Experiences of 2 children 19months apart?

[beautifulblue]

How did you cope? Was it harder/easier than you thought? What were the hardest parts? Many thanks 😊

Mine are 15 months apart,I found it a lot easier then I thought it would be

22 months apart and a lot easier than I expected! So much easier than the 6/4 year gap to the youngest

I have three children ages 22, 21 and 10. It was lovely having two close together as they did entertain each other as they grew up and are still close. They are both on their own. It feel as though I am raising a second family with my ten year old.

My Ds's 17 mos apart (although all grown up now )
I was SAHM-DH job w/very long hours.
I think the hardest part is the competitive tiredness.
But having said that I loved it really.
Can't sweat the small stuff-the dishes will wait.
It goes by so quickly and I think you just embrace it.

My first two are 16 months apart and it was easier than I expected. The best bit was how close they have always been. The worst bit was the tiredness at the start, but at least DC1 slept. I'd have really struggled otherwise.

My last two are 19mths apart. I’ve found it fairly tricky but then I’m mostly on my own with them so I’m permanently knackered. I think if they’d been my first two it would have been easier it’s just that I always have to be up for school run and then I don’t stop until about 8pm and even then little one will be up at 10pm and about 2am for feeds and I’m up for the day at 6am.
It is getting easier as she gets older but I’m so ready for a full nights sleep!!

A different perspective OP: there are 18 months between my sister and me. I know my mum struggled to cope (back then she was a SAHP and my dad woked long hours). My sister and I grew up very closely, doing things at the same time and being mistaken for twins - very much entertaining each other IYSWIM. We are in our 40s and still very close.

Mine are 22 months apart. It could be difficult at times when they were little, but they're 6&4 now and great play mates (most of the time). You just have to be organised. I was glad to get the nappies done and dusted in one go!

Mine are 18 months apart. In all honestly it was easier than I thought.

It does have challenging moments, particularly when they are both young but honestly it's not as bad as I thought. Is your other child sleeping through? I suppose I was lucky that both my DC were/are good sleepers so that helped no end.

Now they are older (3 and 4) I actually find it more of a challenge when I have one on their own as they play together and keep each other entertained all day.

My two are 19 months apart.

The hardest was when the youngest was 18 months to just over 2 yrs old. They argued and bickered a lot. DS1 knew the 'rules' but DS2 didn't, so there was a lot of snatching, ruining games and stuff, and I couldn't leave them for a second.

Before that was fine. DS1 mostly ignored DS2. He just kinda fitted in to our routine. Slept at playgroups and in the pram / car.

They're now almost 3 and 4 and this is the easiest it's been. They really enjoy being around eachother and play really well together, enabling me to have cups of tea and mumsnet in peace for fairly good stretches of time.

Our DDs are 16 months apart and it was brilliant when they where little really played well together. It’s worked really well for us. Only negative is all your sleepless nights are close together.

Should add they are now 16 & 17

Mine are 14 months apart, then 20 months then 30 months. I have just had the first GCSEs and worked out I have something like 6 consecutive years of GCSEs/A levels.

Never thought that through at the time did I?

It will be fine though. Hard work (I look back and wonder WTF?) but it is lovely. Now they are older i’m so happy to have a large family. It remains hard work and keeping track of them is increasingly difficult (i do a LOT of driving, driving and feeding are my main functions). They are a lovely unit (along with all the friends and girl friends who become part of our lives).

Mine are 14 months apart. Some things were challenging when very young, like getting them in car to go out and tiredness during the day as neither napped for long. Now they are so close and mostly get along. Like previous poster best bit is getting each stage like , potty training , teething done and dusted and getting full night's sleep. Also now 7 & 8 and it is lovely going for weekend breaks at theme parks etc as they like similar activities. Gets less tiring from 2 years once they can start nursery and start talking.

Thank you everyone 😊 I must say I'm really excited to have 2 close together for my daughter & the impending arrivals sake... I never had a brother/sister (half sister 14 years my junior not quite the same) & definitely felt I missed out not having a sibling. I'm sort of hoping for a boy because we already have a girl but sort of hoping for a girl because there's nothing like sisters! But hey... a healthy baby will be all I could ever dream of! Here's to the messy, pooey, sleepless but beautiful future!

Let us know when your good news arrives and remind yourself of the their smiles when it feels like a grumpy moment coming on.