in your experience, which is the harder leap?

[catalani50]

from none to one, one to two or two to three kids?

I've got two DS and although the logistics got harder when DS2 was born, there is nothing like the complete utter shell shock of going from zero to one..!

Am curious what others thing, as I contemplate having a third!

[CazM2012]

0-1 was difficult but having 1 baby to focus all of the attention on made it nowhere near as bad as 1-2, that almost crippled us, splitting myself between DC was hard.
2-3 was a breeze as I'd got used to splitting myself, and 3-4 has been reasonably good. I agree that with 1 child in full time school and 1 in half days now, going in and out the house so often makes logistics more difficult this time around, though I seem to be coping better with that aspect.

[noenergy]

0-1 was quite of a shock
1-2 quite easy
2-3 the hardest, the age gap was only 13 months and she really was harder work than the first 2, definitely the naughtiest still even now she's nearly 3.

[EwanWhosearmy]

0-1 was a tremendous shock. I can remember wondering how I would ever get dressed again .

1-2 was awful. DC1 was only 18 mo... Everyone said she won't really notice.... She hated the baby!

The others were a doddle. We had such a big gap 4-5 that it was like having no 1 again, but with the confidence of having done it before. Ideal.

[StormyIsland]

2-3 but I'd say it will depend on your parenting style as well as the children's age gaps and personalities.

0-1 is so hard and amazing at the same time.

2-3 almost killed me quite literally. Very dramatic birth, a two week tummy bug for the whole family as soon as we were home and then depression just from it being so hard. But I think three is hard because of how I parent. We still cosleep with all three and have never left them to cry which means noone can selfsoothe and no-one gets any sleep. I want to sit down to play with them most of the day, to offer lots of cuddles and talk and explain things in conflicts instead of just being the boss mum who just tells everyone what to do. With three I just haven't got enough time, cuddles, eyes, arms, energy or patience for everyone. Which means I constantly feel guilty and inadequate and worried. But I'd still say three is a lovely number. Two would just be easier.

[lloydlf76]

0-1 was by far the hardest!

1-3 (twins) was hard but in a different way

3-4 was a walk in the park

4-5 has been very difficult but because I've been ill a lot since the birth. Also a much bigger gap than we had previously so we're dealing with both end of the parenting spectrum with a hormonal preteen and a demanding toddler at the same time

[AugustRose]

2-3 was hardest for me (I have 4). Not the looking after the baby bit as I was a dab hand by then, but the exhaustion of trying to split my time between 3 children. DC3 also had reflux which the first two hadn't, didn't know how to deal with it and she cried a lot/tried to feed so very poorly boobs for months.

3-4 was so easy after than

[BellMcEnd]

DEFINITELY 2-3 although that might be his character rather than anything else. I've got 2.5 years between all of mine and DS3 was by far the trickiest. He's now 4 and although he's hilarious and very cute he's clearly channelling Kim Jong Un

[Needmorechocolate]

3-4 for me. Number 4 has tipped me over the edge!!! (He doesn't sleep very well so that hasn't helped)

[yaela123]

0-1, 2-3 and 4-6 (twins) were the biggest shocks.

3-4 was the easiest

But it really depends on the age gaps and the natures of the kids. DC3 was a colic-y nightmare for the first 8 months but DC4 was one of the most easygoing babies you could ever meet. They are now 16, 14, 10, 6, 5, 5 and get on well (for the most part). Calm before the storm?

[Surf25]

0 - 1 as everything so new and unexpected. Steepest learning curve ever. 1-2 fine, 2-3 fantastic and easier than expected. Now loving through 3- 5 as had twins at the end of last year. Tough in places, I take my hat off to those who go from 0- 2! But all in all, still easier/less of a shock and adjustment than the first!

[rainbowsandtoadstools]

We have 3

0-1 was the hardest more a shock to the system than anything, we would like one more to complete the family

[SilverdaleGlen]

1-2 but then DC2 was a demon baby.

2-3 was easy.

[allthelaundrywecannotsee]

1-2 nearly killed me, DC2 cried all the time that he was awake, DC1 went from 'walking everywhere' to lying down on the pavement in protest at every opportunity.

2-3 was bliss, small age gap and very chilled out baby who loved the sling as much as I did.

3-4. Several people had said that once you go over 3 DC's you don't notice one more. They lied. The larger gap between 3 and 4 may have made things more difficult, but the first 2 years were very hard. I am not wishing my life away but I cannot wait until DC4 starts nursery. In fairness as much as it has been hard it has also been lovely.

[TwinsPlusAnotherTwo]

2-4, I had twins !

0-1 was a shock, 1-2 was fine. 2-4 has turned my life upside down, but I can't tell how much of that is the twin-factor and how much is down to having 4 kids.

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

We have 3. 0-1 was hardest (she was also the hardest baby)
2-3 was a breeze. Felt confident, knew what I was doing, had figured everything out. Honestly it was lovely & it feels such a waste to not do it again.

[Shamoffour]

3-4. Small age gap and dc4 is still a rubbish sleeper at 2.5yrs. All the others were sleeping through by 5 months.

[SerialReJoiner]

1-2, but it was the circumstances more than anything (dc2 was emc and they were 18 months apart. I ended up with pnd).

I never really worried about logistics of holidays or eating out, strangely enough.

[alltouchedout]

0-1.Nothing quite like that 'oh my god it's my responsibility to keep this baby alive and well and when will I ever sleep or shower again?' realisation, I found. 1-2 and 2-3 were easy in comparison.

[AlexanderBerry]

Someone i know with six kids said it depends on the temperament of the baby how hard the jump is.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

0-1, she's lovely now and still only sleeps 8-9hrs but more socially acceptable in a 12yr old. The other transitions were easy although hotels and needing a 4 bed house are the only bug bears with three now.

[yumscrumfatbum]

1-2 was the hardest probably because number 1 had medical issues diagnosed at this time and needed a few operations and we had a significant family bereavement. 3-4 was a bit tricky as number 4 was unplanned and it took some emotional adjustment. Can hardly remember 0 days!

[LameAssUserName]

2-3 was the hardest by far for me, much worse than 0-1.

3-4 was the easiest.

[WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup]

1 to 2 was the hardest for me (we have 4).

[RandomMess]

I have 4

2 to 3 was my worst simply because #3 had silent reflux and screamed 18 hours out of 24 and they kept saying it was "a touch of colic"

#4 was an utter breeze after that!

[GoodyGoodyGumdrops]

0 to 1
Then 2 to 3

1 to 2 was a doddle in comparison!

But I think age gaps and circumstances have a great effect, too.