To be worried about the small age gap...

[KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn]

Dd is going to be 18 months when the next dc arrives (in around 7 months).

Most people i hve told I am pregnant are shocked and seem to think me mad (planned pregnancy)

I obviously know it is going to be bloody hard, I am no fool- but I would rather get all the madness out the way in one big go!

AIBU to worry that it is gonna be even harder than I anticipate? Eeeek!

Don't let other people increase your worry. You planned it, it's happening and you've done it with your eyes open. I know plenty of people brought up on similar age gaps (myself and DH included) and none of our patents spontaneously combusted. FWIW we are going to try for DC2 once DS is weaned, so could have a similar age gap. I agree- get the madness out of the way!

*parents. I'm not aware I have any patents

I thought like that too. My eldest was barely 4 when I had my third.

It's just as hard 18 years later when you have constant exams for 8 years :/

My younger two have a 21 month age gap, it was harder than I thought but that's probably because dd2 was a nightmare toddler and neither of them slept. You will manage, you'll have to! And I think it would have been easier for me if I didn't have dd1 to get ready for school each morning etc, wish I had done the small age gap first.

No, it'll be fine. Same as hippo just about 4 years between 1 and 3, with 20 months gap between 2 and 3. Tis all good.

My older 2 are 16 months apart. Then 9 years later we had 2 dds 16 months apart.

That was fun.

You will be fine op. 18 months is fine.

Ds 1 &2 have 19 months between them. We planned it but it was very full on for a while. At the time it was fine though, you just keep going and accept all offers of help!!
They are extremely close now - people sometimes ask if they are twins. i wouldn't swap that bond they have for all the sleep in the world!

11months apart here, it's worked out brilliant. Best friends.

Yep agree with the closeness. It's great.

No point in worrying about something you can't change.

I'm sure it'll be tough at times but that would be the case with most ages.
You'll be fine.

My eldest was 3.1 when my 3rd was born, 19 and 18 month gaps, it worked really well. You will be fine.

My DDs are 18 months apart, dd2 is 10 weeks.

9 months ago I felt like you do. I kept thinking; what have we done! Even though it was planned.

Its turned out to be a lot easier than I expected (so far!)

It's pretty constant some times, but really it's fine. You'll be fine

I've just found out I'm pregnant (not planned as such but we were careless) and I already have a just gone 3 year old and a ten month old. There will be 18 months between the younger two. I think it will be tough for a year or so but more than worth it. I don't think 18 months is too small a gap. I think it would be harder to have older kids and then go through the baby stage again - may as well do it all in a couple of years.

I like the idea that my three will all be close in age as they go through childhood and into adulthood. But maybe I'll be on here in 9 months time saying what on earth were we thinking!

Congrats on your pregnancy! And for what its worth I know people will say we're mad when we announce this pregnancy after 12 weeks but I think that's just what people say when you already have a young child, along with "you'll have your hands full", etc. I don't take too much notice of comments like that.

I have 18 months between mine. First year or so was hard going as DS2 had silent reflux, and was a bad sleeper. Now, DS1 is 4, DS2 is 2.5 and they play really well together. Don't worry, but do accept all offers of help! And always carry snacks for DC1 for when you feed DC2.

Thanks everyone! i wont go having a panic attack just yet then Btw I meant 20 month gap , sorry! (Not much difference mind you...!)

Oops epic admin fail :/

Chill. Out.
There's 16 months between my two. It's so much easier then people let on. People just like to moan.
It's a great age gap, they are at similar developmental stages, like similar things, are the best of friends.

IMO anything 18 months of over is fine.

At 18m they can feed themselves, so you can get their tea on the table and then sit next to the toddler and feed the baby.

Most 18mo can walk quite steadily so can walk to the car or pushchair holding your hand, so you are not trying to carry 2 at once.

Overall how well it works depends on how easy the baby is, how easy the toddler is. 20m gap here and it was fine.

Congratulations, don't listen to the doomsayers.

Thats craicwhore (love the name btw!)

I often wonder if people do live to just terrify others. It was like when I was last pregnant and the horror stories I was subjected to were beyond belief!

Yoho dd isn't walking yet but is well on her way! She is a hyper lil monkey, hope the next one is placid haha. (Obviously as long as its healthy i am happy)

15 months betweeen DD1 and DD2 and then a 3 year gap, then DS1 and DS2 is due soon, will be approx 17 months between them.

So will have 4 children aged 6 and under.

I can honestly say the first 2 were fine, because there is no school runs etc so if you don't get dressed till midday - nobody cares. When I had the 3rd it was a shock as it was the madness of getting everybody dressed, ready for the day and out the door by 8am.

Not looking forward to that with an extra one TBH. But without the school runs it's fine.

wow! How do you do it , 4?

It's one of those things where different gaps suit different families - there isn't a right or wrong. You want to get the madness out of the way in one go, whereas I really wanted a big enough gap to really savour the baby bit again as I loved it the first time. However it does mean that after having a year+ of quite an easy, independent child, no milk, no nappies, 12 hours a night sleep we have gone right back to 2 hourly feeds day and night etc.

My girls are 21months apart and funnily enough it was never as bad as I thought it would be. Always got on well as so close in age. Carried littlest in a sling and older in buggy. Grown up together and genuinely love each others company -amazing as both now just teenagers. Enjoy them . It's never as bad as you think. There are hard days but my eldest just loved to help
Good luck it will be great

I had a 5.5 year gap, then a 14 month gap (she wasn't even walking or talking at all), then a 23 month gap.

Honestly it was fine. The difficulty was that dc3 had undiagnosed silent reflux so screamed a lot but that would have been horrific with any age gap.

I absolutely love the small age gap - 3 in 3 years, they've been into similar things for years, imaginative play, trips to the park etc. Feel sorry for my eldest as she is much more of an "only" stuck out on a limb.

Oh and I used washable nappies - it was all fine.

Get a 2nd cot and get a double pushchair