Ideal time for next baby - if you have 2 DC?

[SkyHi]

Okay, I know that things don't work out how you plan when planning babies, so please take this with a massive pinch of salt and just humour me. Thinking ahead to having a 2nd DC and wondering what mums of 2 (or more) kids would say is the "optimum" timing for our 2nd baby. (again, humour me - I know we really can't control any of this).

Due to my age we need to try for a 2nd sooner rather than later, so the age gap will need to be smallish and not the 5 years I would love in an ideal world. Our DD is currently 18 months old. She is in nursery 4 mornings a week which we pay for, and I work part-time in those hours. In September 2023 she will attend a preschool nursery for 5 x half days in term time. (free 15 hours), and then build to full time.

I am imagining that if I had a 2nd baby I would have 9 months at home with them before going back to work part-time.

With that in mind, what would be the ideal time for our 2nd baby to arrive, so that I could coincide their childcare with DD1, and generally make life as least stressful as possible? I know having 2 is going to be way harder, but just trying to think through the ideal most logical system, also factoring in the free 15 hours of childcare at 3. I'm trying to ensure I find time to work and spend time with each child but also have time for myself where the DC are at childcare. My work is v flexible so my own headspace is more of a priority to be honest.

Not sure if that makes sense!

Totally each to their own I think. I had a two year eight month gap between my first and second which was fine but I found the pregnancy hard going with a two year old. They were six and three and a half when their younger sister arrived and my goodness it was so much easier. So for me if I was younger and for purely lazy reasons it would be as long a gap as possible but I know most people like a shorter gap.

I didn't get it (thank you Mother Nature) but I'd have loved just shy of 3 years (2 school years) as they would have been close enough in age to enjoy the same activities but the 3 year old would have been out of nappies, more independent with eating and sleeping.
Although I can now see (with my bigger age gap) that those who do back to back children are doing something right as after 2.5 years they've got two rather independent children on their hands!

2.5 years. Number 2 was a surprise, but the gap has worked perfectly and they're bffs now

We have 3 years and I quite like it although there are pros and cons to every age gap. For me, having a baby in early spring was more important as I wanted to get the sleepless nights out the way in summer so it was less miserable. There are times I wish mine had been a bit closer in age but honestly I'm not sure how I would have coped!!

I would also add it was planned so we'd use the 30 hours while I was on maternity for a bit of a break.

I've got a bigger gap and a smaller gap.
5 years between DS1 and DD, 19 months between DD and DS2.

Both have pros and cons. I loved the bigger gap because DS1 got more alone time with me, but equally I loved the smaller gap because DD and DS2 are extra close.