To ask when you felt ready for a second child?

[TwinkleTwinkle456]

DS is 20 months. I do definitely want a second child. I can’t say I’m feeling very ready though. Do you think this will change or should we just get on with it? Was there a point when you felt really, truly ready? If so, when was it?

It's quite specific but I can remember the point at which I knew I was ready, dc1 was 20 months and we were at a soft play. I was too big to fit on some of the equipment and I felt really bad watching them have to do it alone so I rang dh and said dc needs a sibling! Dc2 arrived when dc1 was 3 and a half.

Never. Dd is enough for me.

Intentions were to have child no 2 when DD started school. Many prefer closer age gap, personally I wanted to enjoy my time with her and likewise when DS arrived I wanted 1:1 time with him while DD was at school. I'd have been OK with a closer age gap had it have happened but I love our situation now. Having said that we were very happy with just DD had we not have been successful conceiving again.
Do what you want don't feel pressured into continuing the family with a close age gap if that's not what you want.

Dd1 is 7. I reckon I'd have been more prepared for her sister when she was 3/4. I had Dd2 when dd1 was 2. Then has Ds1 when Dd2 was 3. That was a much nicer age gap. I haven't "planned" any of my pregnancies though as I was told I wouldn't be able to conceive so just assumed it was a one off. Dd2 and Ds1 were something of a shock. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ I'd like a fourth but would rather Ds1 was at least 3.

I wanted to wait until DS1 was at least 18 months so he had plenty of one on one time, especially as he has a few medical needs.
I felt broody sooner than this though.

Just found out I'm pregnant and DS is 25 months, so I'm really pleased.

I didn’t ever feel really ready. I got pregnant when DD was 2 years 3 months and didn’t feel at all ready. I then lost the baby at 16 weeks and realized that we were as ready as we would ever be and it would have been a perfect age gap. Luckily I got pregnant again, all was well and I had my DS 3 months ago, with a 3.5 year age gap between DS and DD. It’s been great as DD is a delight with her baby brother and is independent and helpful e.g takes herself to the toilet, puts on own shoes, walks good distances.
All I’d say is don’t feel you need to rush - I found 2 a tough age and was glad to be past that before having the second baby. Also it has been good to have has some time of relative freedom to do my own thing and progress my career between kids.

I wanted two children ,and after DD was born I had to get one ovary removed. Doc told me that the other one was " hardly functioning" so I'd be very lucky to have any more children. So I became ready very quickly ! I was fortunate to have my second one, and never considered whether I was really ready or whether it was just circumstances . They are both in their 30's now and I bless every day that I was able to have them both.

DS had just turned 2, and I’d just turned 40. I felt it was now or never. DS2 was born 18 months later.

When the second one turned two 🤣

Immediately, gOt pregnant when dd1 was 5 months just had my second 5 weeks ago and definitely know we would love a third if we are lucky enough

My DD is 5 weeks old and I'm already thinking about another. Could be because I'm in my late 30s so time isn't on my side so even when pregnant with DD I was already planning DC2, I think if I was a bit younger I'd have a 2.5 year gap like with me and my sister.
We plan to try again in the spring, I'd honestly try now only i want to give my body a break and enjoy my time with DD before putting myself through the horrendous first trimester again.

If I was younger I would consider readiness and the Ideal age gap, but at my age and how long it took to conceive my rainbow baby I'm just going to get on with it once my pelvic physio says I can.

I have a 22 month gap between my two. When my 1st was 9 months my period was really late and I thought I was pregnant (despite using birth control). Although initially panicked, when it turned out that I wasn't pregnant DH and I were really disappointed, so decided we would start trying for our 2nd.

When DD was 3, I just had DS 7 days ago. DD now 3 yrs 9mos. For us this was a good age gap as DD more independent and likes to help out.

Ds had been truly hard work as a baby and I’d gone back and was not enjoying work due to changes when I was off. I decided if didn’t have another baby soon never would because I’d have thrown myself into improving work situation… they are exactly 2 years apart. Seems mad now but does mean that baby stage was done quickly and plenty of time for work changes now. Thankfully dd was a very different baby and even got to enjoy that!

DS just turned 2 and I definitely do not feel ready for another... despite everyone around me having multiples. I've never been the broody type so that probably has a part to play. I genuinely would be grateful if I was unable to have more because I have my lovely boy. P.s I'm in my late 20's.

I had always been adamant I wanted DS to be 3 when I had a second. So he was at preschool and potty trained blah blah all the reasons. In reality, when he was 15 months old a flip switched and screamed HAVE A BABY NOWWWWWWWW and I, a mere mortal, was powerless to resist. They are 2 years apart exactly and it’s been the best age gap - they are already the best of friends at 3.5 and 18m and it’s a joy to behold. DS3 due again with another 2 year age gap and I’m hoping it will be as smooth a transition! This time round I actually would have waited as I thought 2 close in age was ideal but wasn’t sure how I would manage a third so close, but nature (and this baby) had other plans!

I think you just “know” when you want another.

Similar to others! DS had just turned 2 and I had just turned 40. As another poster said, we figured it was now or never! It's just over a year later and I'm 39 weeks pregnant.

Tried when DD was 2.5 but was a bit ambivalent. But realising how sad I was when we lost the pregnancy made me understand that I really did want another. After a bumpy ride we now have DD (4) and baby twins . Definitely done!

Literally as soon as they put my baby on my chest after birth I said I want another. The rush of love was like nothing I'd ever felt before.
I was happily pregnant again 5 months later.

I've never intended to have a second and am very happy having an only child (I an only myself, and can assure you children do not need siblings). However, when my child was 2.5 I did start to feel like if I was going to, I could probably cope from that point. His speech was really good and he could be left alone for two minutes without trying to climb the bookcase or eat the phone charger.

He does get very jealous of me talking to other children though, so I'm sure bringing an actual baby home would have been hell! The thought of dealing with tantrums and newborn screams at the same time fills be with dread.

I got a primal urge to get pregnant before DH was posted to Afghanistan. Judging by the number of babies that the regiment produced that year, I wasn't the only one. (The local midwife had to double her clinic times to fit us all in.) My age gap was 20 months.

I didn’t feel particularly ‘ready’ but me and DP were certain we wanted another baby, and we wanted them quite close together - we decided we’d rather run through fire rather than walk! I think if I’d gotten used to getting a ‘good’ nights sleep again when DC1 was a little older I’d never have had another baby there is 2 years between my DC

When DD was nearly 2 i went from being on the fence about another child to desperately wanting another one; we waited a 2/3 months until a few logistical things like a house move were in place then decided to go ahead.

I decided in the recovery room for DS1 and we TTC as soon as my section scar was healed. Small gap!

DS2 is 10 and I’m nearly ready for him…