Is 3 really worse than 2??

~iLoVeHiM~

I swear, a couple of months before DS's second birthday he completely lost his marbles! He still has a lot of moments but it isn't as bad as I once remember. Or, maybe I'm just THAT used to it. Anyhow, every time I am talking to someone about the terrible 2's, it never fails, they always respond with "3 is wayyy worse!"

What has been your experience?

joseysbride

Definitely.  But there are also a ton of great moments, too.

Jodi&Joe

Three is HELL.  Plain and simple.

In my experience, 2yrs and 9mo until 3yrs and 9 mo is HELLLL!!!!!!!

pincushions

Yes, I think so!

I am dreading Emilia turning 3 because she is 2x as hard as Miles and she seems to get worse as she gets older. Like joseys said though, there are a ton more great moments!

camrude

Someone here posted that she calls it the "WTF 3's" and I 100% agree. I would take the terrible two's over three's ANY DAY.

Don't get me wrong - there is a lot I enjoy about the 3's - but she's just so mouthy/sassy and tries to negotiate everything all.the.time.

katie277s

DS is almost 4, and honestly, I didn't notice a huge difference between 2-3.  Sure he has tantrums.  Sure he speaks his mind.  But I just expected it I guess.  Don't get me wrong, I do find myself having to count to 10 silently while taking deep breaths more often, but I just assume it's because he can communicate with me better, can choose to ignore me more and knows how to press me buttons. 

If you go into it expecting it, you will be fine 

mlm1128

I think that dd is worse when she has her moments in her 3's.  She is a lot smarter, and knows how to manipulate me (and everyone else) at this age, and her tantrums get real bad when we don't give in.  They happen a LOT less often than they did when she was 2, but they are way more stressful.

knmommy

3 is worse, it has been for us with all 3 kids!

elm1032004

in some ways I think it's worse but in other ways it's better.

krub

It was for my DS.  He was a maniac from 18 mos to about 24 mos.  So active and hard to control.  But, 3 was a completely different story.  The power struggles and defiance were awful.  He's a bit better now, but his sister is 2 and hell on wheels!  If 3 is worse for her, I may not make it until her 4th bday.

Dimplz

In a word, yes.

DS isn't even three yet (see sig) but there is a big difference on his disposition this year vs. last year.

KoriBrett

No.  Just.. different and more focused.  Still a pita a lot of the time, but not worse.

They have the vocab and reasoning skills to start to bargain and do things on purpose to test your or get you mad.  But that means they can also take what you say & finally "get it" when you explain "hey kid, maybe standing sideways on a rocking horse isn't such a hot idea, ya think?".  Mostly we just need to give everything a few extra minutes to talk her into our out of something.