Does your child's personality as a baby reflect their personality now?

[Tucancrossing]

I'm a first time parent to a baby whose little baby personality is starting to shine through! At the moment he seems happy with a good sense of humour, cheeky, very loud and outgoing, quite impatient, a bit stubborn and knows his own mind. He wants what he wants and he gets easily frustrated if he can't have it immediately (won't persevere for very long before getting very angry e.g. when reaching for a toy). So interested to know if this is likely to be a reflection of his personality for the rest of his life 😊

So just for fun, how do your childrens' personalities now relate to their temperaments as babies?

Oooh yes, good topic. I was wondering this the other day.

From the early days, DD2 never did anything by halves. She's nearly 8yo now, and is still very full on. Exhausting, but in a good way.

DD1 was a quiet baby. She's a quiet 9yo. Still good at mastering practical skills

To some degree it has been with my two. Eldest boy was always very smiley, happy, sociable, would be held by anyone. He's now 13 and is still generally smiley, sociable, outgoing and gets on with everyone.

My youngest was quite clingy, very particular about who he went to, not as smiley, less confident in going off by himself. He's now 9 and is still less smiley, still particular about who he likes. It takes him a long time to form relationships with people. He can be outgoing but only with people he knows. He's confidence is growing but it's been a slow process. He tends to bottle up his feelings and the have angry outbursts because he can get quite anxious.

Both lovely in their own way but very different. Be interesting to see what their sisters like when she arrives x

yes, and no!

dc 1. kicked like mad in the womb, very active toddler and child. Very routine based (you could use him as an alarm clock for feeds). Very smily and happy baby/toddler. As a toddler he was as stubborn as they come. If he wanted x, he woudl go to any lengths to get x. Needed his own space at times to re charge.
Most of that stayed really, all through childhood. He is very black and white and knows what he wants. He is funny and fun to be with, and gets hangry still. Now 18, still active, made a home made gym in the garden through lockdown. Still funny and still very very strong minded, still needs his own space.

dc 2. Hardly moved at all in the womb. Sedentary baby, quiet reflective, watched the world go by, gentle smily, loves company, not interested in any routine. None of that has ever changed. As a small child though, she also showed a really strong streak of knowing herself and not being afraid to be different. Now 15, all still true. Very strong person, but quiet, stays on sidelines of a group, but somehow is the linchpin of that group too. Still loves company, pre-covid she was at an activity every single night.

dc 3 centre of attention from day 1. Did everything to get that attention. That has stayed! But that may be from being the youngest of 3! Very cuddly baby, and thatis still true.

On the whole, if babies are stubborn and get frustrated, it means they're switched on and keen to engage with learning about life.

DS1: on the go ALL the time. Running up and down the house at 9 months. Never stopped. Very bright, reading at 3, used sophisticated vocabulary. Didn't really interact with others in the same way. Diagnosed with Asperger's/Autism Level 1 at 7 (now 8) and I'm also looking at an ADHD diagnosis. But the loveliest kid, loves laughing, great company.

DS2: chilled out, always smiling and laughing, could entertain himself from a young age, slow to speak. Now 4 and in reception, loves his friends, happy at school, loves learning, reads well, has a brilliant relationship with DS1.

Your gut feeling about how they're going to be is usually right. I'm yet to hit teenagerdom so I'm sure that will bring major challenges esp for DS1, but I aim to keep communication going as best as possible!

With my oldest, yes, she’s the exact same now at 16, as she was as a toddler, determined, stubborn, funny, smart and confident.

My youngest, not at all, her nickname as a toddler was fun time Frankie, she was such a happy little girl, always smiling, singing, dancing, but as a 13 year old, she’s very quiet, lacks confidence, and is quite antisocial, she prefers her own company, and wouldn’t dream of singing or dancing in front of anyone. Nothing traumatic has happened to change her, and it was a gradual change starting when she was 10.

Oooh I hope so! Ds is 15 months and is so far the world's happiest easiest baby! I really hope his sunny, easy-going personality is a sign of things to come 🤞🏼

One of mine was very outgoing as a baby and could be happily left with anyone until about 16 months when she became more clingy. She’s now 8 and quite shy and nervous. So she changed a lot.

Mine are still quite little, but I can definitely see how their personalities have stayed the same, even if their behaviour hasn't, if that makes sense?

Dc1, (dd), was not a good sleeper as a baby and liked to be cuddled all the time. She is now 6 and still prefers company and is extremely tactile. She was a serious looking baby, but now loves a joke more than anything and I struggle to get her to take anything seriously!

Dc2 (ds), was such a relaxed baby. He slept all the time, unless he was feeding and loved a good long nap. Even when he wasn't asleep, he almost never cried! He is still very chilled and lower energy than dd, but he does scream if he feels wronged in any way. He is almost 3 now, so he sometimes tantrums etc, but they are not as spectacular as dd's were, which were just awful.

So, so far, I think yes, they have kept their same personalities by and large.

No complete opposite was a dream baby never cried, always happy, well behaved until she was 2 then became complete opposite

Yes my son was the easiest baby and toddler ever, always occupied himself, almost never cried, slept like a dream and now he is a pretty easy teen and takes himself to bed at 9pm every night. He is good natured and good humoured. My daughter was hard work as a baby, never slept, cried but was always an extrovert, loved her friends, also good humoured and she is still like that now but would never go to bed if given the chance!
So for me yes

Dd was quiet and very observant and still is.
Dd2 grumpy and cross are the words that describe her and don't really anymore, although she is very stubborn and we work round her a bit too much
Ds1 was a sunny baby and can still be quite sunny but now added in are very bad moods!

Where I’ve noticed it is in the ability to play alone. DS1 never ever could...and it was a shock to find that I could sit and drink coffee for half an hour with DS2 playing happily in the baby gym. Still that way now at 8 and 4.

DS1 was a very high needs baby. Screamed at me for 6 months solid, awful sleeper etc. I think he was, at least in part, very frustrated that he couldn’t do anything. He was keen to roll and crawl early, no interest in sitting, he wanted to move. Much happier once he could move, but always threw spectacular tantrums. Still can at 3yrs! He’s stubborn and knows what he wants and will do his best to get it. He can be kind and sweet and considerate too, but I would say he has a strong personality and always has.

DS2 is only 11 weeks old but also on a rolling mission 🙄 however, aside from off days, he’s generally far more laid back than DS1. No idea how he’ll grow up, be interested to see. I hope he stays laidback as I don’t want two stubborn kids 😆

Mine are completely the opposite really. Twin 1 was a bit of a handful but is the most chilled out young adult , twin 2 was a more easy going baby but is now a total stresshead who lurches from one crisis to the next (mostly of own doing)

Ooh this is interesting. I was thinking of posting something the other day.

I have a nearly 6 month old. She's a cheery little sausage who wakes up smiling and I like to think she will always be so. Maybe wishful thinking!

Yes. DD was an anxious velcro baby, suspicious of anyone but me strangers, took a long time to get used to new situations, and didn't like noisy places. She was also very physical: crawled and walked early, always moving and very physically adventurous.

Now at 8yo she has a quiet confidence and is willing to give things a go, but will observe and think about it first. She has a tendency to anxiety and over-thinking, and still hates noisy, busy places. Very family and home focused, and emotionally intelligent. She is still very active, physically capable, and has the same insatiable need to climb anything she sees!

My DD is 30. As a baby and small child she was :
Funny
Inquisitive
Driven
Friendly

She is all those things today.

My DS is 27. As a baby and small child he was:
Funny
Quiet
Liked his own company
An old soul

He is all those things today.

Both of them are (in my eyes) wonderful people.

However, that doesn't mean I didn't want to stab them with a blunt spoon when they were teenagers 😂😂

So to sum up, your baby’s personality might stay the same... or it might not!

DS is nearly 13 and he's just as chilled out, happy and easy going as he was as a baby. He's been a breeze for the most part for his whole childhood. Not hit full teens yet though!

DS1 was very very active - always on the move. He's now 15 and has hit full on teenage sloth phase!

DD was such a calm easy baby, she's still a sweetheart at age 13 although more emotional these days.

DS2 was a very wilful and determined toddler, he's now more easygoing. Still super cuddly though.

Oh God I hope not. I have two under three, both high needs screamers.

Completely.
DS1 was a dream first baby: happy as anything, a good eater, hit his milestones early. He is now 15 eats mountains but is super athletic, predicted 8/9s in GCSEs and the life and soul.
Ds2 was born with clenched fists and a frown but was the cuddliest child. He’s nearly 14 and always angry about something but seriously gives the best most genuine cuddles throughout the day.
Dd was a born performer, making people giggle with her funny dances etc. She was also extremely picky and opinionated.
Now age 11 she is exactly the same. Had us in stitches laughing but my word that child has opinions about everything!

So far, yes.

DD now 4 was a very determined, thoughtful, independent, and wickedly hilarious baby. And she is the same at 4.

Yes! Grumpy then and still grumpy 14 years later