Do babies really get easier after 1 year?

[Helena1993]

I have a 8 month old and while she is getting easier in most ways (sleeping better, weaning isn't too bad and a little more fun because mobility is slowly increasing) I wonder if I may ever enjoy motherhood. Babies are just plain boring to me...

If you think it gets easier. Why?
If you think it gets harder. Why?

Not easier, just harder in different ways. My almost 3yo is so unreasonable it's unreal. However it's more fun and he can express his needs much more clearly. So easier in that way. But it's still relentless. I doubt that ever changes until they're much older and self sufficient

It very much depends

0-12m? My favourite. But I've had sleepers, and they were both breastfed and snuggly.

Both walked on their 1st birthdays.

Littlest is 17m and constantly climbing, defying me and doing everything she shouldn't.

We call her Rocket.

I love her so much, but f me, she's hard work.

Other DC is 8 and very relaxed, probably too relaxed.

Harder… my 20 month old does not sit still for more than 3 seconds at a time.
My 8 year old is a delight 🥰

I had a baby who hated being a baby.
He got better when he started moving (at 5 months), better again when he started solids, and better again since he started walking/climbing.
He has (apart from a distanct lack of sleep) been a delight since about 3yrs old.
AFAIC, it definitely gets easier. But I gave birth to a none sleeping, scream if not in contact with Mummy, type of baby.

Op, ppl are just being honest ; it’s exactly as everyone says; some things are easier , some things are more challenging. I have 3 dcs and they are all over 6 years old now , I found pre 1 pretty easy to manage , the toddlers years (insanely cute and adorable ) v v challenging but it’s more I’m quite introverted and need a lot of downtime /quiet time and my toddlers were all highly physical , on the go , climbing everything, into everything; we literally couldn’t sit down for around 5 years at home 😂
Way easier from 4 but have to say plenty of challenges still and with 3 we are pretty wreaked . However I love having 3 as they all play and occupy each other , so difficult initially but definitely wonderful to see them together.
If you’ve had a v challenging baby then maybe the toddler stage will be fine for you ! Im in the preteen stage and everyone and their dog tells me it’s the hardest nit who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t think it ever gets easier. You get used it.

Lots of people will tell you they love newborns and they are so easy etc etc. It totally depends on the child and on you and what you prefer. For me I hated the baby stage. I was so bored and lonely (it didn't help it was lockdown) and you can't talk with them or engage in any meaningful activity. My baby was quite high maintenance, cried a lot etc. My DS is now nearly 3 and I find him and life generally so much easier, though of course there are still lots of challenges.

I definitely think it gets easier. I have a 7 and a 3 year old and my 7 year old is by far easier. I think the first 4 years or so are pretty up and down though. One of mine was a dream baby and the other had colic and never napped much so their first years were completely different. My eldest was easier at 2 than he was at 3, I always say he had delayed terrible twos!

Behaviour wise, it gets harder because their personalities and wills get more assertive (as I type I'm literally being used as a climbing frame 😂)

But the communication, the eating, the sleeping and the flexibility are all so much better. It's harder work having a toddler than a newborn, but much more rewarding.

It completely depends on the child. I really didn’t enjoy the baby stage with either of mine, but from 11 months with my first I genuinely started to love it (talking, walking, learning stage). She is a total delight and always has been (aged 8 presently).

Meanwhile, my 7 year old son regularly reduces me to tears because he is so moany, negative, unable to entertain himself etc. He can be lovely, but he’s so negative so much of the time, that I feel permanently drained.

Swings & roundabouts 🤦‍♀️😂

I’ve enjoyed it a lot more since DS become a toddler. I have to say, circa age 1 was about the absolute worst (sorry) as he was just so frustrated and angry that he couldn’t walk and talk and we had the mother of all sleep regressions, it was like having a newborn again…but from 18 months onwards I’ve enjoyed DS exponentially (he’s now nearly 3). Potty training and dropping the nap were tricky phases but made life so much easier once they were done. DS doesn’t really throw tantrums, his speech is excellent and he eats and sleeps well, which all help massively.

Interestingly, despite enjoying having a toddler more, I think on average toddlers are a lot harder than babies. I thinks it’s partly because I’m now back at work, so I’m just crushingly exhausted all the time despite not regularly having my sleep disturbed. They need far more physical and mental stimulation and DS’ energy levels leave me for dust (I’m early 30s). They can still cling like babies but have a lot more physical force and determination. I have to think so much more and preempt things more when out and about now then I ever did in the first year. You can never switch off with a toddler.

Still, despite this, give me a toddler any day over a baby. DS and I went to the library, the park then had lunch in Nando’s yesterday and I genuinely had a great day. When he was a baby it felt like permanent survival.

Hell no, my 3rd is 2.5 and my god I never expected a child like this 😅😅😅

Easier in some ways, harder in others.

Overall I prefer this stage (16 months). He can walk so we can do a morning activity that really tires him out. A trip to the park, local farm, woods, soft play, playgroup etc etc means he does loads of walking and naps for 2 ½-3 hours after lunch.

I much prefer that big chunk of time to myself in the day than the days of 2 or 3 shorter naps. I sleep or get things done or just enjoy time to myself. Then we can have a quiet afternoon at home and he happily plays with his toys and potters about with me. He also sleeps better only waking once sometimes at night.

But they're less portable. They don't want the pram and don't want to be carried. You have to embrace the slow pace of a toddler who likes to stop and pick up stones and bugs and flowers along the way. I like it. I'm less keen on the beginnings of temper tantrums because they want to say more than they can. They're becoming independent but don't yet know how to express themselves. Hard work!

I echo the 'easier in some ways, harder in others' posts. I think it's very easy to be a lazy (and frankly, shit) parent to a toddler. To dump them in front of the tv for ages or fail to interact with them much desire their eagerness to do so. If you overly rely on tech to stimulate and occupy a toddler it can be much easier. Some toddlers don't do the terrible twos and are genuinely delightful, but I'd say many are still trying.

DD was a very tough baby. Still doesn't sleep well (2.5 now), was very sicky, had a bad tongue tie and so on. I still loved my time with her and mat leave, but I think that may also be because I work in an area that is very mentally challenging and emotionally draining. The role prior to mat leave 'took' a lot from me but didn't give me much besides a salary. I could have been doing many things that were quite shit and probably would have enjoyed it!

I am probably 'lucky' in that I cope OK with very poor or little sleep. DH doesn't cope anywhere near as well, and friends who are similar have found parenting a baby SO hard. I'm also a morning person and not a night owl which may have also helped.

I think different parents enjoy different stages. I think toddlers are so much more fun than babies, but I also think they are a lot more work. You have to think a lot more. I find babies lovely, but dull, and enjoy my toddler, who is wildly unreasonable, a lot more than my 9mo. Having said that, apart from sleep, the baby is a lot easier to take care of.

My 13yo made lunch today so yes, they do get easier. Different children are easy at different ages. The 13yo was a delightful baby but was a terrible sleeper as a toddler but has generally been pretty easy going since then although has grumpy teenage moments now, my 15yo did not believe in naps as a baby but STTN from a young age but now is a complete night owl so often goes to bed after me (her and DH put the world to rights in the kitchen late at night) and is very grumpy in the morning.

OP, I hated the baby stage but started to enjoy myself when my DD hit 16 months. Turns out I quite enjoy having a toddler but I really really didn't like having a baby. Sounds like you might be like me. Babies are really boring and it's all just so relentless when they're really small. But toddlers are so much more funny and rewarding! Wouldn't say I love motherhood now but I do have moments of loving it!

I much prefer the toddler stage, don't get me wrong I loved newborn cuddles! I just find it so much easier when they can communicate to some extent! Every age comes with its new challenges though xxx

I wouldn't say it gets easier, there are so many aspects, some get easier while others get tougher,

However with my first, Once he reached 10/11 months he suddenly had this evening cheeky personality and started moving around a lot more wanting to play. I adored him from the minute I found out I was pregnant with him - but around this time, I was just absolutely in love with him even more. He made me laugh so much (and still does) and seeing his little personality grow made me feel so full of love.

It doesn't get easier as such, but your love for them grows with them ❤️

So much easier! DS had colic and reflux and didn’t sleep as a baby so quite frankly anything would have been easier than that. As it happens at about 11mo old DS had a personality transplant and became the easiest going child and has remained so ever since. Parenting became a doddle. Hoping he stays that way!

Evening cheeky?? Ignore 'evening' I meant Beaming!! Xxx

It doesn't get easier - just different! My eldest is now 17years old. I worry every time she gets in the car to drive. I stay up in the night to make sure she is in safely from going out. Exam stress is real. Stress about University applications, boyfriends, friends is relentless. And it costs an absolute fortune. And depending on the day, they can also be as unreasonable as a toddler!

I remember having a conversation with a friend when our babies were about 18 months and being completely shocked to find she thought it was getting easier all the time. She’d had a scream hey, colicky baby and basically found babies hard work and dull, then had a v chilled toddler. I had a chilled baby who I found fascinating who then turned into a non-stop talking whirlwind of a toddler. It was also a personality difference generally. I quite like sitting still with a newborn and she found it hard.

Everyone’s experience is different, sounds like you might well find a toddler easier.

I'd say it definitely definitely gets easier the bigger they get

I think I'm the minority though

I have an 11 yr old and a 5.5 month baby

Absolutely can't stand the baby stage sometimes. She's been colicky, wingey, high needs baby basically! And I don't feel bad to say I really don't enjoy it. Its exhausting and I much much prefer it when they are older

I loved the toddler stage with my 1st
She was sleeping better by this stage, communicating and although some parts were still hard it was nothing like the relentless baby stage

Not sure when it got easier it's a blur but at 5.5 months I'm definitely not there yet ! But I know and my eldest is prood that it definitely gets easier

Can't see it when people say the toddler ( or teens ) is the hardest

Wiping bums, sickey baby, endless nappies, bottles, sterlising, and endless washing and housework and losing yourself in the process - this doesn't happen once they start at nursery/school - key thing is having time to yourself and where some people are lucky with help some aren't

Also depends on what kind of person you ate and what baby you have

Never thought of it that some people do have easier babies than others and some people are just negative people !

I have a high needs baby and I'm generally a positive person. My best friend is on the negative side and has such a easy baby! And so much help it's hard not to be envious of her !

Hang on in there op there's light at the end of the tunnel x

I think it generally gets more satisfying (if that makes sense!) as they are more interesting. Newborn stage I found ‘easier’ as mine didn’t have colic or anything, slept well and I could just sit and watch Netflix all day with them asleep in me - it was ‘easy’ but my goodness it was boring! Now my youngest is one and I’m back at work, she’s a lot more interesting to be around, developing her little personality, walking and interacting with her sister - sometimes cute, often difficult when they fight! But it’s a lot harder work as they are mobile and take more input from you to entertain. However, After one I also find they are past the messiest stage of weaning which I absolutely hated, and you can also just feed them the same meals as you eat which makes things a lot easier I think. So I guess better in some ways, harder work in others 🤷‍♀️