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)

My second is much easier totally different nature to ds1. Ds1 had colic lactose intolerance and I think reflux it went on so long before we got it sorted I think he got used to not sleeping and crying ds2 started to display the same symptoms this time I took no shit and had it under control within a couple of weeks. Ds1 turned into a lovely chilled out child when he got to 1 so Im pretty sure it was the health problems mixed with the stress it caused me having the experience of parenting gave me confidence to trust my instincts this time. Ds2 still wakes in the night co sleeps part of the night, likes to be carried around and freaks when I'm not with him so he's hardly an angel baby but I know it will pass so it's easier to just go with it instead of constantly trying to 'fix' things.

anditstarts so true about going with the flow and trying not to "fix" it all, going through an it will pass stage at the moment with dd2

WE had a similar age gap.. ds was just over 2.5 months when dd arrived.

Ds was unsettled between 7-9 on an evening when he was a newborn and screamed for hours-dd was fine

Neither would be put down to sleep when they were tiny

Ds slept through from 13 weeks, dd from 10.. though soon afterwards she started wakingbfor her dunnyband now still does-once ds was done we never heard from him (and still don't!)

Ds was definitely the better, more consistent sleeper and weaned better. Dd is by far a lot more content in general and smilier.

My first was a pretty easy baby. DC2 is only 4 weeks old, but so far is - if anything - even easier. I was a bit nervous, because I didn't think I'd get lucky twice. I'm sure they'll be nightmare teenagers to make up for it!

Second baby was easier than first. Third was the hardest by miles!

About the same (one boy one girl). The differences were more about my experience and time. I knew what I was doing far more with my second(I'd not even held a baby before my first!) but I didn't have as much time to make sure the second napped properly which led to some over-tired screaming and difficulty settling until we got into a better routine.

Neither were really hard babies, but I would say my first was a harder baby but easier toddler and my second was an easier more relaxed baby but a harder much more persistent and wearing you down gradually kind of toddler/preschooler. He's five now and civilised most of the time. Indeed his persistence is now an advantage - he is a whizz at getting dressed and doing his teeth by himself of a morning.

I am wondering which of them is going to be the nightmare teen ....

Both mine has been easy babies. 2nd is less clingy and a bit less of a boob monster, think he'll wean earlier than his brother.
2nd did sleep a lot more as newborn, about 20-22hrs a day.

My first was easier.
My second is proving more difficult, but it's all down to allergies and illnesses

2nd was a nightmare. Screamed non stop. Didn't sleep ever.

3rd is my easiest so far

To clarify he slept through feeding and nappy changes. He still dream feeds at 9 months. Luckily no nappy changes at night anymore.

What was a shock was DS1 pooped once a week, Sunday like clockwork. DS2 however went multiple times a day at night.

Dc1, a few small issues but happy enough baby and pretty content most of the time.

Dc2, even easier, but that's more to do with easier breastfeeding.

So both pretty easy (disclaimer: they're 15 & 11 now, I may have blocked the trauma from my mind by now!)

Same as randomdent, if my second had been my first, he'd have been an only child.

2nd is easier all apart from sleep!!