What is it like having a toddler?

[PlanetTeaTime]

FTM and my baby is 7 months, she's super happy and a pretty relaxed person. The hardest parts have been breastfeeding and sleep. Things have gotten much easier lately though.

Just wondered what I was in for? I don't know much about kids but I keep having people tell me how difficult toddlers are

I actually prefer toddlers to babies as they get their own personality and can communicate a bit. Really loved from 18 months onwards with my son. His speech is good though so I wonder if I may have avoided the terrible twos as he can communicate well?
I also think you generally have a more predictable routine and are on the whole getting some sleep. Toddler and a newborn though was no picnic but I think that’s because you have two little people that still need you for everything. DD is 1 now and DS 2.9 and it feels like things are getting easier!

Some days she’s an absolute delight, she’s in a sunny mood, laughs at the simplest things and makes old ladies in tesco coo because she’s just so adorable.

Some days I cart her out of Tesco’s kicking and screaming for no logical reason. Recent tantrums have included because I couldn’t make it rain inside the post office, because she wanted me to cut her toast into one piece (not cutting it was unacceptable but then when I did cut it, it was two pieces so also not allowed), because when she asked for an apple, I gave her an apple, because there were no dinosaurs at the zoo… I could go on.

Essentially it’s like carrying around a delightful bomb. Most of the time they’re amazing, but occasionally they just explode for no reason, and everyone in the vicinity is colateral damage.

Hope that helps?! 😂😂

Well the short version is every toddlers different, but I'll tell you about my personal experience

They're sweet, funny, and sometimes ridiculous. You get to have real conversations with your baby for the first time, you see a real personality emerge. The difficult part comes when they're tired, ill or just having an off day. Then they're very sensitive. They may ask for a banana and cry when you give them a banana. They might ask for dinner then refuse to eat a bite. Want to go the shop, then have a screaming meltdown in the middle of Morrisons. They're very unreasonable.

But personally I find it the best and most rewarding stage. When they're babies you get the first roll, first smile, first time they sit up. With toddlers you get the first time they tell a joke, the first time they run and jump, and the first time they look at you with bright eyes and say "I love you."

It's a magical little time.

I loved our DS being a toddler, they are so inquisitive and like a sponge, they take in everything.

It can be exhausting to be consistent and following through with what you say, but they are only learning and it payed off for us.

It does depend on the child, but just try and enjoy it, it really does fly by so quickly, I loved it.

I found it hard tbh. Much more complexity and push pull. She wanted me all the time, but then also wanted to be independent. Cute and funny but also a lot. She was a lovely baby though. A dream.

You can’t relax at all! As soon as they’re on the move, you have to watch them all the time.

It’s a lovely age, but I find it so much easier now they’re older.

Oh and it didn't remotely fly by!

I have a 14 month old but she’s been walking since 10 months. I found the newborn stage completely hellish but have loved the last four months. Her personality is coming through, she’s getting words, she’s much happier since she’s been able to move around… yes we’re getting screaming and planking and ‘nooooo’ but honestly it’s been a million times easier than the first six months.

I found 6-12 months really really hard (DD wanted to do stuff like move and communicate but obviously struggled) so once she got to 12 months plus I found life easier as she walked and her speech/communication is pretty good and came on quickly too, one day she was a baby and that next she was a small person, or so it felt!

Now she's two I'd say I'm enjoying her the most at the minute, she's fully mobile and can tell me what she likes, dislikes, needs etc which also means she understands me quite well.

She does have the occasional epic tantrum, she's very shy when we go to things with other children and meal times are really tricky but I know I'm lucky that on the whole she is quite reasonable and good fun 😂

To be fair toddlers are a good laugh. Mine isn't much over one but he is defo a toddler not a baby. He cracks me up- they learn so much so quickly, it's absolutely fascinating to watch! And he finds everything hilarious, which i in turn find hilarious. Obviously I could do without him firing his home made low salt organic pain in the arse chicken curry that I have lovingly prepared after a long day of work all over the floor instead of eating it, but mostly he brings a lot of joy and laughter to the house which is nice :)

@Proudofher

Well the short version is every toddlers different, but I'll tell you about my personal experience

They're sweet, funny, and sometimes ridiculous. You get to have real conversations with your baby for the first time, you see a real personality emerge. The difficult part comes when they're tired, ill or just having an off day. Then they're very sensitive. They may ask for a banana and cry when you give them a banana. They might ask for dinner then refuse to eat a bite. Want to go the shop, then have a screaming meltdown in the middle of Morrisons. They're very unreasonable.

But personally I find it the best and most rewarding stage. When they're babies you get the first roll, first smile, first time they sit up. With toddlers you get the first time they tell a joke, the first time they run and jump, and the first time they look at you with bright eyes and say "I love you."

It's a magical little time.

This sums it up perfectly. DS is 2 and my favourite person in the whole world. He makes me laugh so much. Yeah he's an absolute tyrant sometimes but it's a million times more fun than when he was a newborn.

My DD is 19 months & it's brilliant. She is saying new words all the time, she does everything she can to make us laugh & she's such a monkey!

It's such a lovely time as they're learning all the time & their personalities blossom. Don't get me wrong, she can be hard work & the tantrums are real but she's really becoming her own little person now.

@IDontDrinkTea

Some days she’s an absolute delight, she’s in a sunny mood, laughs at the simplest things and makes old ladies in tesco coo because she’s just so adorable.

Some days I cart her out of Tesco’s kicking and screaming for no logical reason. Recent tantrums have included because I couldn’t make it rain inside the post office, because she wanted me to cut her toast into one piece (not cutting it was unacceptable but then when I did cut it, it was two pieces so also not allowed), because when she asked for an apple, I gave her an apple, because there were no dinosaurs at the zoo… I could go on.

Essentially it’s like carrying around a delightful bomb. Most of the time they’re amazing, but occasionally they just explode for no reason, and everyone in the vicinity is colateral damage.

Hope that helps?! 😂😂

Yep this! But on the whole I enjoy my nearly two year old more than I enjoyed the 'baby days'. He makes me laugh, keeps me company, plays games with me and is an all round adorable cheeky little person.

That runs away from me in supermarkets and bites children in soft play when I'm not looking if they're in his way for just one second too long or just if he really likes them and gets excited.

It's both the best and the worst.

I've laughed a lot in the last couple of years though, he's hilarious (often unintentionally).

I found 12-18 months the hardest. DD walked around 15m then it was the constant following around trying to make sure she didn't harm herself that I found exhausting - we were mid pandemic and I was on furlough then so she wasn't in nursery at all so I appreciate circumstances played a role in my feelings.

She is now 2.7m abs 90% of the time I adore being in her company, playing, taking her out and just savouring every minute. She's so much fun and her personality is really shinning through, her speech is great which helps. Routine is good but more flexible now she's older.

10% of the time I spend rolling my eyes or whispering for f* sake under my breath when she has a meltdown that I didn't put enough milk in her cup or I sat in the wrong chair

Overall I am loving this age though and wish it would slow down a little!

Like everyone else has said, its tough but it is so rewarding and you will laugh just as much as you cry.

I personally found newborn - 1 year pretty easy as DS was laid back as anything and a good sleeper. Age 1-2 was quite hard work, as his communication and understanding was still not quite there but 2-3 was my absolute favourite age as he had so much personality and he was suddenly able to do so much. The age I found hardest was actually 3-3.5 it was true "threenager" territory. Now he is 3y9m and he is so easy and laid back again - Just in time to get a new baby brother :)

1-2 years is the hardest I reckon. They are destructive but also very funny. It gets better after 2 IMO

You still get some of the same issues like teething, not eating properly, every illness known, broken sleep etc but also get to see your baby's personality come out and get to have 2 way communication all of a sudden.

Meltdowns etc can be better avoided if they are good at communicating. I highly recommend baby sign language from your stage onwards as it'll really really help.

As others have said they are amazing little sponges who take in and love everything new. They adapt and change much quicker than at baby stage. They strive for independence and get more and more every day. They are emotional ticking time bombs and constant. I love it way more than the baby stage though!

Mine is 20 months. He is utterly adorable and completely feral. If I spend a full day with him (I work part time), by the time both kids are in bed (older one is school age), I’m fit for nothing but rocking in a corner. It’s like I spend half the day cuddling him and reading stories and the other half chasing him, restraining him or trying to stop him climbing on something he shouldn’t be.

To give you an idea, I took him to the supermarket and one other shop this morning. Forgot his reins. He had a massive tantrum because I made him hold my hand and wouldn’t let him walk on his knees (not crawl - like walking but on knees) in the middle of a busy high street.

But he is also delightful when he isn’t doing stuff like that. Hugely affectionate, interested in everything, very charming when he wants to be.

He is also getting better at communicating which helps hugely, eg being able to say his teeth are bothering him when cutting molars.

@jamsandwich1

I actually prefer toddlers to babies as they get their own personality and can communicate a bit. Really loved from 18 months onwards with my son. His speech is good though so I wonder if I may have avoided the terrible twos as he can communicate well? I also think you generally have a more predictable routine and are on the whole getting some sleep. Toddler and a newborn though was no picnic but I think that’s because you have two little people that still need you for everything. DD is 1 now and DS 2.9 and it feels like things are getting easier!

Ditto!

I really disliked the newborn stage. Things got easier by around 6months. Then, at around 1.5 he was a gorgeous delight and very articulate. No toddler tantrums. However, he is now 3 and is becoming quite the smart alec/ wind up merchant and I now have a newborn in tow so have little patience for it.

They're fucking insane.

Some very accurate statements by previous posters, and some days are proper shit (ill, tired, sometimes for no reason) and you wish for your newborn back, but for me, DD is 22 months, and we have a blast every day. She's hilarious. My husband left me back in April when she was around 17 months and her little personality has kept me the best company. I far prefer 12m+ to the baby stage, though am very broody at the moment. Good job I'm single!

DS is only 15 months so I’m at the start of the toddler stage but so far I’m loving it. Sleep being better is a great bonus to start. There is the practical side - he eats the same food as us, drinks cows milk, is more mobile etc. But I also find I get so much more from him. He understands simple instructions and is much more interactive when playing. Of course his answer to everything at the moment is no (even if he means yes) and we do get tantrums but for me it’s still much more enjoyable. If I’m honest though, I didn’t really enjoy the baby stage so maybe different for me.

MUCH prefer having a toddler to a baby. Much more fun and rewarding. And a bit more sleep finally.

I loved the toddler years. Everything is fascinating, everything is exciting and there's just so much wonder in their eyes! The preschool years on the other hand...! They were full of terrible tantrums