Help! Tips on how to deal with a 14 month age gap?!

[smokealarm]

So I'm expecting a second DD in a couple of months and there will be a 14 month age gap between DDs.

I'm really scared I won't cope. I'm a SAHM so no childcare for the older DD and we have no family around to help so it will just be me and 2 little humans for the majority of the day.

I'm really worried about coping with the sleep deprivation in the beginning, especially as DH only has 2 weeks paternity leave so won't be around to help.

Apart from dealing with lack of sleep, anyone else have a super small age gap and can give some helpful tips to make life easier?

Thanks!

Relax... you will be fine :)
I had two in 13 months and then a third 12 months after that! I'm still sane... (just)
They will both nap with any luck, then you rest. Go to as many toddler groups/mother and baby as you can to build up friendship networks.

I had no family around either (DH was RAF) and we survived. In many ways it was easier as they entertained each other ..even a tiny baby can enjoy watching the older sibling. And potty training was a breeze... I started the eldest and the other just copied when he was a toddler! they followed each other to playgroup, nursery and school.

Just don't try and be perfect... 'all fed , all alive' was my mantra on tough days.

The sleep deprivation is a killer but somehow you just do cope :)

If I had my time over again I'd still have them so close in age.. mine are young adults now and great friends!

Thanks @StillMedusa I do a lot of baby classes with DD1 and am worried about how I'm going to be able to take newborn DD2 to these classes. I guess I won't be allowed and will have to find more informal playgroups where I can let DD1 run around while I nurse/look after DD2.

How did you manage bath time? A newborn and a young toddler in the bath together or did you do them separately?

You will be fine 🙂. The first year is tough, but then it gets a lot easier and you’ll be so glad your children are close together. They’ll keep each other occupied and will love playing with each other.

17 months between mine and in a lot of ways I found it easier with two than just one because I had to let go of perfectionism

Best tip I ever had was to talk about the older child to the younger one, so when you’re cooing at the baby the older one is getting attention and praise (baby will only hear your tone anyway,)

Oh and a sling is vital.

You'll be ok. 16 months between my 2. Some days are really hard, some you muddle through and others are pretty awesome. Mine are 10m and 2y3m now so still pretty fresh.

I find informal groups are best. I tend to bath them in succession; toddler first with baby in bouncer. then nappy on toddler who I leave to run around/riot while I wash little one.

My 10m old is now cruising and they're really starting to entertain each other. It's great

Yay! Thanks everyone. Sounds like I'm in for a fun ride 

That's a great tip @Alanamackree thank you! Will definitely be using that technique.

I think we bathed the tiny one in the sink at first!!!
But it wasn't long before the two went in together and they loved that... then three in together, until the memorable day when DD2 (aged 1) pooed in the bath ... cue the 2 year old and 3 year old scrambling out in horror

Omg @StillMedusa 😂😂😂