Thinking of having another child...

[bananastainsonallmytops]

Sorry if this has been done to death but I just wanted to know what your experience/opinions are about having a secong child.

At the moment DS is 2.1 and although I have my off days (who doesn't?) I am finding it slowly getting better e.g. DS plays on his own whilst I cook dinner etc.
DH and I have discussed it roughly and would like to start trying this time next year so DS will be a playschool by then (this might change though).

For those of you who have 2 children, how difficult was the change? How did you DC1 adjust? Does it ever get easier etc?

Thank you in advance.

There is an age gap of two years 8 months between mine. They are now 9 and just turned 7, so I have life very easy compared to parenting a baby or toddler. However, I do remember that when DC2 was born, I found at first that the move from one to two was more challenging than I'd expected. One key thing was that with one child you can gear what you do around whether he/she is tired/needing to get out and run around etc. However, with two in the early stages there were times when DC 1 needed to get out and about just as DC 2 needed a sleep etc.

Well my two are 13 months apart, and it wasnt planned like that so I just had to get on with it I guess. I found it very, very hard, but my DD was very jelous & demanding, and our newborn DS had reflux.

Your situation wont be like this hopefully, especially if your older one is at playschool. I think (from friends etc) that a 3 year age gap is rather nice actually, though Im sure it has its challenges.

Tbh I think it depends quite a bit on the personalities involved (esp that of the older child).

I found the first year to 18 months pretty full on but I was (am) a SAHM so I could completely focus on the kids & had no work stress on top. Still it helps to have family/friends nearby for help/support.

My kids are now 4 and 3, and of course we have our challenging phases, but overall life is pretty good & the kids play together really well & are best friends.

There are 2 years 2 months between mine and I was surprised that it was loads easier than I expected. I was lucky in that dd1 was never very jealous and dd2 was pretty chilled.

Obviously there are some good days and bad days but dd2 fitted in really with what I was doing with dd1 and the fantastic upside is that now dd2 is 16 months she and dd1 play so well together, which makes life loads easier for me as well as being totally gorgeous!

Before i get too rose-tinted about it I found pregnancy with a toddler very difficult!

Thank you for your responses. It is always interesting to gain insight and experience from other parents.

From what I have read, I will most definitely wait a while .

Can anyone tell me how difficult it was to be pregnant the second time around?

From what I have heard, the first 3 years are the most difficult. I am just really cwondering if I can cope going through the baby stage again. I would eventually like to sleep.

Whelk-I can only imagine how difficult that must have been, I hope you got to lie down at least a little bit!

Hello!

My second is now 6.5 months old, his sister will be 5 in October so quite the gap! I, like you was apprehensive and had so many questions over having another - only thing I can say now is Im sorry we didnt do it sooner!!.

Second time round is so much easier (well it was for us anyway!), not as terrifed and didnt have the mountain of fears and questions we had on dd. We sort of knew what we were doing. I already see such a lovely little bond forming between both children and its brilliant. We now cant wait for the next one!!!. I had heard that the transisition from 1-2 was much more difficult than 2-3, 3-4 etc.. but it was completely smooth sailing for us and he fitted in very easily (that sounds odd, but Im sure you know what I mean). Im not sure though, if its down to the fact that our dd is that bit older so its easier.

Pregnancy when you have a child is harder than when you have none obviously - like when your tired and would love a sleep or lie on etc.. but cbeebies comes in really handy over those last few weeks

The very best of luck xx