Going from 1 to 2

[Mum2Arthur]

I'm new here, so hey girls! I've been a member of a few mummy groups on Facebook but due to knowing a few people on the groups I don't like posting on there much anymore, so I have downloaded this app today in hope to seek advice off other mummy's in confidence
Anyway, I have an 18 month old little boy called Arthur and me and my partner have spoken about trying for our second child in the next few months. So I was just wondering when other mummy's started thinking about a second baby and how old their first was when you had the baby, what was it like? How did you find? Etc! Xxx

[3boysandabump]

By the time my first was 18 months I had a 5 month old 😂

[Verryberrycherry]

I always knew i wanted more than one but i started thinking about trying for dc2 when dc1 was 2. Fell pg when dc1 was 2 and a half. Age gap of 3y2m was perfect for me as toilet trained, makes his own brekkie. S lot more independent etc. They get on brilliantly. Now 1 and 4yo.

[Handsoffmysweets]

I had an 18 month old and a 4 month old so I’m probably no use either 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Handsoffmysweets]

But ye just get pregnant now. Theyll be a nice gap (nothing’s ideal imo)

[GirlGang89]

I have 2 and half age gap between my 2 girls, so got pregnant with my daughter being 21months - however we had been trying for about 5/6 months. 2 and half years ended up perfect gap as she was potty trained and playing relatively independently and wanted to help me look after the baby (although that might also be a girl thing). I think I could of coped fine with her being younger but it was an added bonus of her being potty trained. I also enrolled her in pre school 1 day a week just to get her to build some independence and play with children her own age Good luck! Xx

[Skylucy]

I got pregnant just before DD turned 1, so there's a 20 month age gap between my two. DS is now 6 weeks old and I've only been coping because DH got a generous amount of time off work! God knows how I'm going to cope when he goes back in 3 weeks .

TBH, I thought a 3 year gap would be good (second baby arrived a bit earlier than we'd planned!!). I'd expect baby #1 to be at nursery then, fully potty-trained and sleeping well. I'm finding our
gap too small - we don't use childcare so from next month I'll be managing two under two all by myself 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, and my baby is EBF.

It depends on circumstance, lifestyle, the needs of your child(ren), the support you have and of course, a bit of luck conceiving! I guess there's no "perfect" time. Best of luck to you.

[BackforGood]

There's pros and cons to different age gaps.
I have one friend who has 3, each a year apart who maintains she loves it as they tend to go through all 'stages' together, or attend things together (eg cubs) so she's not traipsing up and down to pack night for 10 year that you are if you have a 3 yr gap between children.
She reckons that if she'd got used to sleeping through the night after her first, she wouldn't have wanted to start the sleep deprivation with the 2nd let a lone the 3rd, but kind of got used to it with her dc arriving one after the other. Same with carrying the pram bag everywhere and having all the baby equipment all over the house.

Personally, mine are 3 school ears apart each, and I quite like that - it gives them a bit of 'space, and theydon't have to belong to the same things as their siblings.

It also depends on finance of course. If you can afford childcare for two at a time.

My sister's elder 2 are 15months apart and have always been close, but when we were dc, we always got on better with the siblings we weren't that close in age to.