timing of new baby and DS1 starting school

[sandpit]

Just thinking about ttc number 3 and wondering how it would fit in with my DS1 starting school in sept. If I got pregnant this month, it would be due end of October. Anyone got any advice about how much time we should ideally give DS1 to adjust to school (he's quite a sensitive soul) before asking him to deal with another baby in the house?
He's got a 2 year old brother and we don't really want there to be a big gap before the next, if at all possible. Although obviously can't always make these things work just how you want them. Also, not quite sure how on earth i can make my working hours fit in with the school day, so going off on maternity leave would be very handy from a practical point of view. But also a bit worried that even if i'm physically there to drop him off and pick him up each day, with new baby in tow i might be so damn exhausted and out of it that i might not be much help to him.
DP just wants to get going and see what happens. But I'm not sure if it might be a bit early. But then don't want to leave it too long and then find it's taking ages. Anyone?

I'd say go for it and see what happens. If you wait and it takes ages, you might regret not trying sooner. - between now and sept is a very long time in your DS' world, so he may be less sensitive by then, but if you hit the jackpot first month, you've still got 9 months ahead of you to prepare him. - we're still only considering no.3 or not, so I don't have experience on this, but didn' want you to go unanswered! - FWIW, DS is 4 next month, and has always been very shy. Can still get upset sometimes going to nuresry somedays, but ha ssettled so well to his 2.5 hours a day at school, loves it. Was very against a brother or sister, "no I just love my sister, I don't want another sister" - to now, he's asking us when are we going to have his little brother, when will he come out of my belly!!!
Good luck!

Thanks!
It's a big decision isn't it. Have had months of agonising over it and now having decided in principle to go for it, find myself still trying to put it off!
Good luck with working it out too

it's what happened to me in Sept 10/Oct 10: DS1 started school and DC3 born. All went fine, no probs :)

Tell me more StrawberryMess How do you find room in your head for it all? All the DC1 school stuff, practical and emotional, and then all the new baby crazyness, and then trying to make sure the new middle child gets their fair share too?

It's kind of easier as I'm on mat leave. I started my mat leave so that I would be around for DS1 starting school. DS2 still went to nursery but spends some days at home - gets more attention with me on mat leave than when I was at work. DS2 starts school in Sept and I don't go back to work till after he's started, so I'll have a lovely long summer with boys and baby.

My answer to all the practical stuff is to have uniform, lunch box and book bag ready the night before, DS2's nursery bag by the front door, located shoes, hats, gloves, coats for everyone, my keys and bag ready etc. The emotional stuff: I've been lucky with DD and not had baby blues, but DH had a couple of weeks paternity for the first two weeks and we've found that DD just fits in with things.

Middle child getting his fair share - tbh in the first six weeks he did spend more time watching peppa pig DVDs and playing on Poisson Rouge than before, but I think that's settled down. Because he's at home when DS1 is at school he does get some time when I'm focussing entirely on him, particularly when DD is asleep.

Anyway, it worked for us and is fab, so good luck with whatever you decide to do :)