What age is the hardest

[stressingmum]

Really struggling with my 21 month DS he isn't talking yet lots of babbling but everything is just a battle.

So I'm wondering what age I should expect it too get a bit easier?

He doesn't appear to understand any instructions but I'm actually thinking it's more a case of he doesn't want to understand - very stubborn.

When they don’t sleep!

21 months is fairly old to have no words. At the two year check the HV will be asking if he doing the minimum of starting to put words together. This coupled with his lack of understanding makes me think you need to ask for a hearing test and a referral to SaLT.

Just before they talk can be particularly hard as they can get very frustrated.

If he's not really understanding what you say though, I'd ask your GP/HV for a referral fir a hearing test as low hearing can affect speech abs understanding. I'd also ask for a referral to Speech & Language Therapy.

It's probably worth doing the MChat test before you speak to them.

21! He’s usually lovely but is driving me up the wall a bit at the moment.
The answer, I think, is it really depends on the child.

Absolutely teenagers. The eye rolling, the worry of them being out and about, the harder homework, the cost of their clothes and activities. 😭

Mine are actually great but it's definitely the hardest part so far.

0 to 4 in my case. After that it just got easier and better. Teenage years were lovely here.
They say they're all different but my two were the same, 2 years apart.

@massistar

12 going on 30 seems particularly challenging at the moment!

^hell yes!!

I found 18 months-3 years with my son the hardest. He was very lively. 😬 He didn’t sleep well, was always getting into stuff he shouldn’t, used to run off etc. He was fairly easy after that stage. My daughter was always an easy child. Both teenagers now and life is a breeze.

Newborn on number 3. That was the hardest.

17 -19. I'm not being flippant. I mean it.

17 - 19 years older that is!

@discombobulatedonion

The newborn stage was hard (for me) but my son is 3 now and the tantrums and constant “what?” And “why?” Questions are driving me up the fucking wall. I’m struggling.

My DD has been going through the "Why" and "What" stage for about 8 months.

Apparently you are suppose to respond by being up beat and asking them "Why do they think x?" or "What do they think x is?" every single time as they are trying to work out the world around them.

(If you can't be up beat you are best going "Mmmm..." rather than crossly asking "Why do you think?" )

I didn't think it worked but my DD now starts answering her more simple "Why" and "What" questions herself.

Young adult. When things like break-ups of proper, long term relationships happen and you have to pick up the pieces.

The toddler years were physically exhausting. I had a very active one prone to bolting.

The teen years are proving mentally exhausting.

15... ...and so it goes on...

13/14 onwards - absolutely horrific for so many reasons!

0-3 weren't my favouriteftom 7 you can do more stuff that you enjoy
Best years are 11 right through teens. Surecrhere was a couple of minor issues ( answering back, boundary pushing) but that's easier to deal with than no sleep.

It is possible to outsource (even for a few hours) when they are little. Not possible for teenagers - you have to be able to put in the hours of listening support and shoulder so much worry/angst. It is way more exhausting and draining than I could ever have imagined.

I'd agree about getting a hearing test and learning a few signs together.

I think overall newborn to 6 months, and 2.5 was a bit of a roller coaster. Once he was 14 it got so much easier, he's been great since.

2 to 3. Teenage years are a doddle in comparison to a non sleeping dynamo.

I thought the six years of having a non sleeper but actually ,the teenage years with a now sleeper have been much more difficult.

100% newborn to around 10 months/whenever they are on the move. Then you get freedom to do jobs while they entertain themselves emptying cupboards etc, plus they’re usually self settling so you get a solid routine and guaranteed evening.

DD2 is 7 weeks and I am counting down the days until the nap routine solidifies and I can teach her to self settle!

No idea, but I know they are fucking brillainat when little despite the challenges and they're only little for a little while. Mine are 18 months and 3.5 and the way I see it things will probs not get easier, just different...different challenges. A lot is probably down to personality too. Some kids will be easy, others not. Ive come to accept that from here on in there's very little me time and lots of tending to others needs.

Not saying it's not hard work. It is.

Teenagers as in comparison the toddler stage was a doddle even though it felt tough at the time.

How is 4-11 easy? I found 7 much harder than 0-4