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 also prefer the toddler stage. My 17month old is adorable and funny and it is amazing seeing new skills develop. He can also be really hard work and exhausting particularly when he only wants mummy. Trying to remember I am thankful he is well attached 😂 we are also finding baby signing really helpful as my DS doesn't have many words

I think it completely depends on the baby/toddler and what you find enjoyable about parenting as to how the toddler years pan out. My DS was a hideous baby, but has got exponentially better since he turned 14 months ish. I’m enjoying him so much more now then when he was tiny, although I’ve still got a lot of toddler months ahead of me so aware all that could change

Tbh though, even if I’d had the worlds most easy, chill baby, I think I still would prefer the toddler stage. I found my nieces and nephews quite dull as babies but even in their nonsense-rage states I still think they are/have been epic as toddlers.

My youngest is 2.5... Literally is the devil compared to his older brother.
100% wild
Independent
An absolute bundle of none stop energy
He's a runner which means I need eyes in the back of my head. Tried reins (sits down and refuses to move)..
However he is affectionate, gives amazing cuddles and kisses, is funny and cheers me up instantly...
He has the most amazing big brown eyes which he uses to his advantage

DD was an angel as a toddler. She's still really easygoing and happy now at age 6. A complete sweetheart and a joy to be around most of the time. DS is a different story. Actually, he was fine up until age 3. Then all hell broke loose This morning I spent 25 mins trying to get him dressed. That's pretty standard. He jumps off anything he can get onto, including his windowsill. He has mastered opening the baby gate at the top of the stairs. The same baby gate that I still struggle a bit with. He has boundless energy and I literally cannot feed him enough. On the other hand he is the most adorable, loving, comical wee boy you could ever meet and has me completely wrapped round his little finger.

I'm in the thick of the toddler stage and, mostly, loving it. DS is a little wildling, but an adorable, and often hilarious, wildling. I've found the toddler stage much more fun than the baby stage. He's my little buddy and we do loads of fun stuff together. It's much more rewarding, for me, than the baby stage, even if I do occasionally want to put him in the bin after he's spent a day shouting at me and nothing can be done right for him, at least he can tell me what the issue is, though. I found the baby stage hard because I often had no idea why he was crying and it all felt like frustrating guesswork.

I actually find my toddler quite simple to parent - if he's not behaving well he's either tired, hungry, or uncomfortable somehow, and he can usually articulate which of those it is. They're not rational and they give literally no shits about what you want to do, but they'll also turn to you after they've spent a morning running you ragged and embarrassing you by screaming loudly in public places and say "I love you Mummy, you're so beautiful." and it's very hard to feel cross or upset then.

@Proudofher

My heart is so full reading this! So excited thank you

Loving this thread - making me nostalgic but also looking forward to the future. I love my toddler’s personality starting to shine through, although it’s frustrating when we can’t understand each other. He gets more words every day though, so hopefully that improves soon

It’s easier in some ways (after 9mo DS could communicate what he wanted) but more difficult in others (he finds it very difficult to regulate his emotions without breastfeeding so needs me for the tiniest little upsets). All in all I prefer toddlers to babies though.

Harder work but much more fun. My fav baby age though is about 6/7 months when they can sit up and play a little bit but can't go anywhere 😄 It's a shock once they start walking and get in at everything. You just chase ur tail trying to clean up the destruction they cause! They are also an absolute danger to themselves and u have to really watch them closely!

I quite enjoyed it, other than DD’s tendency to wake veeeery early for months. They can communicate a bit, everything’s exciting, they’re affectionate and cuddly, you can see them learning things and starting to form relationships with others. Absolutely magical.

I found 3/3.5 a bit harder - my daughter can talk for England, strong opinions, and “Because I said so/because mum knows best” doesn’t cut it. In some ways easier, because her understanding and patience is miles better, but it’s harder to be a hypocrite basically .

The bad bits first
-they still don't necessarily sleep. Sometimes they sleep worse than they did as a newborn.

• the teething is worse as its bigger teeth that come through
• you can't catch up on rest by them having 2-3 naps a day, and sometimes they've stopped the nap altogether the toddler years.
• they don't stop, and often don't play independently, so you are always on the go. They come with you to the toilet etc. One day recently i realised at 6pm that the only time my bum touched a seat was a 5m drive I did.
• you know how you can have a conversation with another adult when they are newborn, and that becomes more challenging, well that just gets worse so it's actually hard to actually chat to friends if your meet up.
• So in short, they still don't sleep, they nap less and they require a huge amount more effort in the day with very little chance of a break.

But, they are worth it. They hug you and tell you they love you. You see them learn so much and their personalities develop. Its an absolutely beautiful time, it's just absolutely exhausting. Newborn to toddler in terms of effort is like comparing a pet rabbit to a horse IMO. I love it though

My 2 year old is lovely so far, really fascinating. But she’s not started tantrums yet.
I was dreading the toddler years but so far it’s great. Tiring though as they are whirlwinds, and mine doesn’t nap.

Your heart rate can go from 60bpm to 140bmp in a split second. Multiple times per day.
You can go from thinking "for fuck sake is this my life" to "aww he/she is so adorable. I love my life" multiple times per day.

Toddlers are one of my fave ages though. They keep you on your toes. It's a roller coaster.

It's like being ruled by a pint-size, drunken dictator with the attention span of a fly. Who can also be quite cute and loving sometimes just as you're considering selling them on Gumtree.

Their fascination with the little things in their world is amazing. For example, we have some coasters with different animal scenes on them (had them for years... they pre-date DC). They have kept our DC busy for HOURS. Stacking them, putting them next to each other, talking to them. "Hello Monkey, say hello to the broccoli. Hello Zebra, how are you today?" My DC will be 4 in a couple of months and I've found watching the way in which their play has developed over the past few years quite interesting.

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.

This is the most accurate description of a toddler I have ever read @neeenor

I found it infinitely easier and more rewarding than having a baby.

It’s so much fun because even when they are being irrational it’s hilarious. I love the toddler phase!!!

Hard work.

Sorry pressed send too soon. Though it's not far off right! I love toddlers, and find it much easier than when they were babies. There will be a lot of tantrums but they're so inquisitive, friendly and just absolutely adorable. Wouldn't change it for the world.

Toddlers are a thousand times easier than babies in my opinion. I have a 2.10 year old and an eight week old and I could handle ten of the older ones much more easily that one baby.

But, I’m a primary teacher so meltdowns don’t faze me, and I breed non-nappers so the first six months of my children’s lives mainly consist of fighting to get an overtired baby to sleep.

My second daughter is 18 months and its the best age IMO. She is so cute and funny, she is entertained by everything and will play with anyone. She loves to be cuddled. It's amazing watching her language and understanding develop and to see her personality really start to come through.
Most toddlers have a pretty solid routine with a long nap after lunch, so you can easily plan your day around it and get a decent chunk in the middle to get things done.

But mainly she's just so dam cute

Toddlers are fab! I found the newborn stage,the first 3 months the hardest with both of mine and it has got easier and easier since. I totally missed the terrible 2s with my first and my second is 26 months so still time but he's pretty chilled too. They're just so funny, inquisitive and fun to be around. I love how much they learn at this stage. I think the toddler years are my favourite. My eldest is 7 now and becoming a bit of a pain at times 😄

My daughter is just coming to the end of toddlerhood (she'll turn 3 soon) - I've absolutely loved the last year and a half. Toddlers are so full of joy and curiosity, every day is a new opportunity and you really start to get to know them as individuals.

That said, it is quite a lot like looking after a drunk person day in, day out. Unexplained emotional outbursts, irrational demands, hysterical laughter, unexpected sloppy kisses and endless requests. You want ice cream for breakfast? You want to drive the car? First year at university was great practice for having a toddler imo.

Yes, it is challenging - you actually have to start actively parenting them (boundaries, managing difficult behaviour) and I've locked myself in the bathroom for a quick weep more than once, but it's a learning curve for you too. I'm a more confident parent (and person) after the last 18 months.

My second child is due soon and I'm honestly dreading going back to the baby stage. I found the first year almost intolerable. They're cute, sure, but generally I find babies to be boring and relentless. Toddlers, in my very humble opinion, are the best.

Toddlers are hilarious, exhausting and fascinating. I love it.

Toddlers are amazing. Personally I adore them. Yes you have to work hard and be super alert to keep them safe and second/third guess their instincts, but ... being close to their wonder as they discover the world around them is just pure joy.

For me. I love it. Not everyone does, but I do.

You need to train them kindly but very clearly to stick to a routine in terms of behaviour and simple processes like eating/dressing/sleeping. And toilet train them at 1.5-2 - really helps.

Nappy at night until 3 or so. They can't physically tell/control that until older.