Having babies in quick succession?

[JaniceBing]

Evening all

Bit of a strange question- has anyone ever found that their older child's temperament actually got better once they became an older sibling?

[I AM NOT having a second baby just to entertain or calm down my first child- just to be clear]

However my biological clock is ticking, and I have always wanted kids without too much of a gap in between. My first and only DS was a really high needs baby for his first year. Now at about 14 months he seems to be settling and enjoying life a bit more. He is determined, active and very strong willed. Something tells me he would relish the role of being an older brother...is this possible or am I kidding myself?

How did you kids react to becoming older siblings? And finally, any tips for someone who is planning for baby number 2 while first is still quite young?

TIA

Before we had one, we planned to get pregnant when the first was 6 months old.

Then we had one and realised its bloody hard work. Put us off til he was 4 and finally started to settle.

My eldest is autistic so we were reeeeeallly concerned about the transition to having a baby, being a big brother etc.

We did a lot of prep work.

I'm glad waited (in that situation) but he has been an absolute dream boat since his little sister came along. He is the epitome of a great big brother. Honestly, no one is more shocked than me and I couldn't be prouder. I totally underestimated him.

It seems to have done him the world of good.

She is only 10.5 months though, it's getting a bit harder now she is old enough to crawl and take his toys or interrupt his rituals etc.

It's gone so well I'm toying with the idea of having a third with a small age gap with my second. My second is so chilled. I'm more worried about the impact it might have on my eldest again.

So yes, in my experience we had a high needs child (and still do) but it seems to have done him then world of good. But there was a decent age gap. There is no way in the world we would have survived the terrible twos, which seemed to last from 9 months to 4 years old, with a second baby xxx

We had a very high needs child for our first baby and then had another 21 months later. So 2 under 2. It was very tough but lovely now (oldest just turned 3).