3 and then 13. At least they are still cute at three. Good news is they become human again in High School.

Depends on the kid. First kid was sort of unlikeable from 2.5 until about 5.25. It has gotten much much better after 5.25. Middle kid has been great the whole time, and he is almost 5. Can't tell about the last one. He is 1.5 and great, but I love babies, so I am not a good person to know if a baby is hard or not.

0-1.5ish. I'm constantly guessing what's wrong, can't walk, not great at communicating needs, more needy, and overall more vulnerable.

I only have a 3 year old and 3 is turning out to be Very hard. But I still like doing 0-6 month the least. So physical, always held, hard to get out between naps and waking up 2-3 times at night etc. Somehow 12-18 months was not that bad for us and I was alone with dh on work trip for a year. It just went by, exhausting but we managed and there was a lot of playground time then.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is 8. The first six months were total misery. It has just gotten progressively better every year since then

This is good to hear. While I know there is a LOT ahead and I have no standing to give a real response to this thread, I really have loved ages 6 months on for my now 2.5 year old toddler. The first six months were hellish for me, and while I loved my child from the beginning I didn't feel like we truly bonded until I got past the nights with constantly interrupted sleep and breastfeeding struggles. It's just been better from there. Yeah tantrums are challenging but he's getting more independent and I love seeing how much he learns every day.

My kid is 8. The first six months were total misery. It has just gotten progressively better every year since then

Also agree with PP that the trying elements of being a newborn stuck around to some degree through 12-18 months. But at least then they were doing a lot of cute tricks and babbling

Anonymous wrote:Newborn through 6 months was my least favorite. So fussy, so needy, and also kind of boring.

+1. I never dreamed that a living creature could demand so much attention while also being so boring until I had a newborn

Oldest is 6 but I hate the newborn stage but I also think the mobility but lack of understanding from 12-18months is HARD. 3 and up has been easy peasy so far.

I have teenagers. Ages 3 and 15 were pretty bad. My senior is starting to be pleasant again. It may be because he is leaving for college.

The age when they are going through the first winter when they no longer have mom's immunity and get sick from everything because they stick everything in their mouths, but you can't give them any medication when they're miserable and they get with roseola, the first stomach flu. Maybe RSV or hand foot mouth for the unlucky.

Anonymous wrote:12-18 months. Mobility without rationality. Either needing to be held or getting into things he shouldn't (china cabinet, cat's water bowl). Cannot be left unattended for one second. Thank God he can't climb out of the playpen yet.

Mine is 11 months and mobility without rationality describes him. He'll grab furniture and SHAKE hard to try to topple it, or topple himself. Will kill himself trying to get beyond baby gates. We already had to lower the crib to the lowest setting since he's very tall.


Needs to be held but when he's being held will grab noses or climb all over you, etc.

14 is a very hard age with boys. A friend of mine with 9 kids (5 boys) told me that. I didn’t pay a lot of attention, but my son turned 14 and life got tough. Much better a couple of years later.

3 and 12 - 3 you can't go anywhere in public for very long and everyone hates you when you do go out in public to anywhere except a tot lot or Red Robin. 12 so emotional about everything. School work gets a bit harder and requires more effort and it was just sooooo much to ask for her to complete her very reasonable homework load vs. watching TV from 3pm to 9pm daily.

Now 16, generally a delight, and has been since 14ish. Certainly has her moments, we all do, but she is mostly pleasant and says thank you to me every now and then and still hugs me and says I love you.

6-18 months