To try for another baby?

[bubbleducks]

My LO is 13months old. I'm super broody and think I would just like to crack on try for #2 so that I can have my DC1 at home with me whilst on Mat leave with DC2 before he qualifies for his free 30 hours.

AIBU to do this? I'm sure others do it. I could still send him to nursery 1-2 days a week if needed.

I have loved my first year of motherhood so much. I am torn between waiting a while so my baby years aren't over so quickly (and have more time with DS1 on his own) or just get going for #2.

I love the idea of having two at home as batshit crazy as that sounds!

We fell quickly first time and my cycle is all back to normal despite breastfeeding still.

I am 34 so no spring chicken!

Tell me the positives tell me the negatives and everything in between please :-)

@Pottedfern it sounds crazy 🙈 do you have both at home with you all week?

That's exactly what I did OP, same ages gaps as I wanted to have dc1 at home during my second mat leave. It was magical. I have loads of videos of my gorgeous toddler making my baby giggle, and them both being silly together. Then I have dc3 so the age gaps are 21 months then 28 months.
21 months was awesome. I used to go out in the mornings, often to toddler groups, they would both fall asleep on the way home, then I would have 2 hours peace while they napped. Magical times.
28 months was harder as my toddler had dropped her nap so I was on the go all the time. But at least the older two played together while I dealt with the baby. They are 8, 6 and 4 now, and so close.

@Notdoingthis this sounds amazing ❤️ so no regrets? Did you feel very guilty? I worry so much that DS will feel I've abandoned him.

My children are 15 months apart and I absolutely loved it. Best time of my life after my daughter was born and I had both of them at home.

It really depends on you as an individual. Some folk find it fairly easy 🤷🏻‍♀️ Do you think you would cope with very little sleep and then a crazy toddler to run around after as well as the housework and a needy baby?

My first was the bestest baby I've ever known, honestly lol. If she cried once a day that was very unusual. She was always happy and slept through 12-14hrs from 6wks old. An absolute delight and I loved my maternity leave.

Tried for number 2 just before her 2nd birthday and got pregnant very quickly (it took 10months first time). So we had a 2 1/2yr gap. I found it exhausting. 2nd baby didn't sleep well at all. Especially as a newborn, wld often not sleep unless on me and maybe for an hour overnight and then the 2yr old wld be up raring to go and I'd be like 😩 I've had a 1hr nap on the sofa with a baby in top of me. I used to have to go to bed at 8pm so that I cld manage a few hrs before my dh went to bed. She's really only settled down with her sleep at about age 2. Still mostly in bed with me 🙈

They were both also unwell with chicken pox at one point, baby was 10wks old and 2yr old was just miserable, crying wanting her mum. Luckily baby didn't get it so bad. Oh it was a tough week, I had to call my dh to come home from work one day as baby was being neglected as 2yr old wldnt leave me to deal with her.

Youngest is funny, very cute 2yr old now but still very hard work compared to what my first was like. I wld have maybe waited another year had I known how hard it wld be. On the other hand they play together now and like the same things. So I think another year or 2 I'll be loving the gap lol.

No of course not. I was there for him all the time. He got 3 lots of mat leave with me before he started school! I definitely wouldn't want it any other way.