Which do you think is tougher....

Having a newborn or a toddler

for me, the toddler stage has been MUCH tougher than the newborn stage

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

I think I have blocked out what it was like to have an infant because of the sleep deprevation!

But if you forced me to make a choice, I would say an infant was harder. I love to sleep and the whole not getting any was harder than anything for me.

DS is 18 months and I am LOVING this age because I see him learning new things every day. Tantrums and all, I really enjoy my toddler!

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

the not sleeping stage...which sometimes was newborn, and sometimes was toddler.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

I think toddlers, because you are always on top of them. DS was an easy baby, always just hung out and went with the flow. Now that he is so curious, it's exhausting to be 'on' all day long!

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Posted by jerseypanda

I think I have blocked out what it was like to have an infant because of the sleep deprevation!

But if you forced me to make a choice, I would say an infant was harder. I love to sleep and the whole not getting any was harder than anything for me.

DS is 18 months and I am LOVING this age because I see him learning new things every day. Tantrums and all, I really enjoy my toddler!

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Toddler without a doubt. When they are newborns they just lay around, you can hold them all the time, keep them in a sling, they hardly move, just need to be fed, changed and entertained for a bit and then sleep sleep sleeeeeeep. Toddler is non-stop go go go from the moment they open their eyes in the morning to the moment you have to convince them they need to go to sleep at night

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

I'm hoping newborn because if Rylans toddler years are any worse than what it's been I can honestly say I will not make it as a good mother. 4-6 months were the only easy months in the past year. I pray it gets easier...it can't get any worse!!

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Can I say other? DS has been a tough kid since day 1. He was a colic baby and he is presently a non-stop action toddler. Both ages have tested my patience. But if had to choose, I would probably say he was a tougher baby. I feel I get much more enjoyment out of him now.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Newborn was DEfinitely tougher for me

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

I was just saying this to my friend the other day!

Having a toddle for me is way harder than when she was a newborn. I never get a moments rest unless she is taking her ONE nap a day.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

I'd have to say newborn because of the sleep deprivation. When I'm deprived of sleep for very long periods of time, everything seems difficult, even the simplest of things.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Toddler!!

I would have said Newborn till I got here...LOL

That said its weird, becaus eits an amazing experience every day and b/c Noah is so strong willed and spirited, it makes the toddler stage so much fun, I do love it, but the challanges are there and more and more each day and I rarely get a minute to sit and think without looking around to see what trouble he is in.....When he was a n/b...I had some moments of silence still.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

The in between the 2. My daughter was a very very very demanding infant. She still has her days as a toddler but just watching her learn so much every day is amazing.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Toddler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Depends on the kid.

When you're putting up a toddler temper tantrum up against a colicy baby, you're even.

My kids' newborn stages were physically tough with sleep deprivation, but not close to the psycho, demanding, meglomaniac toddler stages.

Unfortunately I suspect none of this will compare to teenage years.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

That's a hard one.... Since I have had both at the same time, I would say the toddler was harder. I really think each stage is different and it depends on the child. My first son did not sleep through the night for 10 months and I was working FT and commuting, blah blah. With DS#2 he would wake up but go right back to sleep.

A toddler definately tries your patience each and every day and you learn a lot about yourself.

Good question.

So, I think my first infant was harder than my second because of the adjustment, nursing, working. But now I think the toddler stage is tough (with DS#1). It might just be that my first son is challenging:)

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Having a newborn AND a toddler

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Newborn...I dont do well without any sleep.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

i was going to say hands down: TODDLER! but now reading all the posts, i'm even more nervous about having a toddler AND a newborn next week!

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

I think I'd have to say the infant stage was harder for me. DD was a terrible sleeper and had an awful witching hour everyday. Plus DH was away for work most weeks. i was all alone in a city where I hardly knew anyone. Now she's challenging in other ways, but for the most part, sleeps through the night. that alone makes my life so much better. That sleep deprevation was awful. I was such a zombie for so many months. Plus I love our house & neighborhood. We have lots of new friends and i am so much happier.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Toddlers are tougher. They're always on the go and wear you out more than a newborn. With a newborn, at least they sleep the majority of the day.

Re: Which do you think is tougher....

Depends.. it was hard handling dd btwn 7-17m b/c I was pregnant. Other than that I think shes easy baby. my newborn seems pretty calm also. So for toughness.. not sure, depends on the day.