I think it depends and I'm not sure absolutes like "hardest" are helpful. I think in a recent study, a commercial pilot topped the most stressful job. On bad days at home, believe me, I would give flying a plane a whirl.

I definitely agree that before I had kids I was bombarded with the "babies are HARD work," messages - I'm not sure that applied to older children. Anyhow, I actually find babies quite easy and I've had two very different babies in terms of sleep. Sleep deprivation? Meh (to me).

Toddlers on the other hand completely and utterly do my head in. I went to work part-time when DD1 was 12 months old and I found working a professional job a complete walk in the park compared to looking after DD1.

Now that DD1 is 4, she's quite easy to look after in the whole scheme of things. Has her moments but generally she's pretty good company and parenting her has actually become a PLEASURE in the last six months rather than just a hard, hard slog.

DD2 is about to enter toddlerdom and just quietly, I'm dreading it.

Babies and children - fairly easy. Toddlers - nightmare. To me.

And they say never split up until your kids go to school as it all suddenly becomes very easy. Until they become teenagers.