2 under the age of 1 advice

[sam654]

So I have a 3 and a half month old and have just found out I am 5 weeks pregnant. This means for a month I will have 2 children under the age of 1. We are really excited because hopefully the little age gap will mean they will grow up to be the best of buddies but on the other hand my little one still wakes up 2 in the night and has my full attention. I am scared that I just won’t be able to look after both at the same time. Has anyone had children close together, could you please tell me how you found it?

No advice, I’m sure you’ll be fine, they’ll be the best of friends and you’ll get the nappies all out of the way at the same time.

But Jesus girl I’d be lying if I said this would literally be my worst nightmare. He would want to be wearing about 5 condoms to
Come anywhere near me that soon after having a baby!

My two are more like 18 months apart. It was a tough first year but you get it back many times over by how close they are as they get older. Mine are in Primary now and are best of friends. They play together all the time. It's also easy for everything from bedtimes to day trips and holidays as they are able to do similar things and enjoy the same kind of stuff. My advice is get a double buggy and get yourself out of the house every day. It saved my sanity even though it sometimes felt like it took all day to leave the house! Congratulations!

We’ll silly me went on the pill while I was waiting for my doctors coil clinic this month and this is the result. My partner swears I must of forget a pill but I really didn’t

Thank you :) could I ask how was your first child for sleeping? Did it change when your second one come along?

I don’t have much advice as my second one hasn’t been born yet (due next week) but I will have an 18 month gap.

It seemed incredibly daunting when I found out I was pregnant again as my little one was so small but I didn’t realise how long 9 months is when you have a baby, as in he will change SO much in 9 months and be a lot more self sufficient than now.

I’d prepare for the fact that the first 6 months (at least) will be hard but there are a lot of benefits to having 2 close together. You will be so used to looking after a baby the second one will just slot in. It’s not like when you get your life back a few years later and go back to sleepless nights and nappies.

You will be fine. I won’t say it won’t be hard but we cope with what we have to as mums and it will be so lovely when they are older and close in age so they can play together

16 months between my 2, DD1 maintained her routine and DD2 fit in with this. The first 4-5 months were tough but now it's much easier. Good luck!

DS was 8 months old when I found out I was pregnant again and I was devastated. He was still waking up every 2 hours at night and breastfeeding all the time but as one of the PP said things changed a lot in 9 months. He has quit breastfeeding (probably due to change of taste?) and that made him a much better sleeper and by the time a new baby was born he was always sleeping through the night with no exceptions.
First 6 months were really hard though but you will be fine!

10 months between dc2 and 3 and I'm still alive

Best two bits of advice I can give is:

1)Routine, routine routine. Everything will run smoother, you won't feel as overwhelmed etc

2. know when to forget the routine and have a duvet day / ignore the dishes / have a long walk whilst they nap rather than chores:)

Will they end up being in the same academic year at school?

Nope dc2 is June and dc3 is April so they are in seperate school years ...however in a random twist they both have ASD and so are in the same unit and class

I didnt have 2 under 1 but 18 month gap with first two and 14 months between second and third. I would agree with PP that its hard work for th first 6-12months but there is a unexpected dificult but when the new baby is no longer newborn around 3-4 months.

When they stop wake change feed sleep. As you are in the limbo bit where they need more awake time but cant really do too much and your not settled in a routine yet and the older child might suddenly realise the baby is needing more attention. This was the most difficult for me.

But my older 2 are 3yrs and 19months now are starting to play together and its lovely as they like the same toys but play with them differently.

I have exactly 12 months between my son and twins, it was horrible for the first 3 months but then it got easier. They're 3 and 2 now and all fine.