To ask if I'll cope?!

[Quackquack100]

DS is 22 months and we've just found out I'm about 5 weeks pregnant. Still very early days but I have no idea how I'll cope with both when the baby gets here. DS will be about 2.5 years old - has anyone else got a similar age gap between their children? How do you manage?!

I had the same age gap and honestly it's fine. Infact it's easier In a way as no school runs etc to do with the eldest.

Mine all have a 2 year age gap. It's been quite nice as the eldest was walking independently by the time ds1 came along, and he was doing the same when Dts arrived, so I only ever needed a double pushchair, with the occasional use of a baby wrap thrown in when ds1 was particularly problematic. Mine are now 9, 7, 5 & 5.

I have a 2.5 year gap between my eldest two. It was absolutely fine. The oldest was able to feed herself and was fairly independent which helped. She was also old enough to help a little by passing bibs and other similar tasks as well as understanding things. I was able to explain things like not poking the baby and she was big enough to understand. She adored her sibling and they are super close now. The only bit that was a pain was potty training with a baby but I left it until the baby was 6 months and the eldest almost 3. The baby was less of a Velcro baby at that age and potty training was pretty quick. The worst part was the eldest wanting the baby to be able to play! Once the baby can play, even if it's just cooing at older sibling that helped massively.

2.2 between my two (dc1 was 18m when I fell pregnant with dc2) and it wasn't easy. But then no age gaps are 'easy'. Every gap has positives and negatives.

Main issue I had was both kids needing me at once. So I'd sometimes have to let newborn cry for a few minutes whilst I settled toddler, so I could then sit and feed relatively uninterrupted.

Also we had to use a buggy board as older child wasn't quite a full time walker when baby arrived.

They are 4.6 and 2.4 now and there are still challenges but on the whole it's fine.

DD had just had her 2nd birthday when DS was born. It's a very common age gap, lots of DD's classmates have younger siblings in DS's year.

To be honest waiting another year would not have made things significantly easier in our case. The eldest didn't miraculously become a lot easier when she turned 3 or anything. Potty training was a pain but then it would have been a pain even without a younger baby. They are now 10 and 8 and whilst they do bicker sometimes they are great company for each other.

22 months (although only one school year) and it was great. The thing I liked most is that it kind of melded into one long baby experience... I don't think I'd have coped if we'd properly stopped all the nappies and bum cleaning etc, had a long gap, and then had to start doing it all again.

Also, the oldest will be totally over the moon at having a baby to cuddle.... hopefully!

Snap!
I just found out yesterday I'm probably about 5 weeks. My ds will be 3 by the time the new one arrives. I also have a 7 year old. Dh and I both work ft so I'm really anxious about how we will manage once mat leave is over and reality hits. Good luck and congrats! We will find a way!

I had the same age gap, both in their twenties now, it will be fine

I have 14 months between mine & I thought I'd really struggle, but we've got a nice little routing going on & cope really well.

You'll do fine I'm sure.

Huge congratulations

Pretty much everyone I know has a 2-2.5 year age gap between their kids and then another similar one if they go on to have a 3rd!

I have 10 years between mine which makes me very much the odd one out.

You'll be fine and still remember it all (unlike me!)

I think that's the most common age gap. Certainly most people I know seemed to aim for 2 - 2.5 years.

I've just had dd3 and dd2 is 17 months. We're surviving! Knackered obviously but it's not going to kill us.