High needs babies, when older

[Anonymous]

Parents of babies who were high needs: what were they like as they got older? Did they sleep better? Were they fussy eaters? I’m so curious to know what lies ahead.

[Anonymous]

Very anxious

[Anonymous]

mine is 18 now. she was tough the whole time. has a younger sister who is easy...still easy.

your baby might be an HSP (highly sensitive person). google that.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure you want to hear my answer. But I'll give you the good news- my high needs baby is now 7y and has never been a fussy eater.

[Anonymous]

How high needs? I wouldn’t say my first was abnormally high needs, but she was say tougher than either of her siblings. She is now the easiest as an elementary schooler.

[Anonymous]

Sleep definitely got better, but still is on the low end for sleep needs
Not a fussy eater at all
Really happy and sweet, but dramatic and sensitive about things in a way her ways going brother never has been.

[Anonymous]

High needs baby has turned into a 5yo who needs constant engagement and stimulation, and is go-go-go from 7AM until 9PM. No breaks, no downtime. She’s also very clingy, so I’m worn out. Thank goodness our 1yo is far more easy-going. I pray that lasts.
I love my older daughter to bits, but she is exhausting.

[Anonymous]

My baby who demanded to be held all the time, hated to be alone, wanted constant movement, wouldn’t eat anything but milk until he was way past one, and woke up multiple times a night until he was 2 is now a super chill 14 year old. All those characteristics are still there, though. He is extroverted and just loves being around people all the time. He still doesn’t eat much, and would prefer to be hungry rather than eat something that isn’t a favorite. He is a skilled and competitive athlete and still wants to move all the time. The sleep issues totally resolved by about 4, and he now loves his sleep. The first year was torture, the next few years were challenging, and then it’s just gotten more and more wonderful being this kid’s mom.

[Anonymous]

My kid who napped for only 30 minutes at a time and needed to be held constantly is now 17. He sleeps 16 hours at a stretch and emerges from his room to join the family only for meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid who napped for only 30 minutes at a time and needed to be held constantly is now 17. He sleeps 16 hours at a stretch and emerges from his room to join the family only for meals.

Is he depressed?

[Anonymous]

The good: she’s a good eater and a decent sleeper. She’s incredibly bright and creative and a really really good person.

The hard: she has anxiety and is still highly sensitive. Cries easily. Therapy has helped a ton.

Hugs op, it’s not fun having a fussy needy baby. Everyone makes you feel like it’s your fault. It’s so easy to compare to the easy babies around you and think “why??”. But my dd is an incredible person who I am so proud of. It’s so worth itz

[Anonymous]

*it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High needs baby has turned into a 5yo who needs constant engagement and stimulation, and is go-go-go from 7AM until 9PM. No breaks, no downtime. She’s also very clingy, so I’m worn out. Thank goodness our 1yo is far more easy-going. I pray that lasts.
I love my older daughter to bits, but she is exhausting.

It’ll get better once they can play with each other.

[Anonymous]

My formerly colicky kid is now a well adjusted, bright, health, happy 12 year old. She is sensitive to physical and emotional pain though. Like we were just in the ER this week because she pulled a muscle in her neck. She described the pain at a 9, which is way high for that kind of injury so they did X-rays. Nothing. She was fine after ibuprofen... she also has social anxiety that manifested as stomach issues. But she is otherwise alright, a great kid.

[Anonymous]

Pp here. Yeah, my second baby was so so easy. I was like, oh, this is why people keep having babies.