Parents Navigate Chaos of Young Children

“Well, that time has come again. My wife is in early labor with our second and it looks like we’re in for the long haul once again. Our plan has been to introduce our 2 year 8 month old son to his baby sister at the hospital, with her in the bassinet so our arms are open for him, a gift from the baby to him, and a heap of other advice we’ve gotten about easing the introduction and transition for our toddler. We planned to do it on the day we were to head home so we can all go home together. Howev”

“My husband mentioned today he’s ready to start trying for another baby, and I was kind of in shock lol. I am 29, my husband is 35, and our son is 8.5 months old. He said he wanted to start trying because “he is old” and as much as I understand that, I’m not really sure I’m ready for another baby while my baby is well… still a baby? We have zero help or family so this has been a really hard time adjusting, I feel like we JUST are getting to a good place and routine. If you have multiples, especia”

“BACKGROUND: My husband and I are trying to decide whether to have a 4th child, and I’d love to hear from parents. We have three kids (ages 1, 3, and 5). I’m 35 and my husband is 40. I’ve always wanted 4 but after the 3rd came (as a surprise) we thought we were done. Life is already busy and overwhelming, but lately we’ve both been saying we think we want a fourth. At the same time, I almost want someone to talk me out of it and tell me four is just too much. QUESTION: Did adding a fourth child m”

“So many times I heard enjoy the baby stage, enjoy the toddler stage, you’re going to miss this. It never gets any easier, the problems only get bigger. Never complain because this is as good as it gets. Just you wait. As I sit here now with a 5 year old starting kindergarten soon, I wish I could show my younger self what an absolute delight parenting is. We can have extensive conversations, he makes me and everyone around us laugh nonstop, he has so many great friends, we can go to real dinners”

“I’m aware of the “you’ll miss these days one day”, schtick, and you can kma :). Girls are 3.5 and 19 months and everyday just feels like we’re surviving. They’re generally happy and healthy which we’re grateful for, but every night there seems to be some sort of new meltdown of issue, normal kid stuff of course but it just gets so old. “Same shit different day”. Weekends also feel like the worst because from 6am to bedtime it’s just fighting for our lives keeping them busy and happy, which alway”

“Hey, y’all. This is my first time posting on this sub. I seriously need some insight from others who may have experienced this during the toddler stage. I’m a 29 y/o father of twin toddlers. They’re 5. Sister A (big sis) and Sister B (lil sis) are somewhat polar opposites. I’m really starting to have a problem with Sister A’s behavior. She is a daddy’s girl and I do love that, but her behavior is becoming out of control. She never used to be the way that she is now, but maybe I’m thinking it’s t”

“Because I gotta admit, at times it feels like no years of experience can ever remove this feeling of helplessness you get when your child is behaving the opposite of who you’ve been raising them to be. I’m a 34 yo mom to a 5 yo girl. She’s an only child and I recently became a stay at home mom. I consciously chose to focus on our family and my child’s development. With that, I’m able to be the hands-on mom that I want to be. Though I question my choice at times when I feel like my presence has b”

“My daughter had to get a blood test recently. She’s 5.5 and they had to take the max blood allowed. It was her first blood test ever. It went horribly but we got it done. She has now started having bad dreams that a bunny is trying to take all her blood (we took her bunny and some other stuffies to the test). It’s super specific. Apparently the bunny also tries to take her skin? Idk, but sounds horrifying and I’m not sure if it’s a bad dream or bad thoughts before bed before bed. She’s obviously”

“First-time mom here, baby on the way. Trying to learn as much as I can before he arrives 🥰 For moms and dads… What's the thing you wish someone had told you before your first kid? Any resource or tip you found out about too late? Something you bought that made all the difference or something you regret buying? Any advice welcome, even the small stuff. Just want to be as ready as possible. Thanks 🙏🏻 submitted by /u/Leafsprinkles [link] [comments]”

“I have a 2 year old girl and a 2 month old boy and they’re both so little that I haven’t noticed a difference other than my son has literally peed on his own face. Any other differences you guys have noticed that I should possibly expect? submitted by /u/TropicallyGrownEMT [link] [comments]”

“So I have 4 daughters. 7, 5.5, 18 months and 6 months. Where I live its currently 100 degrees outside with a "real feel" of 110 because of humidity. I dont want my kids trapped inside so I found an indoor playground. When I got there I saw there was an area for older kids (5+) a toddler area (12 months - 4) and baby area (12 months and under.) So my 6 month old was sleeping in her carrier. I put toddler in the toddler section while my older kids went off to play. I see toddler trying t”

“Hi, first time posting here, I've often just been reading. I have an 11 month old daughter, and I'm wondering if she should be doing these things. So, she's usually very happy, but I've noticed she can't talk. At all. Is this normal for her age? Should she be talking by now? She also can't walk and we've tried a few things to get her to walk. We try holding her hands and simulating steps, we've tried walkers, we've tried to get her to stand. but she's pref”

“Is anyone else in the 10 month trenches right now? If so, a quick search on here reassured me that for some reason, it’s totally normal for our babies to start acting like monsters at this age. I say “some reason” like it isn’t a growth spurt and big development period in their lives, but this one has been probably the most challenging for us yet. Baby is happy one second, laughing and clapping and playing… the next she’s flailing and thrashing around like a lunatic and just screaming and crying”

“Firstly I didn’t know what flair to put but uh. This really is babies being babies. Well about a week ago my lovely 8 month old who cried on occasion only if she really absolutely needed something has turned into a little nonstop soundbox of tears… and its gotten worse over the last couple of days…what the fuck! I just want her to be a happy little pumpkin. We go out of the house multiple times a day, she’s walking (shes an extreme busy body) and yet these past days have been super taxing on me.”

“My wife and I are very appreciative that our 2 year old is happy, healthy, and actively destroying all of our belongings in the most adorable ways possible. Every time we tell friends that our toddler vomited all over me, proudly pooped in the shower, or has disrupted the flow of a work from home call... they all say something to the effect "cherish it, it'll be gone before you know it." For parents of older kids, what simple moments with your kiddo do you really wish you could rel”

“Hey dads need some advice. We’ve got an almost 4 year old daughter and a 9 month old daughter. My wife’s never been a particularly caring or affectionate mother but definitely capable up until recently. I’m not sure why but lately my wife is basically incapable of interacting with the 4 year old. Nearly every time there’s a start of a meltdown my wife either shuts down and just leaves the vicinity or worse ends up screaming at the kid. She’s usually fine with the baby but to be fair she’s not ol”

“My wife and I are very appreciative that our 2 year old is happy, healthy, and actively destroying all of our belongings in the most adorable ways possible. Every time we tell friends that our toddler vomited all over me, proudly pooped in the shower, or has disrupted the flow of a work from home call... they all say something to the effect "cherish it, it'll be gone before you know it." For parents of older kids, what simple moments with your kiddo do you really wish you could rel”

“I feel kinda odd about my second child experience. He’s 5 months today and has been an absolute dream. He sleeps well, eats well, has a great temperament and is just a really great addition to our family. We all love him to pieces, especially our 3 year old. Even his birth went exactly how I dreamed it would. I’m also healing very well and feeling good in my body. I feel very blessed. But.. I was talking with my MIL and I said “it just doesn’t feel as magical as my first” and she said well it’s”

“My step toddler is the most affectionate and loving kid (also sassy and knows he’s too cute but that’s not the point 🤣). He tells me several times a day he loves me. It’s just so innocent and sweet. Lately he’s been super into cuddling—all of the time and especially after a nap. He likes one hand on my necklace and the other hand squeezing my stomach fat. This kid finds comfort in the part of me I hate the most. I had seen (other?? idk who i am to him lol) moms talking about this before but now”

“Okay, parents… I have a question Is it REALLY true that your second child is usually the complete opposite of your first?! Everyone keeps telling me I “got lucky” with my baby because she has such a calm temperament, rarely cries, sleeps well, and is just overall such a happy, content baby. 🥹💕 But whenever I mention possibly adding another baby someday, people immediately hit me with “DON’T DO IT!” 😂 “You’re not going to get that lucky twice!” “Your second is going to be the complete opposite”

“So, i'm finally becoming a parent, and I need some advice. It is my dream and goal to be a great parent, but sometimes i'm not the best at being patient/calm when overwhelmed or under pressure. I admire parents who always have things under control, and don't let the small things bother them. A big part of it is that my parents were never like that, and i'm just seeking advice from some experienced parents to maybe learn what some methods are! I would much appreciate any replies,”

“In between a toddler, who knows what they want to wear that day; is it easier to wrestle a crocodile or is it the same? submitted by /u/Hot_Raisin7157 [link] [comments]”

“My little guy (15mo) has been cruising since 9 months. Felt like he was never going to start walking on his own. I read all the posts and watched all the videos about how to “encourage” him but he was happy just crawling and cruising. Finally, FINALLY, he walked about two weeks ago and has really taken off. Next goal will be getting him to stand on his own but for now, I’m taking the win. Just your reminder that kids do things on their own schedule so try not to stress too much. Also random remi”

“Any tips and tricks with managing high energy kiddos? Especially if you have a spouse that's not "go go go?" Background: I'm a high energy person. Unsurprisingly, our 3 and 5 year old are as well. This has kind of come to a head over the summer. We signed the 5 year old up for a couple of camps over the summer, but at this point he's struggling. The issue is boredom. And that boredom translates as literally running through the house screaming with his brother. There is some”

“Hey friends, I am a learning step-mom and I want to be as helpful as possible! I have an amazing daughter (8) and an incredible son (5). My son is a very excited boy. He cannot sit still. I truly mean that I don’t believe I’ve ever seen him stop moving, even in his sleep. If he is not being entertained by a toy or activity, he’s also making random loud noises as he moves about. He doesn’t sleep as long as everyone else in the house, and is unsettled until each person in the home is awake. He has”

“5 year old, 2 year old, another on the way... Trying to make some space to keep practicing before going dark on free time for another couple of years and watching these two gather dust again! submitted by /u/Jonny_____ [link] [comments]”

“This may seem straightforward but I feel besieged by endless books, podcasts, articles and more about how to raise my child. I feel overloaded. It seems like everything I hear or read is like “if you do this one thing wrong, your child will become a crushed, anxious mess with bad attachments and trauma!” Except, it’s every book coming across this way. Basically I just feel like any time I act frustrated, show negative emotion, discipline my child, or otherwise is going to irreversibly scar my ch”

“My oldest will be 4 at the end of the month and I feel like he has completely changed. He has strong opinions, needs things to go his way, will scream and yell, and is rude. I know he is only 4 so it is about teaching positive behaviors but this is extremely challenging. We have a 2 year old as well, and his outbursts are nothing compared to the 4 year old. He thinks the rules do not apply to him anymore. He needs everything to go his way or it's a breakdown. What can we do to help ease this”

“My LO is 8-months old and has been very intense since the beginning, she has had alot of gas since and overall a really "hard" baby for me due to massive screaming fests. This is my second baby and my first was absolutely nothing like that, so I am really at my wits end. About 1-2 times a day she has a massive meltdown where she cries to whole hell and screams as hard as she possibly could and flails and kicks. During a meltdown I usually sit her right before me and I keep her still so”

“Hello all. I found daddit when my wife got pregnant last year. I enjoyed so much reading other dads experiences hoping i could learn and be prepared. When my daughter was born i was scared shitless because it was an emergency c section after a perfect template pregnancy. But all went well. First three months: no outside contact with anyone besides grandparents here and there that came and helped or brought food. I cannot overstate how much outside help is appreciated. Levels of tiredness: 100%.”

“My partner and I currently have 2 kids (2.5 years and 2 months old) and are considering a third. We don't really have any village, and I feel like anyone I know with more than 2 kids has lots of help. How do people with no village do it? I already feel a bit swamped with 2 kids and wonder if 3 is a bad idea. Some context: One set of grandparents lives over 3 hours away and visit maybe once every other month. The other set of grandparents are not helpful with the kids and really cause a lot m”

“My kids are 4 and 5 (they were 2 under 2), and we’re considering a third. I thought I’d feel excited, but instead I’m incredibly nervous and wondering if we can handle it. We are financially stable; however, do not have family in town. Partner works remotely and has a flexible schedule. I have pared down my hours to 10 hours of consulting per week. For those who have a similar age gap, was going from 2 to 3 harder than having 2 under 2? How did your older kids adjust? I’m also curious what life”

“I’m curious if anyone else struggles with this. One of the hardest parts of being a parent for me isn’t the sleepless nights or the day to day challenges. It’s watching my daughter grow (she’s 3.5) and realizing just how unbelievably innocent she is. She sees the world with complete wonder. She trusts, loves, laughs, and finds joy in the smallest things. And even reminds me how to be a kid again or spark long lost memories of my own childhood. Sometimes I’ll just watch her play or smile, and it”

“My twins are 6 months old now, and I keep seeing moms say things like “I don't want him to get bigger” or “im sad he's not my tiny baby anymore.” And i just don't feel that way at all I don’t find myself grieving those newborn stages or wishing they could stay little. When I look at them getting bigger, learning new things, becoming more interactive, developing their little personalities, etc., I mostly just feel excited. Even looking at newborn photos, I think wow they were tiny and”

“I’m genuinely very curious, and I wonder whether people are willing to answer this honestly. Are you satisfied with your life after having children? I’m not even going to ask whether it’s what you imagined. I don’t think it’s possible to truly picture what parenthood will be like beforehand. “Happy” feels like too big a word, so instead: are you satisfied with your life as a parent? Do you feel glad that this is your life? I’m mainly asking parents who are still actively raising and caring for t”

“Hello, I am a 27 year old male and posting this to see if anyone would relate, provide feedback, or advice. My youngest child is 2.5 years old and our newest addition is 6 months old. With my first kid, it seemed like I was still able to hangout with friends often and they still would reach out to me. After having my second kid, it seems like people have gone much more distant. I will admit at times I wasn’t the best at responding because of how burnt out and exhausted I was. I may be in the wro”

“Last time I went to the beach with my little one he was 7m old and a chiller now he’s a 13m and active. Any must bring items (obvi sunscreen, hat etc) or hacks? submitted by /u/Ok_Car1396 [link] [comments]”

“I don’t know if this is normal , she’s only 8 weeks old and I feel so upset looking at pictures of her newborn 😭😭😭 is this what parenthood is😂 submitted by /u/Downtown_Oil2056 [link] [comments]”

“I feel so guilty writing about this, but I’m not sure how to act like a normal human being. I have two kids under two and I always knew I’d struggle past the toddler phase. I’m loving baby/toddler phase! I’ve been trying to hang out with friends that have children, but their children are older (4 - 7) and I’m really struggling with not getting easily irritated with them. They’re constantly barreling over my children, asking the same questions over and over again, and hopping around and climbing”

“This is very random but the other day at baby swim, I overheard the toddler parents saying that babies are so much easier because they are much easier to take places. I can't stop thinking about it because I was hoping being out and about would get easier! Toddler parents, what changed for you? submitted by /u/Economy-Cow-9847 [link] [comments]”

“I don't remember when it happened with my first, thanks momnesia. I've read that it can happen between 15 weeks and 19 weeks. Call me crazy, but I just can't wait to have it and get over it because it will mean that we will have a day time sleeping schedule. Right now at 10w everything is chaos. He only contact naps, right now I'm nap trapped, he is fussy at the breast when his sleepy and hungry and it seems that we are never on sync with sleep and feeds. Did it get better after”

“Hey dads, I could really do with some advice. My oldest boy is turning 4 in a few months. He absolutely loves the water and used to love swimming lessons. We had a term off and now he is absolutely refusing to join in the class. The past two Fridays have involved getting him there, excitedly getting dressed and then him having an absolute meltdown the second it comes time to get in the water. Today I tried to slowly ease him into it. Let him watch for a bit had him sit next to the pool, but as s”

“What are some things I should prioritize doing with my young kids that my future self will be grateful for? For context without oversharing, I’m dealing with some pretty severe, lifelong mental health challenges. I’m getting treatment, and my kids (3yo b/g twins) are safe, loved, fed, and cared for—but my baseline functioning is currently very low. I’m not able to show up for my family the way I always imagined I would. I’m trying to accept that reality without giving up on what might be within”

“Hey team! My partner and I have such an amazing little man, who is 8.5 weeks old. We were, as I’m sure many people are lulled into a false sense of security during those first few weeks of newborn hood. Unfortunately, we live in a location where we are more or less required to drive an hour to do anything, grocery shopping, see Friends, Pilates for the missus etc etc. Those first few weeks were so easy, the baby just slept beautiful and was napping walking around with us in the pram or in a wrap”

“I’ll preface by saying that we do have pretty well behaved children. So it’s not them. It’s probably me. Going to the park Going to the store Going to the zoo Going to the beach Going camping Going for a bike ride Going for a picnic All normal things to do as a family. All things families do ALL THE TIME. And for some reason we just really struggle to do these things without my husband and I getting completely over stimulated and frustrated (mostly at each other). I don’t really know what I’m tr”

“It’s summer holidays, I’ve got loads of free time thanks to layoffs (✌️) and lucky enough to be in a position to take advantage of that and spend loads of time with the kids (18mo and 6y). Typically we’re not crazy strict but we do find that having a bit of a routine and being quite firm about those boundaries helps keep things running smoothly. But it’s summer and 6yo seems old enough to handle some flex. Some later nights, a few ice creams, more say in what we do with our day etc. But the real”

“Hi parents! My work is doing a little summer event at our local water park and I am planning on bringing my 9m old with me as I think she would have a blast. Has anyone done anything similar and how did your day go? Also, for breastfeeding did you rinse yourself off before letting them nurse? TIA submitted by /u/Practical_Ask7239 [link] [comments]”

“We have boy (6), girl (3), boy (just turned 1). I feel I am ready to be done at 3. My wife said she's always wanted 4, but is starting to think about stopping. Our kids are great. Typical for their ages. Our girl has BIG feelings. Our youngest is just at that stage where he is busy... always getting into things, can't sit still, etc. I've always told my wife that I am willing to do whatever she wants. After all, she stays home with the kids all day. I have expressed that I am ready t”

“I'm 38F. My husband and I have a 9 month that we love more than anything. It's been an adjustment, of course, but one that we are happy to make for our boy. I have always wanted at least 2 kids. I still do, but I am very aware of my age. We were able to conceive quickly/easily and I had an easy, healthy pregnancy and delivery. Our son is thriving. BUT! My husband and I both work. He works in office, M-F, with occasional travel. I WFH running my own small law firm. I don't have to wor”

“My wife and I have a two and half y/o daughter. She is an amazing little beam of light. We originally planned on having another child after she turned two, but delayed that plan for a job opportunity that would move our family across the US. That didn't happen, so now we're at the crossroads of another kiddo; yes or no. Leaning yes some days, no some others. I wanted to hear the perspective of some dads who grew up an only child to see how they felt growing up without a sibling (I grew u”

“At which point did you confirm that you were one & done? Or those who DID have more, do you regret it? Currently 10 months in, and I love the idea of having 1 more when my daughter is 4, but then I think about starting over again and being postpartum. And my daughter was the EASIEST baby as a newborn. But still, I don’t think anything sounds worse than that. Not to mention, being pregnant again. I’m very much someone who doesn’t like HUGE change, so after I had my daughter I truly went throu”

“I'm nearly 3 years in, and for some reason I'm noticing far more negatives than I am positives in all of this. My son is healthy and overall a normal toddler behaviourally. But I'm pissed off and stressed in some shape or form. Every. Single. Day. Illogical tantrums. The relentless care. The constant variables. Will they sleep. Will they eat. Will they kick off if I offer the wrong banana. I get hit and screamed at. I cant even go for a shit without drama. I cant switch off. We spent”

“Background: We have a 6 year old neurodivergent girl and a 4 month old baby. We both love our kids. However I have a hard time connecting with the 6 year old who always prefers mom, making her the primary caretaker of our daughter. My wife has anxiety issues, and also had some abuse from her parents when she was a kid She gets anxious every time the baby whimpers, and even more anxious as she is not making enough milk for him anymore. Back the event; I put the baby to sleep at nights and the nig”

“I’m so tired of finding parenting this hard. My kids are two under two (23 months and 9 months - YES I’m aware I’ve made my bed). Please tell me it gets easier, both my kids are incredibly strong willed, defiant, amazing and bubbly, hate sleep, both won’t eat solids - all my food goes in the bin. I’m just finding it so bloody hard all the time. I know it’s not supposed to be easy, but it’s pushing me to a physical and emotional limit every day, I’m still getting 4-5 hours of broken sleep between”

“I am a recent second-time mum. I have a 3 year old girl and a 5 month old boy. My daughter is mostly secure but has started showing some odd behaviour towards the little one. Sometimes she pulls his legs or pinches him or asks to be held instead of the baby. Early on we did quite well by always putting her needs first, but now I am not so sure how to proceed. Seasoned parents, are there any book recommendations to handle this? submitted by /u/iamherebecauseofmybf [link] [commen”

“Not sure whether to tag this "Advice Request" or "Support", I'd be happy with either. Our almost-three-year-old had an incredibly sweet and kind disposition until the beginning of this summer. She's currently going through a really challenging phase. Seemingly living in her own world, not listening to myself or her mom, and getting LOUDLY frustrated when things don't go her way, including throwing things. We still have lots of sweet moments but getting her to do s”

“Hello, don’t know why I’m making this post, maybe just want to rant? I don’t know. I (29)m have 2 kids (3 and 1) they are a handful, especially the 3 year old, totally difficult kid possibly on the spectrum but high functioning like me and his mother (26)F. My partner has awful pregnancies with both (hyperemesis) and ptsd from childbirth with the now 3 year old. It’s been very hard, I was the main parent to him for pretty much his whole second year of life whilst she suffered post natal depressi”

“Hi everyone! I’m mostly just looking to hear other people’s experiences. For context, my son is 5½ months old. I’ve recently had unprotected sex, and because I’m still postpartum, I’m honestly not sure where I am in my cycle. My periods haven’t really settled into a predictable pattern yet, so I’m also unsure whether or when I ovulated. I’m not even sure if I’m pregnant or ovulating again yet, but it got me thinking about what life is like with two babies so close together. If you’ve had babies”

“I’ve been in my “feels” a lot as I progress in my third trimester of my second pregnancy, and just want to vent. I have an amazing, beautiful, smart 4 year old daughter. She is so strong-willed, confident and full of energy I am just in awe of her. She was also a very “spirited” baby let’s say - she never wanted to sleep, had so many gas issues and also never wanted to be put down. I had bad PPD so I feel her newborn/infant stage was very very hard on me. I also went back to work when she was yo”