How long does the honeymoon phase last? :)

[Tigerlily01]

My son is 10 months old, and I will grant you that he has always been an 'easy' baby--just generally chilled out and happy most of the time unless there is some real reason to make him unhappy (hungry, not feeling well, tired, etc)--but he is basically on autopilot now! Ever since he learned to crawl, then pull up and cruise on the furniture, and now sit unassisted, he has been self-entertaining, and having a blast. I just put him down in the living room with his toys and watch him go to town while I sit and watch, or read a book, or whatever. Obviously I do play with him, but he's good on his own for long stretches.

So I'm just curious...when does the honeymoon phase end? When will he get difficult again? I found the period before he was mobile to be difficult because he got frustrated by wanting to move and not being able to, but now...what's the next challenge? I'm just wondering how long I have before the tantrums start, lol!

Edit: Also, is this typical behavior for 10 month olds, or did I just really luck out with a chilled out little guy?

 

[DCS]

My oldest was soooooo chilled. Till he turned 3. Then the tantrums started. Until then we had a few issues with sleep but very little else. My youngest is the opposite. She is one and is only now starting to chill out. She loves to play with her big brother or on her own for short periods but usually wants one of us after a few minutes. She is also quite good at screaming when she doesn't get her way.

 

[Kitteh_Kat]

DD has always been a very laid-back baby/toddler with no sleep issues, up until recently. I think we're in the middle of the terrible 2s/missing daddy/teething stage. She's not terrible, and her behavior isn't enough to stress or frustrate me, but she's not as easy-going now. She will still play with her toys, do her own thing, play with other kids... but she needs me nearby. She is still sleeping through the night though, and that is really all I ask!

I don't know if it's typical or not, but he sounds a lot like Evie!

 

[misspriss]

DS was an easy baby, easy toddler, super chill. Until 2 days after DD came home from the hospital. Cue terrible twos. Every day is a struggle now with him. Thank God DD is another easy baby... He throws screaming kicking thrashing about fits at lease 3 times a day, he started wetting the bed when he is upset (been potty trained and dry at night 6 months +). He causes me waaay more stress and lost sleep than the newborn!

 

[Literati_Love]

When my dd first started crawling and cruising she got way easier as well and she would play by herself for long periods of time! But after a few months that sort of wore off. She is walking (sometimes) now and just generally seems more interested in mischief than playing with her toys, so I do find I have to constantly entertain or distract her now. I am hoping she goes through an easy phase again! Haha.

 

[Buttercup84]

DD1 was a super easy and chilled out baby/young toddler... Then she turned 2.5 and has been Miss Sassypants ever since She's 3 now and i'd say she's getting to be more of a diva every day!

 

[Button#]

Some babies get a bout of separation anxiety around the one year mark and sometimes around 18 months it can be a bit frustrating for them as they have clear ideas of what they want but not all the words they need to communicate.

I've had the opposite really. My DS was a tricky baby as he went through a lot of separation anxiety phases but we never really had much in the way of terrible twos and he's now a lovely 3 year old.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

All mine have been fairly easy babies/todders x

 

[Zephram]

My LO never went through that phase, and at 2 years 7 months he still doesn't really self-entertain. So, I have no idea. But it sounds awesome for you!

 

[MindUtopia]

I think you did probably luck out or you just find things easier that other people might find hard. To be honest, I found the period up to about a year pretty hard. 7 to 11 months was probably the hardest, with the exception of maybe the first 8 weeks. Separation anxiety, really disrupted sleep, starting weaning, teething, etc. were all in full force then. I felt it has only gotten easier the older my daughter has gotten, particularly from 2 years. Then they can talk to you and you understand and can explain things. They walk and play more independently. They give a bit more back emotionally. Tantrums did start sometime after 12 months, but I don't actually think that's all that bad. Maybe it's because of our approach to parenting (AP, we don't 'discipline' in the sense of punishment or using a naughty step or any of that, we just talk about it and calm down and carry on), but I really think toddlerhood is much more manageable than having a baby and much more enjoyable. So I think if you're doing well now, probably it will only get easier, baring a few hiccups and rough patches, which all kids go through.