder baby than me, but in hindsight she was probably lactose intolerant and a change of formula might have made her a much happier baby.

DC1 had reflux and colic and it was terribly hard work. Screaming for 8 hours a day. Waking every couple of hours.

DC2 has been a dream. Haven't done anything different.

However most my friends who had easy first babies had a shock with the second!

My second was an angel. I wouldn't have believed such babies existed if I hadn't had one myself.

My first was pretty average really in terms of colic / sleeping etc

1st baby screamed all day but slept all night from 7 weeks She fed every 90 mins during the day and each feed took about 5 mins. Feeding never hurt. I put it down to my excellent parenting.

2nd baby was quite nice all day but a crazy thing by night. Feeds took at least an hour each time and she would scream for the next about half an hour later. She didn't sleep for more than 3 hours until she was 8 months old. BF was agony and we both developed thrush. Plus I had a 3 year old to look after which made life harder. DC2 made clear it's about your baby's character and mouth size far more than any parenting skills!

My second was twins ! But surprisingly I've found it a lot easier this time round - I have a bigger age gap with the first though so that has helped too.

My first wasn't the easiest of babies, but my second was very easy going.

Mine were exactly the same as DesignedForLife

I can't say because some things are easier with the first and some with the second. First was the slowest feeder ever and clusterfed for hours every evening, but slept better (woke only once or twice). Second takes five minutes for a feed, literally, but is awake demanding a feed every two hours during the night.

First baby colic and grumpy until 6 months. Then happy and slept like a log. Second baby tongue tie and happy in the day. Will not sleep for long at night.

The other way around. I thought DS1 was a high needs baby- very poor sleeper - but I didn't know the half of it until I had DS2.

If my second had been first, he'd have been an only. :o

My second is easier, maybe because I'm more relaxed about stuff, my first was not hard but I stressed myself out trying to breast feed and do everything "right".

My two also exactly like Designed for life. Colicky reflux 1st baby who never ever napped. Cried for first 6 months. Tipped me into pnd. Second baby napped easily, easy going, liked car and buggy.

My first was easy which made me decide on dc2 ... if dc2 had come first I'd have been put off!

But now they are 6 and 5 dc2 is the easiest.

Not my own experience but my mum says that my younger sister was horrendous and wouldnt sleep and wouldnt settle for anyone but her, a massive shock after me, as i was apparently very laid back and slept through after just a few weeks

Better at sleeping, much more challenging behaviourally, still is at nearly 4.

My first was very difficult. Never napped, slept terribly and hated being put down. Cried a lot. Possibly because she had cmpa, which we only found out on weaning.

2nd baby only very new but totally different! Sleeping lots, doesn't mind being put down and generally very settled. So far anayway!

DS2 was an easier baby than DS1, and is, so far, an easier child than DS1.

DS3 is also so far an easier baby than DS1. About equal to DS2 in terms of easiness.

1st was and still is mostly a dream.
2nd was a LOT harder work, although he is improving as he ages

1St was an easy baby. Slept ok, fpund hiimself a good routine.
2Nd was less easy. Didnt have a routine, wouldnt accept one, was into everything and just generally dmanded more attention. Wouldnt wean on purees, wouldnt take a bottle, would sleep for anything between half an hour and 3 but I never knew how long it would be for.

1st was easier. 2nd was (and still is) much more demanding. Just their personalities.
All the people I know with a difficult first baby left it a while before having another one.

1st was an angel baby - slept 12 hours a night from 9 weeks! Easy going, calm, barely any tantrums.

2nd is much more highly strung. Did sleep through until 15+ months and is still easily disturbed and an early riser. Tantrums galore and very emotional.

Both reflux children.

So thankfully no nightmare children but second was definitely a shock!

Now to see what baby 3 brings to the mix!

First highly strung, reflux, feeding problems first couple of months. Hated going to sleep and just fought everything (diagnosed with ASD aged 8). Second was unputdownable but in a wrap sling was happy as could be.

Was easier with fruit loop nearly 3 year old and new born than just the first as a baby. Both girls.

1sy was easy, 2nd a lot harder so far. Fussy and whiny. Sleeps through the night though.

First was terrible sleeper and I found her extremely hard work still do at 4 2nd slept 12 hours from 9 weeks and is very chilled, part personality part more relaxed parenting, I was very pfb with first which I think didn't help.