Gerunds usually refer to actualized events, whereas infinitives usually refer to potenial events. For example, by using 'growing up', a gerund, the speaker bases her/his statement on her/his past (i.e., an actualized event). By using 'to grow up' an infinitive, the speaker makes reference to someone's else future (i.e., a potential event).Originally Posted by paula123
1. Growing up is easy.
(Actualized event; the speaker experienced the event)
2. To grow up and become a good citizen is easy.
(Potential event; the event has not been realized yet; it hasn't happened. The speaker is speaking to/about people who have yet to reach adulthood.)
As for which is more common, I'm not sure how to answer that because usage depends on whether the speaker wants to expresses a potential event or an actualized event.