Ok - so what are the PRO's of having second child? Please!

[Holymoly321]

Am preg with No2 - DS will be 2and 3 months when it's born. Have read prev thread about going from 1-2 and it's scary stuff! Most of it is very negative (VERY HARD WORK etc). I'm at the stage where preg is very early so could do something about it if we decide against a second. I've got two brothers myself and have never got on with them, DH has a sister who is seven years younger and they are not close so it's hard for us to relate to how important and special life with siblings can be. We love DS and whilst part of me wants him tohave a brother or sister, the other part just wants to give him the best we can regarding attention, financial help, love etc. WHat are the benefits of having two over just the one?

have not read all posts. sorry if i repeat.
my personal thoughts since having ds2.
ds1 is m ds2 is m.

the look on ds2s face whilst he is watching ds1 jump around- he goes rigid with excitement.

ds1 stroking ds2s head whilst he is asleep, cooing 'aaahhhh' at him.

ds1 putting ds2s bottle or dummy in his mouth and trying to help me clesn hisbottom up whilst i am changing him.

when ds2 sleeps in and me and ds1 get up first- when i hear him wake up i say 'ds1, is ds2 awake? can you hear him?' and he rushes to the stair gate, stamping his feetto get thru to his brother.

loads of things. also the stuff like them growing up together and having each other to play with as they grow.
also, you have two chances of staying out of a retirement home!! lol

num lock was off- lol- ds1 is 20m and ds2 is 6m.

I have a 2yr and a 5yr both boys, and its brilliant. I felt really worried too when I was preg with DS2 as I couldnt imagine loving anyone else as much as DS1 and the division of our attention. But as soon as DS2 came along, he has joined in with the family. They both get on very well, love each other and the most of the time DS1 looks after his DS2.
One of the best things is they do play together and DS2 loves sitting and watching his bro, quite handy on a sunday morn when we are dozing in bed and the boys are at the end of the bed watching cartoons!!
The sweetest thing is seeing the two of them sat on the bottom step in their coats, hats, scarfs and gloves all excited about going for a walk!!

oh it's wonderful. I only concentrated on what i would be taking away from ds when i was pregnant with dd. I had no idea what i would be giving him also.
They fight, they play, they learn together, they giggle, they bat each other over the head with blunt instuments, they snipe at each other nastily..ds has learnt so much more socially since dd has come along.
They are each others best (and at times worst) person.
Fantastic

Yes it's hard - having a 2.3 year old ds and a new baby with colic was particularly "entertaining" at tea/bath/bed time for the first couple of months but I would never look back and positively want 3 or 4 because (as I think most have laready said below):

• they play together and look after each other
• they learn to think about and care for others
• they will (I hope) have the possibility of falling back on each other when dh & I are gone
• I think the benefits of giving sole attention/financial help/love are over-rated and potentially not terriblly helpful in learning about real life (absolutely not saying this is always the case but I think you almost have to work harder with an only child at teaching them to understand that the world cannot always revolve around them).

p.s. there is ALWAYS enough love to go round

My brothers are the bestest friends I`ll ever have.

I have just watched my 3 year old DS1 show my 18m DS2 how to go down the garden steps backwards to avoid tumbling to the bottom. I am in the house and it was totally unprompted.
He looks out for his younger brother and they love playing together. I didn't find it hard going from one to 2 and loved having DS2 as a baby.
I loved it so much I am having DC3 in July.
Don't panic its hard work but great fun and by god am I reaping the rewards now.

these answers are all very inspiring - thank you all for taking the time to post

it's fab, they learn about relationships with other children.

They have someone else who's been thru the same parenting as them.

If anything happens to you they are not so alone.

Mine love each other dearly

It's more work but even more joy than just having one.

Yesterday my 3yo played in the garden with my 2yo while I washed up and watched from kitchen window. DD cant walk yet and was sat in sandpit, DS was going back and forward to the tap filling a teapot for her to make sand pies. He kept saying "yes ok Hayley, I'm coming in a minute".