help...will be having another baby, and have already got a young child.

[andreax]

Have fallen pregnant by accident when my son was only 3 months old. Does anyone have any advice on how to cope with a newborn and 13month all at the same time. I know other people must do it all the time but..........

I also got preg again by accident when first child was 3 months. There is exactly 1 year and 5 days between them. Both boys they are now 7 and 8 and really good mates, so there are big advantages to having a small gap.

In terms of coping , yes it was tiring but hopefully first child will still be having daytime naps when baby comes so try and get a nap yourself during the day. Also take ALL the help that friends and family will offer. Don't be too proud and pretend that everything is fine when it isn't.

Most of all enjoy it and expect lots of nice attention when you go out with your double buggy.
I always had people asking if they were twins despite the fact they were different sizes.

Good luck, Tunise

andreax, congratulations! There is a 19 month difference between my first two (planned0. I didn't find it overwhelming, yes I was tired but as tunise says, take up all offers of babysitting/help. My dad was a massive help to me for a long time when my two were very tiny, he just used to take my eldest for a walk in the pram whilst the baby and I slept. Looking back, I can hardly remember the early days as I was so tired, but watching the videos that my dad took, everyone was happy and so was I! Wishing you a very healthy pregnancy and enjoy your little ones as they grow up awfully fast!

p.s. get the video recorder out at any opportunity!

Hi Andreax, I can empathise. I have a 3 year old ds, 13 month old ds and another due in October so there will only be a 15 month gap between them. TBH I found it difficult with a 2 year gap - goodness knows how I'll find it this time round. It will be great though when they are all a bit older and can play together.

wools - I thought that too!! My dd's are now 10 and 9, but being close in age doesn't make them the best of friends (one is very girly and the other is a tom boy), plus they have very different personalities. Sometimes they play together very nicely, other times they can be at each other's throats and I'm made to feel like a referee - I just hope it's all normal growing up stuff!

On a positive note, my ds2 who is 7 gets on marvellously with my 2 year old, they love each other to bits and I really hope it stays like that!

Mine are 13.5 months apart and it's a good gap imo. Partly coz one is Sna nd the other is always there at aschool or whatever, but also having moved around a few times they always have each other.

A good baby sling type get up (then you can use a single buggy in narrow doorways) and a baby swing helped, as you could feed the small one whilst the other one rocked and indeed vice versa.

people keep saying that 'they will be great friends/play together etc...' and I know they will. But, the memories of those first 6 weeks with my son are still present and a blur of chaotic sleeplessness. Not sure I'm ready to go there just yet.