2 under 2: The Support Thread

[franch]

After starting this thread and discovering this one , I've come to the conclusion that a thread like this may be useful to a few of us.

Early days for me: DD1 is coming up for 20m, DD2 is 11 days

Can i join you in a few weeks?! Jess will be almost 15 months when i drop!

Aw it is a great time girls! My first two are exactly 18 months apart and very close even now. It is not as bad as you might be expecting.

I have read all these threads and have found out that my kids have the least age gap 11 months. I am the winner

are you mad!? I thought i was being brave!!!

Can I join here?

I have DD1 18 months and DD2 7 months (11.5 months between them).

Although it's exhausting having 2 so close together, it's also really good fun. DD1 loves pretending to mummy to DD2 and often goes up to her and gives her a big kiss. I think that it will be great that they will grow up having someone of a similar age to play with.

I'm really looking forward to when DD2 can walk.

I'm now pregnant with no. 3 - due in May (and yes it was planned!!)

The thing I find most difficult is getting all the housework done as well as looking after DDs!! The house is usually a complete tip AND I have a cleaner to help out for an hour each week.

Can I join in too? I am a bit early as I am not due until January/February but am expecting twins and dd will be just 2 (December) when they come along! so hopefully I will pick up a few tips!

wow lots of people with small gap..mine wont quite be 2 under 2 as ds turns 2 in oct and baby due in dec so he will be 2.2. Still great for some tips though.

Preggi you are lucky that your dd1 is nice with dd2. I have a completly different story ds1 does not lose even a single chance to hit, kick or push ds2 so i cant leave both togther.

OMGosh franch!! Where have I been??!! congrats!!!

I'm in same boat a nemo, ds2 just turned 2. I need tips too.

There is 12 minutes between my DDs. I am the winner

hi ds1 is 2, dd is 1 and ds2 is 9weeks.
There is exactly 51 weeks between ds1 and dd.
Dd will be 2 in nov and ds1 will be 3 in nov.

Hi, how do you all cope, some of you have a smaller age gap than me. Eldest 20 months, youngest 6 and a half months and every day I am screaming someone help me, I can't cope any more

MY 2 ds are 16 months apart. They are now 10 and 11 and although those first few years were chaotic, to say the least. I wouldn't change it for the world.
When they reach school age, one goes one year, and the next one the year after you realise how quickly time really goes.
Good luck to you all with your little ones. Hang in there and take one day at a time. Its great when they are older as it is a lot easier to please the whole family on days out etc.

My kids are also a bit old now, they're 2, 4 and 5 (thirteen and a half month gap, then 2 year gap). my essentials were a good baby sling, a swing and caffeine!

Altho some times were hard I wouldn't change it now. DS1 has SN, and finds making friends hard, but him and ds2 are as close as twins and that is so great for him! .

my twins are 20 months and ds1 will be 4 in november so busy here too

Jua, you will survive! My ds was 1yr 9mts when dts were born in Dec '03. Our home is the loudest in the street. Kids get on like a house on fire. My dts didn't come home together as one was in special care for a while but as we brought each baby home, we let ds approach them in his own time. The first year was the worst but each month gets easier. If your dd is not potty trained yet, try to get that sorted - 3 nappies to change is no fun

13 months 3 wks between my dd and ds, at first it was damn hard especially as dd didnt walk till 19 months in fact didn't pull herself up till i brought ds home. But now watching them play, walk holding hands, kiss each other its all worth it.

They are now 2.7 yr and 18 months, and don't get me wrong they do fight, she sits on his head, takes stuff off him, eats her crisps then empties his into her packet. But on the whole they are great company for each other. Just take all the help offered you and stuff the house, mine always looks like a bomb has hit it.

Sorry i've rambled

15 months between my two - and I remember those early days well (mine are 3 and 2 now). DS was in plaster from waist down (had disclocated hips when born) when dd was born and was one of the hardest times in my life, but you deal with it and it gets easier. Mine love each other 50% of the time and fight the rest of the time but thye've always got a playmate. I think it's harder than having twins as they are never quite at the same stage but not different enough, if you get what I mean (no offence intended to mothers of twins!)

21 months then 11 months for me so 3 under 3. Looking back I don't remember any awful times and it's great when we're away now. The 7 year age this time works as well though - after 3 so close together it's a breeze! Can't say the same for the puppy...

I had 2 under 2 and then 3 under 5. I'm still alive (just about) and the dds are great - now aged 5.11, 4.5 and 14 months. You just get on with it because you don't know anything different.

OK, so yesterday I was Mrs Capable, taking both dds (20m and 2 weeks respectively) out to playgroup on my own, and felt v good about myself despite the fact that it took me 45mins to get home - about half an hour longer than it shouldve done as I spent forever chasing DD1 around the church hall trying to persuade her to get in her stroller (couldnt pick her up as had DD2 in sling and she'd've kicked her to pieces), then getting her to climb the 2 floors to our flat.

Today, however, my parents were supposed to be coming to help but cancelled this morning as both have colds. Couldnt face playgroup on my own again so stayed in and coped relatively well (with the help of CBeebies) till nap-time, which was 1pm. DD1 has decided not to nap today (she does this once in a blue moon - normally sleeps for 2h) and is screaming her head off every time I leave her. Have been in 4 or 5 times, tried lying down with her and even gave her a bottle - TWICE. DD2 - mostly very calm so far - is screaming her head off every time I put her down. I've been going from one to the other for nearly 2.5h now. Both are currently howling (I'm holding DD2). Just need DD1 to sleep so I can have a little break and preserve my sanity. I know I should take them out but I'm so exhausted and getting them up and down from our 2nd-floor flat is hell.

hi I will be joining this very exclusive club in January when DBno2 is born, we will have about a 17 1/2 month gap between babies.

I have no help from friends and family and am starting to worry about how hard it will be when I'm on my own with 2 of them. DD is a fantastic baby though and loves to "feed" the cats (they don't love it though) and kiss and cuddle her dollies so am hoping shes like this with DBno2

hi all!!
franch sounds like you're having a hard time. I find some days are bad and some days are better. It may just be that dd1 needs time to adjust to sharing you with dd2.

Hi Franch
Recognise you from the Sept ante-natal thread. My dd2 is just over a week now and my ds1 (12 months) is not sure about her yet. He keeps peering into the moses basket and looking puzzled at me. dd2 is a dream so far - feeds and sleeps mainly, but I am preparing myself for the time when both of them start screaming. ds1 has just got a cold so has been up in the night (normally a brill sleeper) - lst night spent backwards and forwards between the 2. I think it's a case of doing your best and getting used to shuttling between them - I can imagine one will set the other off though. I've been told all round that it gets easier so hang on in there !