To think a 2 year age gap is tough?

DD1 and DD2 have just under 2 years between them. The early days were tough but as they got older it was easier. They liked the same things, watched the same TV show and days out were easy as they were similar ages.
DS is 11 and 13 years younger than his sisters. That is a hard age gap. While they love playing with him obviously days out and holidays are hard work and we try to do a mixture of things geared to both age groups.
Looking back the smaller age gap was better although I do remember shedding a few tears after the toughest days.

It’s very very hard. I had 3 under the age of 3 1/2. A new born, an eighteen month old and a 3 1/2 year old. At that time it was so tough. Now, 17 years later, the 20 year old and eighteen year old have gone to a music festival and are all returning back together with the 17 year old. They all get on and have the same friends (2 girls and 1 boy)

I did the same as your parents 🤣 still think wtf! I’ve not got one that’s finished school and pretty much independent and one that in the first year of high school!

I have a 2 and a half year gap between mine. My youngest is 18 months and they are starting to play together. This morning they spent 15 minutes doing puzzles together while I cleared the kitchen. It was very cute so hang in there it does get easier I promise

18 months exactly here between our DDs - 3 and a half and 5 years. I like @StinkerTroll idea tonight 😂

It's hard as I have 2 years 4 months between all 3 of my children and it was definitely hard having 3 children under the age of 5! However, it does get easier and now they are still best friends and always have each other. However, last year we too had GCSES and Alevels at the same time!

Swings and round abouts, sometimes it's a nightmare (hello newborn and 2 year old!! ) sometimes it's amazing (they are best mates most of the time but each independent of each other). This time next year you will find me living in the playhouse with a mini fridge full of chocolate and wine..... GCSEs and A levels in the same year..... remind me again..... why did I leave a 2 year gap!? 😫

Mine are 26m apart and it’s only since I’ve seen friends having newborns now with bigger gaps that I realise how tough that small gap was at first! I know they’ll have other challenges but even most of those friends have commented how much easier it is for them that their eldest is 4 or whatever. So no, it’s not just you! It will get better!

I had 25 months between mine and it was super hard until 2 and 4, then became much easier and now they are generally great mates and it all works really well. Hadn’t thought about a levels/gcse year, in a way I think that could be better that they both have to knuckle down together (head in sand)

I have the same age gap and I found maternity leave really not fun so I went back to work when youngest was 5 months. Absolutely saved my sanity - sure childcare was expensive but it was absolutely an investment in my wellbeing.

7 years down the line now and they are best buddies, wouldn't change it for the world

Have a 22 month gap between mine and the first few years are hellishly hard (although I imagine any one with twins or multiples has it worse) however they're now 12 and 14 and good friends. There's a lot of activities they could do together so those hours they are in clubs are bliss. Thank God for scout camps as DH and I get a weekend to ourselves. You will get through it.

Currently in exactly the same position with my 2 boys! My God it's so friggin hard!!!!! I am literally winging it every single day! Good luck! We'll get there (I hope)

I have this age gap and it’s HARD!!! God you couldn’t pay me to go back to the newborn/ toddler stage.
However they’re now 2 and 4 and it is getting much easier- they’re little mates and potter round together. They’re starting to argue though, so ask me again in 6 months!!! I wouldn’t change the age gap though, I’m glad the baby stage is basically over and my girls are really good mates.

I have a 2 year gap too, hardest time of my life having a baby and toddler!! I definitely agree the hard work now with the small age gap will pay off in the future. We LOvE having a small gap, they are both into the same things and can play together. If we had a bigger gap (I appreciate not everyone can chose the gap size and it depends on many things) then it would have been so much easier at the beginning but I think harder later on.

Also, some people will say it’s not difficult and have a small gap, but have their second in Nursery or with grandparents several times a week so they have plenty of time with just the newborn. Having both full time with few breaks is seriously hard going, mentally and physically and you often feel like either one child or the other isn’t getting what they need from you as you’re pulled in difficult directions. It can also be very lonely as I found taking both out between naps and feeds etc was difficult and stressful

Can largely depend what kind of baby you get. My 7 month old has always had reflux, doesn’t let me sleep and won’t get off me during the day, not even for naps. My 3 year old then can’t get the attention he deserves from me and is a hitter (me not the baby). So it feels like a massive miserable failure on all accounts.

I had 15 months between mine (unplanned) and it nearly broke me. They were both 'good' babies / toddlers but just the usual sleepless nights, teething, nappies, crying, bickering was so so tough, just relentless. Then add in going back to work when the youngest was 6 months. I mean of course i loved them to bits but it was hard. Good news though it gets easier as time passes and once they started school life changed massively. They are now 20 & 21 and just the best young adults.

It's worse when the little one gets mobile but can't keep up with the big one 😫

It is hard at first, and you have to just drag the baby along with you because the eldest doesn't understand that sometimes they have to wait or whatever. But as pp say it does get easier and you will be glad you've done it. You're in the trenches now though 😉

20 months gap here and I guess it was full on for the first few years but not especially arduous. I had a set bedtime routine from day one and that helped. I had two kids who went down well after the first couple months. I also kept the older one in all day nursery three days a week even after I gave up work. It is a balancing act. Even more so when my husband passed easy suddenly.
Ask for help if you need it. Even a cleaner every other week might ease the stress.

I have a 2yr gap. Definitely gets easier as they get older. I'm at the GCSE and A level stage which is a bit of a tough one.

I have this gap and it’s bloody hard even without the partner working away (I remember a horrible sinking feeling every time my partner got asked to travel when mine were that age - even though I knew he didn’t have much choice).

I now have a 2yo and a 4yo and every day feels a bit easier. They love each other and play well together. They enjoy the same days out, Tv etc. There are still fraught moments especially with the younger one who is still very much an unpredictable and tantrummy toddler - but I imagine what it’ll be like when they are 4 and 6 and it seems like a really good decision. Hang in there for now!

It's really really tough, I underestimated just HOW tough. There's 23 months between mine, 3yrs and 1yr old currently.

You're in the thick of it now, things didn't improve for me until the youngest turned one

The baby stage again with a toddler in tow is really difficult

😂try twins, a two year old and a four year old. 😂 in lockdown 🤪
it maybe hard but there’s always someone who’s got it harder.

I know someone who had quintuplets. Put my feelings of overwhelm into perspective.

Yes and harder again when you've got one doing GCSEs and the other doing Alevels!

2 year gap is not ideal (we did it too)!

You do 'hard yards' with the different age groups, you're doing yours now, but you'll get a break when others are struggling!

chill out & try to enjoy them - the days are long, but the years are short x