Anyone else finding three year olds harder than two year olds?

[Pantheon]

I think we got away quite lightly with the twos. The threes have hit full force though and I was just not expecting it. I think some of it is tiredness as dd doesn't nap anymore. But also she can be very emotional and take a while to calm down. I imagine it's normal but solidarity anyone?!

We call our 3 year old the threenager; she didn’t have too much of the terrible 2s and when she was upset it was due to hunger or tiredness whereas at 3 she’s much more emotional and stubborn! We get a lot more conversation and I can negotiate more but it’s constant. I think it’s made harder by no naps so it’s all day.

Yep. 3 is awful. My youngest is 3. He turned into a demon overnight. My 4 year old is pretty nice though so I'm holding on to that

Absolutely, both times round. Never had much problem with 2s, but 3 was a total nightmare with dc1 (who still acts like it sometimes) and even delightful dc2 can be much more of a handful at 3.

Nooooooooooo my little girl is hard work already abs she's not 2 until next week! She's our 4th child but adopted so has a few issues from withdrawing at birth! My youngest birth daughter is 14 and I appear to have forgotten how demanding little ones are 🤦‍♀️

Terrible twos is a complete myth, designed to make parents feel smug that they got away with it, thereby making the shock of the terrible threes THAT MUCH WORSE.

My dd has been difficult since she was born and I've found the 2s stage fine in comparison so hoping I feel the same with the 3s.

I have a nearly 2yo and the the strops are something to behold. She has perfected an accusatory glare, throws objects in a fury, flings herself to the floor and screams, lashes out - most of the time it’s quite comical (obviously I don’t let her see that) and other times it’s quite upsetting. Usually I just cuddle her and distract her until she stops crying, is there anything else?

Oh yes, 2 was a piece of piss compared to 3. They are the ultimate tiny dictators. I hear 4 is nice...

Thanks all! Reassured it's not just us

We are only a few months into the threes and I cant believe the tantrums and the crying! She was so chilled out when younger!

All of mine wear delightful and two. All became raging three-nagers

Delightful AT two. Ugh.

Oh bloody hell. WERE delightful. I give up.

I found three way harder than two.

I think it's shifted generationally actually - I think we have lower expectations for two year olds and as a result they are easier to manage. But the conflict does happen somewhere, it's just kicked back a year or so.

It is still a phase that does pass :)

Definitely a thing. I remember DD aged three hitting me very forcefully with her plastic handbag about god know what....

Yes. So much drama!

Ha ha definitely!!
Just as many tantrums but
No nap, bigger and harder to pick up and move, more verbal attitude...... it was a fun time. Didn't last long though!

Don’t tell me that! Two is pretty horrendous, tantrums, strops and trying to be control all the time!!

We don’t nap at two anyway!

So many ppl told me they settle down a bit at 3, eh what hmmm NOPE! She never had the terrible twos but is still a handful and more certainly no settling down here 😆 infact she's nearly 4 and I'm not finding a great deal of improvement 🙈

@Italiandreams

Don’t tell me that! Two is pretty horrendous, tantrums, strops and trying to be control all the time!!

I think a lot of the time it's either/or though? Ds was a dream at 2 then grew horns and a forked tail at 3.5, chilled out again at 4 ish and has been pretty easy ever since. So it's not definite don't panic

I was literally about to do a new post about my 3 year old and saw this!!
I worry he's not "normal". He doesn't listen, he runs away sometimes when we're walking. Bed times have turned into a nightmare. It's relentless. I worry he's going to be that kid that everyone hates inviting to parties.

Yes! Twin 3 year olds here and I’m finding it the most challenging age so far. Twos were easy. The not listening or just completely ignoring me when I ask them to do something, saying ‘no’ or I don’t want to about everything, and so so emotional! Thank god they’re cute!

I thought having a threenager was bad, but we are now in the “fucking fours” and that’s a whole new league. Every time she doesn’t get her own way she shouts “well I don’t care, I’m moving out, I’m leaving!” Shoots us the death stare, screams hysterically and generally sounds like she has been tortured....all because we have the audacity to explain we don’t want her slamming doors/jumping on the furniture/she can’t eat chocolate instead of a proper meal...I actually miss having a “terrible-two” year old!!!

I've found 2.5-3.25 most difficult so far, but once we hit 3.5 she seemed to get a lot easier, and now at nearly 4 is actually generally lovely to spend time with. Obviously it's probably going to change again in a few months though.