Irritated by friend's toddler, am I ready for this baby?

[MummyBear405]

Having a slight freak out! Just had a friend over with her 3 yr old, her daughter is so sweet, lovely personality and very inquisitive but I found myself becoming irritated because she keep touching everything and climbing on furniture. I found it so exhausting even though I think she's a lovely little girl.

Does this mean I'm not ready for a child? My husband seems to relax around little kids and enjoy their company but I feel tense and on edge, is this a sign of things to come?

I'm probably being ridiculous but I can't help but feel worried anyone else felt like this?

You'll be fine. Other people's small children are not the same as your own.

I'd say it's probably hormones rather than something to worry about. Your kids will irritate you a lot though. That is totally normal. I'm usually more tolerant of other people's kids in my house. Some people are the exact opposite.

Nah, don't worry. Your own is a totally different thing. You can lay down the rules you want, for a start. Mine don't climb on furniture because I've told them not to. You won't find yours anywhere near as irritating as you'll find everyone else's..! I used to love kids til I had my own. Now I only love mine, because they are how I've raised them to be, and everyone else's kids annoy me because I'm not as in control of them as I would like to be

You'll be fine! Plenty of people love their own kids despite finding other people's kids hard work :)

I'm not a fan of other people's kids. Always said I wasn't gonna have any. Then we had a contraception failure and now we have a 7 month old. Love him more than life itself.

Still not a fan of other people's kids.

I'm having my first on Friday and felt exactly the same yesterday when my friend visited with her toddler, I just figure it's different when it's your own child (also you can tell off your own!).

It is different when it’s your own and your friend shouldn’t be letting her DD climb on your furniture and touch things

Op I have MANY dc yet have no time for other people's...
Don't worry.

I don’t overly like other people’s children round my stuff. I think it’s normal.

I don't like children in general. I still fought tooth and nail for 3.5 years through IVF to have my little one and I think she's the most amazing little human that has ever existed.

I'm still not very keen on other children, though I've obviously got better at dealing with them. It's normal, don't worry.

What everyone else said .
It's SO different when they're your own. I thought I liked kids but now I have my own I don't like other people's kids!

Other people’s kids are annoying. I’m sure they feel the same about mine.

They ease you in gradually! I remember being irritated with friends toddlers pre-kids, now I just laugh at my lovely but energetic crew!
Being a mum will probably test you in ways you can’t even imagine (or it did me) but you’ll be fine.

It's not the same.

Plus by the time yours is that age you'll have had 3 years of parenting so you won't have any nice things out on display and be. too exhausted to care used to having a little one around.

I think it's more exhausting when it's your own child as you have to follow them/stop them, but more irritating when it's someone else's as you can't follow/stop them!

Don't worry though, unless you adopt you don't get a toddler straight away, you'll work up to being okay with a toddler over many, many months.

Yep. Totally different. Also found small children stressful before having my own. Don't worry and best of luck. X

I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old and a lot of other peoples' kids annoy me, especially in my house. Toddlers are annoying (a lot more annoying than newborns) but they morph gradually into little horrors so it's not a great shock

I don’t like children.
I have a 7 year old son I adore. I also quite like his friends and my friends’ children. Once I get to know them as people they are miniature friends and not children really.
Also your baby won’t emerge 3 years old- they get annoying gradually so you notice it less

I don't know, it is pretty exhausting looking after toddlers who just constantly want to touch things they shouldn't. Easier at home because you're in your own environment and you have probably baby proofed, but they just are quite exhausting.

That's why it's important ime to make sure you communicate your needs to your partner right from the start about getting breaks and rest etc - lots of people start of doing all of the new baby stuff themselves and dad never really gets too involved and then when they're toddlers you're just exhausted because it's on you all the time. Establish a pattern where you both have chunks of time being "on duty" right from the start (between breastfeeds, if necessary, but as the gap between feeds lengthens so can the daddy time!) and it will just be nornal rather than something you have to fight for.

Kids are like farts. You can only, just about, stand your own.

Hate other people's kids, love my own lol! I've never felt comfortable around other people's kids but love DS to the moon! I think it's also made me a more considerate parent towards other parents, I. E DS wouldn't have been all over your furniture. I wouldn't have allowed it because I know how much it annoys me when other people's kids do that. You'll be fine. You'll find your own way to parent and how you are with other children

Just don’t expect your kid to be any different- I hate judgemental childless or mothers of babies who look down on toddler behaviour. It’s normal, it’s exhausting but god we love em so much we do it and adapt

Thanks everyone for responding, it made me feel a bit better knowing that this is a totally normal thing! I just felt guilty for getting annoyed because in the grand scheme of things she's a very lovely, well behaved little girl and the climbing on the sofa thing was more down to her mum than her ... just because I'd never dream of letting my child do that but that's personal preference!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I'm not being judgemental at all, I love how inquisitive and imaginative she is but I couldn't help but feel annoyed & exhausted when they left, hence why I was worried. I have 8 nieces and nephews plus my friend's kids so I'm all too aware that they can be hard work. I never expect them to act like a grown ups because they're only little, just being faced with the reality of it all freaked me out a little