Pls tell me lovely things about having 2 under 2!

[Bobian123]

I have a 13 month old DS and am newly pregnant (6 weeks) with DC2. All planned so am pleased, but I'm so focused on the practicalities of it that I wonder whether I'll bond with my belly. With DS I was mooning around rubbing my tummy immediately, creating little playlists just for him that I listened to all the time. This time, although it's still so early, I can't get my head around it and am just worried about how I'm going to cope.

I found a very useful thread on here, which I've bookmarked, about logistics and ways to cope with a smaller age gap (it'll be 21 months) but I would so love to hear the wonderful bits about having two littl'uns close together! Don't get me wrong, I'm aware it won't be a picnic but want to start thinking about some lovely things to come!

Thanks in advance x

[ApocalypseNowt]

I only had 2 under 2 for a week but mine are now 2.10yo and 10mo and it's getting better all the time! The turning point for me was when dd2 started crawling - since then i don't have to have her in my arms (or a sling) all the time, she can follow dd1 about and they can play 'together' after a fashion.

The first six months were hard but it passes v quickly and now i'm really enjoying the pair of them. I can only see it getting better as more time passes.

Congratulations OP!

[BlueberryWafer]

No advice, but I'm in the same boat I'm 23 weeks pregnant and have an 18 month old so he will be 22 months when I'm due!

[Embolio]

I have a 2.5 year old and a 17 month old. They LOVE each other, its lovely to see. Ds2 follows ds1 everywhere and ds1 looks out for ds2 when they are at childminders, soft play etc. They fight, wake each other up and egg each other on in mischief too of course but they are already close, its lovely.

[Embolio]

Should have said, ds1 was 11 months when ds2 rocked up early.

[whyhasmyheadgonenumb]

19 months here, when your toddler does something that makes the baby laugh out loud it will melt your heart. My 2 are little mischief makers, DD leads DS astray but they dote on each other and we are a little team.

[myotherusernameisbetter]

I have a 13 month gap - for me it was when they actually started communicating directly with each other :)

[Mrsgrumble]

I will have a 14 month gap so watching with interest

[Lovethesea]

Mine are 19 months apart and now 5 and 4. One school year apart only.

They love the same toys, playmobil, lego, crafts, DVDs, cbeebies, playgrounds, ice creams, magazines, leappad games so can share loads of experiences as well as things.

They help each other out. They can learn new things together like making their own snacks and DD (5) will help DS (4) when he needs it.

They had a sleepover in DS's bed the other night. DS tells DD he loves her and she is his best friend. Then they fall out and she is informed she is Not his best friend anymore.

They argue but mostly they play and include each other in everything because they have always had each other about since toddlerhood. On holidays they have the fun of silly songs they make up and jokes you have to be under 7 to find funny.

They teach each other loads about sharing, kindness, compassion, not always being the one getting attention, etc.

First while is hard work and I can heartily recommend the nipper 360 double as the lightest turn on a pin head pram and a joy to push anywhere.

But I am so delighted we were able to have the two we wanted close in age.

[weebleswillwobble]

15 month gap - now almost 4 and just turned 5. Hard work at first, but manageable with a certain degree of organisation, but now it is WONDERFUL! I am so smug about how well they generally play together (aside from the odd bashing!), into the same age range of activities and toys. It's fab! So much so I had another one :)

[IncaAztec]

I just had 2 under 2 (by days!), the very best thing is my DD1 doesn't remember life without DD2. So less jealousy I think.

[RandomHouseRules]

Also had 21 months. Honestly, the first year was difficult, in part because my second was a LOT harder than my first (which no one warned me about - everyone tells you that second babies are easier!). Younger one was very demanding and clingy all the time and I did feel that older one suffered a bit. However, other than a few issues in the very very early days (with Child1 basically trying to smother Child2!) they have been best of friends and are now incredibly close, aged 3 and 4. They look out for each other, defend each other when one is getting a telling off ("She didn't mean it!!!"), teach each other and play together really well a lot of the time. Obviously they have their moments but I am so glad they are so close and while the age gap obviously isn't essential for that I do think it helps. Long may it continue!

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

They'll practically start school together and it will be bliss?

[fixyourgardengate]

Mine are currently adorable when DS isn't snatching toys off his sister

DS (3 next month) and DD (15 months)

DS tells everyone who will listen that DD "is my Baby Sister and I love her" and pretty protective of her at baby groups and stuff.

I also love it when they make each other giggle at the dinner table, and when DS shares his icecream.

[Deckmyballs]

I had 2 under 2, 15 months between them. Seriously the hardest thing I've ever done. Now have a 3 yo and a 2 yo and still finding it hard!!! Sorry, children are fab tho so you will love them anyway. Prepare for some difficult times ahead

[Bobian123]

I'm going to respond properly tomorrow but wanted to say a huge thank you for these wonderful replies! It's lovely reading through them x

[poocatcherchampion]

the way dd1 has to take her baby everywhere because I have a baby to take everywhere too.

and the sound of their giggles - age 1 and 2 now.

[TheWiseOldElf]

My DDs are 15 months apart. Now 2 years and 10 months old. It's definitely been easier since DD2 started crawling and she now follows her sister around and they will play with each other a little bit which is so gorgeous to watch. The first six months were difficult though as DD2 was a terrible sleeper and a Velcro baby (sling worked wonders tho). I also found it very difficult to cope with DD1 when I was heavily pregnant and she wasn't yet walking reliably. You just need to remember that late pregnancy and the helpless newborn phase are temporary and things will get easier.

[Bobian123]

Thanks for the congrats and good luck to those in the same boat as me!
Embolio wowee - that's one close age gap!!

lovethesea thanks for the buggy recommendation.

Actually that was another question - we currently have a bugaboo and a maclaren. Do we need to invest in a double buggy? Or have some of you used slings while the dc2 is tiny and a buggy board for DC1 when they're a bit bigger? Not sure how long DC1 would stay on a buggy board for at the age of 2....

[SonorousBip]

I have less than 2 years between mine although they are now much older. I think I like that it is not all very drawn out. Others may disagree, but my younger one is just finishing primary and I think as a family we probably fee; good that primary is OVER. One of her Dd's mates had a sister starting in Reception when she was in Y6 and the mother confided that she barely had the strength to go through the nativity play/Biff and Chip years all over again.

Also, I think its quite tough when you have a big gap and they get older to find things the whole family enjoys

[coco2303]

Don't want to be rude and jump on post but I will be induced in 11 days and have a 16 month old daughter.
Obviously it won't happen straight away but I want to get new baby into our routine.
So when I bath them together do I wrap baby up and put her by the heater while getting my older daughter dressed OR sort out baby first? ???
I thought to wrap up baby and dress older daughter first as at least baby will stay still and wrapped up in front of heater where as my older daughter would just run around and I don't want either of them getting cold

[myotherusernameisbetter]

I tended to not bath them together initially or sit on the loo (lid down) while elder was in the bath and just dunk the little one in and dry and dress them while eldest was still splashing about, lay the baby into a bouncy chair in the bathroom while getting the bigger one out and ready.

It's surprisinging not that long until little one can't be trusted to lie still and then not too much longer until they are both sitting up in the bath together causing havoc :o

[coco2303]

Lol thank you for your reply I'm nervous about having 2 under 2 but that was one thing that was really bugging me. And if I could ask another question please just 1 more lol.......
So when I'm cooking or doing dishes etc my daughter can go in and out of rooms etc. But when baby comes im worried about leaving my older daughter alone with her sister at first.......
I really want my older daughter involved and not to segregate them but how do u do this safely as it's impossible to watch them every second xx

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

I have a 23 month old and a 10 month old so have 2 under 2 for quite a bit

Lovely things are that they both still have naps during the day! dD has 2 and DS has one. They both have their morning nap at the same time - bliss!

DS was only 13 months old when DD was born so quite happily was in the pram etc with her and not agitating to walk. They are lovely in the pram together and often hold hands

They play with the same toys interchangeably and eat the same food. I can put them facing each other in their high hairs and DS makes DD laugh!

DS was too little to really take in when DD was born so no jealousy although we can have some now!

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

coco - I used a sling or kept DD in the kitchen with me on the table in a bouncy chair. Alternatively, I put DS in the playpen and DD in the same room in her Moses basket at a safe distance incase he threw anything at her!

[coco2303]

My daughter doesn't sleep in the day :(. Unless she is knackered and we are out then she will try and sleep too late lol.
A sling sounds like a good idea. And I think they will be ok when baby is a little older but so nervous about the first few months.........xx