If your LO was/is an "easy" baby...

Mrs.Greg · September 2010

Do you worry that your next LO will be the "difficult" one?

DD has always been fairly easy - never really cried as an infant, rarely sick, never had an ear infection, started STTN around 5 months old (with the occassional "rough" night, of course), never bothered by teething, made the transition from BFing to solids to fingerfoods/milk easily - just pretty easy overall. So many people have (sometimes jokingly) said we shouldn't have any more kids, they are sure to be the total opposite of DD. Not that I'm actually taking any of this to heart (we've been TTC #2 since May), just wondering if any other mommies of "easy" babies worry the next LO will be "hard"?

melrrr · September 2010

A little, although the only uneasy part of T was the fact that she didn't STTN until 13 months. If another is better in that department, then I can deal with that. Every other aspect of her has been extremely easy, so I figure the next one will not be!

taliaheartchris · September 2010

I thought about this tonight. While Ds has not been easy with sleeping, he is definitely a mellow, happy kid (DH calls him our Jack Johnson baby). Tonight we were out with friends and their 9 week old wouldn't stop crying no matter what they tried, and I realized just how lucky we were.

Mrs.Greg · September 2010

taliaheartchris:
I thought about this tonight. While Ds has not been easy with sleeping, he is definitely a mellow, happy kid (DH calls him our Jack Johnson baby). Tonight we were out with friends and their 9 week old wouldn't stop crying no matter what they tried, and I realized just how lucky we were.

Oh yeah, DH and I definitely realize we are VERY lucky... that most babies/toddlers aren't the way DD is.

howa0155 · September 2010

You are talking about me. DD was so, so easy. Really a just go with the flow kind of kid. DS is nicknamed PITA for a reason. He is really difficult and picky. I am hoping his temperment evens out later on in life.

YAY! Baby K · September 2010

DS has been and still is a very easy baby. He is very chill and laidback.

I am worried that my next one will be difficult. People tell me that a lot. We arent going to try for a while so I am not to worried about it just yet

macchiatto · September 2010

Hmm ... overall I would say Alex has been "easier" and Will has tended to be more challenging/higher maintenance, but honestly they really do trade off who is easier or more difficult on any given day or week, and sometimes they overlap. I think Alex was easier (more mellow and patient) for much of the first year, but there have been long stretches of the second year where Alex was whiney and dramatic while Will was cheerful and high-spirited and just a lot of fun. Each LO and each personality type has their strengths and weaknesses.

JulyFiveBride · September 2010

DD1 was and is super laid back and a great sleeper. She never cried a lot and it was usually really easy to solve the problem when she did. I was super paranoid that DD2 was going to be awful, but she's even more laid back than DD1. She has been STTN since well before 3 months. I could set a clock by her falling asleep at 11, she nurses once when I get up in the morning, and she goes back down for a couple more hours. We always said DD1 was the easiest baby on earth and were blown away by how easy DD2 was.

We got people telling us how hard DD2 was going to be all. the. time. even before she was conceived. I don't think you can predict how easy a baby will be based on how easy your other child was.

SFAug07 · September 2010

DD is the easiest, happiest baby. People tell me all the time they have never seen such a happy baby - she never cries, was never sick, started STTN at around 6 weeks, never bothered by teething etc. Everybody tells us the next one will be the opposite. We still want another one. Smile

cstw · September 2010

No, I don't worry about it. My plan is to do the same basic thing and I ignore people who tell me that if DD is this easy, I'll have a hell-raiser next. If that's the case, I'd prefer to deal with it then versus worrying about it now! Besides, while it's true babies have different dispositions I think a lot of it has to do with your parenting style and your general personality as a parent.

**sunny** · September 2010

I absolutely worry about this. I'm very happy with 1 child and I'm convinced I will constantly compare another child and they will be "destined to disappoint me." I'm sure the same hormones and love kicks in and it's not quite that bad, but I still do worry about this.

I feel like I'm one and done, but DH still wants at least 1 more. We shall see....

ExpatFamily06 · September 2010

Dh and I always joke that #2 will be a mix of his younger bro and my younger sis, which were/are the trouble-makers of the family, b/c LO is just 'too easy'. I hope not. Dh thinks that since we're both laid back people that #2 will most likely be the same as us and #1. I hope. Especially b/c I am a SAHM and I live 3,000 miles from family and I have no friends with kids here.

electricdoctor83 · September 2010

Yep, I am nervous our next will be really difficult. Jack STTN 12+ hours from 9-10 weeks on and never cried during the day, always a happy baby....the karma gods will want to even out my good luck.

mechanicsgirl · September 2010

Mia rarely cried, slept well. But she was a mess sickness wise. She had such terrible time eating and was in and out of the hospital after 4 months.

I dreaded how DS would be.

So far he is the exact opposite. He cries and doesn't sleep well, but he eats like a pig and is healthy as a horse. Give and take, I guess.

Clotho! · September 2010

we were the opposite. ds#1 was a very high maintenance baby. He had colic and acid reflux so he cried most of the time and it took him forever to sleep w/o being held let alone sleep through the night. He's still a bit of a drama king as I say. ds#2 is so easy. hardly ever cried and mostly just to tell us he was hungry or needed to be changed. it did take him awhile to sttn though.

mavs_girl07 · September 2010

Yes, DH and I talk about this all.the.time. now that we're getting closer to #2 being here. We had some rough times with DD in the first few weeks (she had reflux and was aspirating and it took us awhile to find the magic solution). But other than that she's been a dream. STTN at 2 mos, started putting herself to sleep by 4 mos; she's extremely happy, social, and smart. She's not even 2 yet and is already talking in sentences and can identify all her numbers and a few letters. She's just amazing. The only issue we've had with her is being a picky eater, but that's pretty typical of any toddler. So yeah...we joke all the time that what if she took all the good genes, and #2 is stuck with what's left, lol.

browneyedgrl4282 · September 2010

The twins are and were awesome sleepers from day one. When I was pregnant with Brady, I kept saying this one is going to give me a run for my money and i am never going to sleep again. Well he is pretty much just like his siblings and STTN about about 2 weeks old like them. He did however need emergency surgery at 19 days old for pyloric issues than had a staph infection 11 days later. So by 1 month old he spent 9 days in the hospital (not including the 4 for birth). He also had surgery on his penis for hypospadias when he was 7 months old.

So he is a wonderful baby just like his brother and sister were. He did give me some rough times but those were his fault that he had birth defects!

penguingrrl · September 2010

Everyone warned me of that after my first daughter was a dream baby. DD2 isn't as easy as DD1 was, no question, but she's not particularly difficult either. She's a bit more needy and is not the sleeper her sister was, but is so sweet and so much fun! And watching the two of them together makes it totally worth it anyway, because they love to play together!

newguardwife · September 2010

I'm lurking a bit but I totally get this. DS is so easy and laid back that I just don't want to roll the dice again.

AppleMomma · September 2010

Sometimes, but I'm hoping DD will be the same if not easier than DS has been, and I would put him in the good baby category for sure.

cari12 · September 2010

I'm totally worried about this

DD1 was such an easy baby (we had a few rough spots with feeding issues, but overall she was a dream) - STTN early, super flexible and easy going. She's so go with the flow about things, even still today. She's been a bit more of a handful as a toddler, but still a great kid.

DD2 has been super active in the womb so I'm wondering how this is going to translate to after her arrival (DD1 was super mellow and kept that personality after she was born). As long as it's not her lungs that she chooses to keep super active after she's born, I think we'll be okay...haha! I just can't imagine having an easier baby so I'm preparing myself for a bit of a challenge this time around. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised though! Never know!

Soap1 · September 2010

Yes I worry about it every day!!

Quiksilver620 · September 2010

that's why we're not having any more

**Gretchen** · September 2010

Yes. Since the moment she came we've said that she was sent here by her sibling to lull us into a false sense of security.

#2 will be a hellion for sure.

moonfaerie · September 2010

Totally. DD wasn't the easiest newborn, but once she hit 3 months she started STTN. She eats like a champ, isn't overly fussy, hasn't been really sick, isn't bothered by teething, hasn't had trouble with separation anxiety so far. DH and I wonder if we've had it too easy and think #2 might kick our asses at first.

DH keeps saying though that he thinks L will be our wild child, and #2 will be a "goody-goody." We were both the wild child in our family, so we know we're in for it with at least one, if not both, of them.

Temp67694062501186 · September 2010

I haven't worried about it so much. But I am sick of hearing it from people. (i.e. "Oh Gabby was such an easy baby for you - you're in for it with the next one!" or "Have fun with #2 - you know he/she will be a terror since Gabby was easy.")

We have several friends and family who have kids close in age (two under two, or close to it) and everyone one of them has said how very different each child has been. While the first was easy (or difficult) the second was a whole other story.

But I wonder how much of that simply has to do with each person's situation. Like #2 seems more difficult because you have a one year old already running around. Or #2 seems less difficult, because you've been through this before - you're experienced this time around - you're less worried about everything. Ya know?

That's what I'm chalking (sp?) their responses up to. I feel like DH and I are very very laid back with our parenting (not at all type A like some of our friends/family) and we will just go with the flow. Maybe that will allow it to be easier for us?

ridesbuttons · September 2010

DS#1 was an easy baby, and everyone told me that #2 would be more difficult, that I wouldn't have two easy babies.

#2 was easier.

wellfleet04 · September 2010

Well, #1 was a VERY easy baby. Great sleeper with no sleep training, rarely cried, ate everything, etc. She is a CHALLENGING three year old. BY FAR the harder of my two kids right now (3 year old DD, 17 mo DS).

DS is a crap sleeper, but it all other respects has been even easier than DD. Super laid back and flexible, good eater, smiley, happy.

jend062505 · September 2010

My DD #1 was difficult in some aspects, she had colic but did STTN at 11 weeks. DD#2 didn't sleep until 8 months. DD1 has alwasy had lots of energy, 2 very laid back. 1-loved to sleep in the stroller and could go anywhere. 2 wont sleep unless it is in her bed. #1 was not sick until recently, #2 has food allergies. Both have been different but both we survived and I love them for that! Good luck no worries and I can say my kids are opposite but in good ways.

efortune · September 2010

My first DD is VERY easy. Very independent, rarely cries (except when teething), well behaved, no fits in public (ever), etc... the second one, total opposite. Cries all the time. Although we determined she was having a reaction to the medication I was on and is allergic to milk protein, so she is getting much better now. She also refuses to take a binky or a bottle, so that makes my life much harder.