An easier baby?

gtognietti · January 2013

DS is about 16 months old, and has always been difficult. Since day one, he cried for 7 hours straight. He developed colic at 3 weeks, which he didn't grow out of until 7 months; at 2 months he was diagnosed with Acid Reflux, which he still has ... he has hated his car seat since about a month old (screaming any time the car is not moving, and he still does this to this day) he didn't nap for the first 6 months of his life; he is a horrid teether and gets two teeth at once causing sleep issues and fussiness about a month before the teeth come through. My question is; we are pregnant with #2 and they will be 21 months apart. I have always heard that your second is easier but I was just curious if this was true/not true for any of you??

TIA.

memali26 · January 2013

It was kind of true for us. DD1 was a pretty easy baby, all things considered, and she just got easier as we headed towards the toddler stage. DD2 was an extremely easy newborn, we hit the jack pot with her. Until about 8-10 months, then she started to be more difficult - fussier, more sleep issues, most of which could probably be tied to teething. She's now almost 16 months and has serious separation anxiety, far worse than anything I remember with her sister, which makes things more difficult. We just like to say she's our feistier child

nawlinsgrl · January 2013

I'm not there just yet, but thought I would pass along that friends of ours had a first baby that was much like you described, and #2 ended up being a total 180, very easy child. I know every situation and child is different, but just thought I'd pass along the story to give you some hope! Smile

etude de la vie · January 2013

That was DD. horrible colic, reflux, wouldn't nap until 6 months old, hated car seat. She was a very difficult baby but became an easy toddler.

DS had reflux and didn't take longer than a 30 min nap until 6 months old but was still "easier" than DD as a baby. He is a much needier toddler

honestly they both have their moments but never at the same time. When one is throwing themselves on the floor or being difficult the other is normally quiet, calm, and watching. Only a few times did I have to juggle two hysterical toddlers or babies at the same time. Either way having 2u2 keeps up on your toes and never a dull moment.

kagl08 · January 2013

Not true at all for us. My 1st had reflux, and was fussy untold we figured out her meds and formula. She didn't STTN until 13 months. We *thought* she was hard.

DS was a preemie, had a host of issues in the NICU including chest tubes, CPAP, jaundice. When he came home it was he!!. He had severe reflux requiring 2 different medications, a milk/soy protein intolerance. Was failure to thrive, had to be hospitalized at 2 months. Didn't start getting back on the growth charts until 6 months. He was at the drs literally weekly until 4-5 months old. He just started STTN at 15 months.

DS (among other things) is the main reason we are done with 2. We can't chance such a difficult baby again.

gtognietti · January 2013

kagl08:
Not true at all for us. My 1st had reflux, and was fussy untold we figured out her meds and formula. She didn't STTN until 13 months. We *thought* she was hard.
DS was a preemie, had a host of issues in the NICU including chest tubes, CPAP, jaundice. When he came home it was he!!. He had severe reflux requiring 2 different medications, a milk/soy protein intolerance. Was failure to thrive, had to be hospitalized at 2 months. Didn't start getting back on the growth charts until 6 months. He was at the drs literally weekly until 4-5 months old. He just started STTN at 15 months.
DS (among other things) is the main reason we are done with 2. We can't chance such a difficult baby again.

Goodness, you poor thing! We will be done at two also if Maddie is as difficult as her brother, but we will see what happens. Three difficult children just might be pushing it!

In my opinion I feel like the quote, "your second is often easier" applies more to the fact that you have the upper hand in knowledge the second time around then to personality. But I suppose we will see what happens once Maddie graces us with her presence.

ChristyML · January 2013

OP, I think people say it's easier with the second+ because you've done it before. I personally think that your second couldn't be any "worse" than your first from the sound of it...I hope you get an easier baby this time!

kcisthebombdotcom · January 2013

My first was a reflux baby and didn't outgrow it until 1.5. I was seriously petrified of having another one. I remember up until #2 was 8 weeks I was constantly worried she would develop it and it would be a lot harder to manage with another child. Luckily she never developed it and she was easier. I agree that regardless it will seem easier since you wont have the learning curve with a second child (although I suppose this doesnt apply if your first was an easy baby/your second was a difficult one).

sweetpea2003 · January 2013

Mine were similar in temperament but the second seemed easier because I wasn't so worried all the time. I felt confident that I could be a good mom and that made parenting more enjoyable and "easier". My first was a late term preemie (35 weeks) and my second was full term. This also helped make everything go more smoothly from day 1 because we didn't have the low birth weight issues or breastfeeding issues.

VTFutureMrs · January 2013

Oh definitely not! DS was a very easy baby while DD has always been a lot more fussier and demanding.

Court0026 · January 2013

I had your experience with #2. I hope your next baby is the easy one!

skyejo · January 2013

DD1 basically drives me to drink. Never slept, cried all the time, couldn't fall asleep on her own, nursed alllll the damn time. Now that she's a toddler she is drama queen and throws epic tantrums.

I never knew a baby could be as easy as DD2 is. Smiles all the day, rarely cries. Yesterday was her first day of daycare and her teachers could not believe how happy she was all day.

I'm paying my dues with DD1 so I deserved an easy baby like DD2

lindsay.lou · January 2013

I would say DS1 and DS2 have been equal in overall level of ease, but DS2 is easy in ways DS1 was hard like nursing and harder in ways that DS1 was easy like tolerating the car seat.

So it's a totally different experience. Easier in some ways, harder in others.

gtognietti · January 2013

Thank you all for your responses. Sometimes it's hard to even imagine ANY child being different then DS#1 since he is all i've known. So I am preparing for a similar experience, but hoping for a difference

moonfaerie · January 2013

DD2 was infinitely easier as a baby, but is much, much more challenging as a toddler. My experience has been that easy babies only get more difficult as they get older, and my challenging baby became the chillest, most easygoing kid I could have asked for. It made me careful what I wished for with #3. lol

lukafoo74 · January 2013

I am so worried about this. My DS was a pretty easygoing baby and is a pretty great, although extremely active toddler. I don't know how the next one can be easier. He didn't have any feeding, sleeping, issues. He had some gas problems, but what else is new. I am not going to know what to do with a more difficult baby!

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