From a few conversations I've had recently...which stage of childhood do you prefer?

I know some (clearly loony) people who would happily go on having babies forever, except for the fact that they go on to become toddlers, on which they are less keen. They thrive on those tiny, fat little bodies, adorable cooing noises, Colmans/french wholegrain mustard poohs, and sleepless nights.

Then there are the toddler/under 5s people (I'm one) who adore the learning to walk and talk stage, the wobbling, explorative under-2s and the hysterical non-stop babbling of the over-2s, the accidental swearing that they save for sharing with the grandparents first, and the pee and pooh all over the house (floor, walls, ceiling) during potty training.

How about the school age kids? More independent, with friends and best friends and not-friends-any-more, playing out on their own, and begging you not to hug them in public PLEASE, homework and skinned knees.

Is it possible that anyone loves the teenage type the best? All grump and hump and odd smells and sleeping all day?

Or are they best when they've grown up and flown the nest?

What's your favourite age/stage, and why?

As a mummy to two very different staged girls dd1 is 10 and dd2 is 7months, i think I prefer the baby stage. but the less than 4 month stage. Over that and before about one they don't do much!

DD1 is a good 'un and really well behaved (at the moment) and a wonderful help with her sister. I think these past months would have been so much harder without her.

All stages have their merits, from the toothless grin of the 7 week old to the miserable wretch who is just TOO easy to torment in their teenage years.

I like the toddlers though, from about 18 months to four years old... kids at that age are fascinating and hilarious at the same time.

I only have one.. he's just 9 months and so far i've decided i'm not a baby person!!!! :(

I'll report back as he grows!

I'm one of the loonies who likes the baby stage - they don't answer back! At the moment I've got a 22month old girl and a 7 year old girl, both of whom like the word 'no' a little too much :mad:

NOT teenagers. I have one and he's crackers, moody, defensive, aggressive and blameless apparently. :rolleyes:

NOT teenagers. I have one and he's crackers, moody, defensive, aggressive and blameless apparently. :rolleyes:

You just described me and Im not far off 50 :D

I love babies. Little tiddly under ones. Shame mine is two months already, maybe we'll have to prepare for the next one before she grows out of it so I have my own baby still.. :D

I love babies. Little tiddly under ones. Shame mine is two months already, maybe we'll have to prepare for the next one before she grows out of it so I have my own baby still.. :D

Insanity! Madness!
I'm terrible. I think they're cute as babies, but I'm impatient to meet the little person they'll become...come on, kid, smile, coo, hold your own head up, sleep through, talk to me! :D

mmm. the problems is that whatever age they are they are always needy.I have an 18 year old and a nearly 13 year old and their needs are of course different to when they were younger, but it is harder now than ever before.They actually need much more guidance and support when they are this age than when they are liitle.As a parent, you have to be..

1. A good listener.
2. Ready at the drop of a hat to give lifts all over Sheffield when required.:D
3. A skilled negotiator
4. A role model
5. Kind and understanding
6. Non judgemental
7. Very, very organised
8. Ready to sacrifice your needs.
9. Give them a cuddle if they want it.
If you cant do all that, you are deemed to be unsatisfactory as a parent, well, in my house anyway!!!:thumbsup:

I like the grandchildren stage! :love: Mine are 21 months and 6 weeks. Tiny one is great just for cuddles, and the older one is hilarious. Her favourite phrase atm: Wots that? Fav word atm: 'custin. (Disgusting, usually applied to any food she has decided she doesn't like!)

Only problem is she is slightly over enthusiastic :rolleyes: in wanting to 'pat' her baby brother! Since he came home she's appropriated his changing mat, most of his blankets, any toys that are his and she tries to squeeze into his moses basket. Bless.

I like the grandchildren stage! :love: Mine are 21 months and 6 weeks. Tiny one is great just for cuddles, and the older one is hilarious. Her favourite phrase atm: Wots that? Fav word atm: 'custin. (Disgusting, usually applied to any food she has decided she doesn't like!)

Only problem is she is slightly over enthusiastic :rolleyes: in wanting to 'pat' her baby brother! Since he came home she's appropriated his changing mat, most of his blankets, any toys that are his and she tries to squeeze into his moses basket. Bless.

Just cant wait for that stage!

I love them from about 4 or 5 months when they start to notice "fascinating" things, such as their hands, and generally stare at everything. I love the fact that speedy 5 now giggles when you tickle her. Usually up until about 2 years old, when they turn into monsters that you wish you'd bought on sale or return. Speedy 4 is now 16 months and so funny - dancing, waving, loves to stroke the animals, just learnt to say "bye" and shouts at everyone and everything, although nobody understands except her :hihi: I hate the weaning and potty training bits of this stage though. And the constant in and out of car seats.
All stages have nice things and horrible things. Almost 13 year old girl can be very grown up, and have lovely conversations with me, but at other times can be a complete stroppy cow and i wish she'd hurry up and grow up and leave home! The 9 year old boy is a great help around the house, but both him and the 8 year old boy never listen to a word i say and that's sooooo annoying having to repeat myself over n over again. But on the plus side, they can all get themselves in and out of the car, shower themselves, dress themselves, bring their dirty clothes down, and subsequently operate the washing machine and the dryer. So although I really like the 4 months to 2 years stage, there's also lovely things about the other stages too, but obviously along with the good, comes the bad :rolleyes:

Well I'm a babyholic! Love them:love:.Everything about them, even middle of the night snuggles. But I CAN'T do toddlers. Cute and funny yes, but boy can they wind me up:suspect:.I like them a lot more once their language skills improve (round about 3ish) and you can properly chat with them.
Maybe we could some kind of child share scheme, so you only have to deal with the bits you like! I'll take all the babies, then Ill pass them onto cosywolf for the toddler stage etc.... Anyone volunteering for the teenage years?:hihi:

Anyone volunteering for the teenage years?:hihi:

eerrrr......no :suspect:

eerrrr......no :suspect:
Got 2 of my own and that is enough!

I loved every stage whilst going through it :)I wouldn't want to be starting again though!

Mine are 13 and 23 and both are great people, but the thought of going back to babies fills me with dread. Grandkids will be nice, can't wait :)

Insanity! Madness!
I'm terrible. I think they're cute as babies, but I'm impatient to meet the little person they'll become...come on, kid, smile, coo, hold your own head up, sleep through, talk to me! :D

But she is smiling and cooing!!! :hihi: And holding her head up! And she doesn't have the squeaky newborn cry.. and she sleeps through.. fortunately she does not yet talk. I am scared of what she will say when she does.. :|:hihi:

I personally prefer the age Riley is at now (16 months).

I found that the newborn stage was very hard work, sleepless nights, constant bottles and crying! Riley now eats the same as me throughout the day and sleeps 8pm - 8am. Plus it got to the point where I was thinking "When is he going to do something" LOL

He is forever doing new things and makes me laugh everyday!

I have three teenage girls, they have been great all the way through. I have worked with kids for over twenty years from tiny babies to post 16, they are all great.

18 is quite good, old enough to buy me a pint. I find that 25 tends to mean better conversation though. There's only so many times I can listen to people swap A level results without doing something horrible to them all.