What's it like having 2 children?

[loveskaka]

I have my ds 22months. I want 2 kids and to be close in age and tbh I thought I would be pregnant with dc2 by now but haven't felt ready till now. What's it like being pregnant and having a second child with a toddler running about? I work 24 hours over 2 night shifts. My dh works 9-5, he is a great dad and very hands on 😁. What's life like as a family of 4?

Bloody exhausting!!
But also amazing.

Dd is 4, ds is 4 months. We’ve been permanently exhausted for 4 years haha. But they are both worth every bit of energy and seeing how much they adore one another is just amazing.

Alot harder than one! I found it tricky going out with both especially when both mobile so potentially could go in opposite directions! Mine were 20 months apart. But you just deal with it, and I went out most days as being at home just seemed endless cooking and cleaning.

It's absolutely amazing and the best time of my life! I got pregnant with my daughter when my son was 15 months old. Truly, it was a glorious time for me. When she was born my son was over the moon. They are now 20 and 22 and SO close. They adore each other.

It is hard to far I had my youngest 2 13 months apart but it's really rewarding aswell

Easier than 1 after the first few months as they entertain each other / play together.

It's so nice to hear how amazing it is.
I feel really scared about having another! It took me 12yrs to feel ready to have our first! Haha (I am 29) but at the same time really want another! My ds will be 2in December so I am thinking if I was to get pregnant after Xmas ( I know it dsnt work like that) or at least be extra careful and make sure not to get pregnant before then, my ds will be in nursery by the time new baby will be here, well hopefully my ds was born at 7months.

As a PP said, exhausting but amazing!

I think it depends on the age gap - DD and DS are 24 months apart and that was really hard for the first six months, made worse because we had a family crisis (very ill parent) at the same time. They’re now 2 and 4 and it’s often easier than having one because they play together (DD was incapable of playing without me before!).

Things that are harder are the logistical things like getting them ready in the mornings to leave the house, managing two running in different directions when out and about, etc. but you find ways to cope with that. It helps that now DD is 4 she’s quite sensible and likes rules so we set rules about sticking together and waiting for each other when we go to places where they could get lost, like soft play!

It can’t be that bad as we have DC3 due in 3 months!

Honestly, I wish I'd stopped at one.

My two do not get on at all. The youngest is very hard work and has been from the beginning. My eldest would have been fine as an only, in retrospect.

My boys are 19 months apart, wouldn’t change it but it’s bloody tough!!

It's tough at times and harder than with 1. Pregnancy harder than 1st for obvious reasons. But so so so worth it.

Balancing time and attention between the two is the hardest bit. Mine are 27 months apart and love each other so much. Now 4 and 2. Dd1 loves teaching dd2 how to do stuff and she's delighted at each new milestone. Walking, dancing, talking. She lives with her best friend.

Yes they do argue and annoy each other. We have to be careful not to let jealousy creep in.

I honestly couldn't be happier that we have 2. I'm sure in years to come they will go through stages of hating each other, I did with my sister. But the bond is amazing. We work on it everyday and never take it for granted. We always tell them how lucky they are to be sisters. They are adorable with each other and watching them walk off holding hands melts my heart.

The baby part with your second is easy! I think your body knows what to expect with birth recovery, sleep deprivation etc in those early weeks.

The actual having two is really hard though. And I'm lucky that DS1 (3.2 when DS2 was born) is fairly sensible (ish!!). But I'm constantly trying to keep him entertained and the baby just gets dragged along, I find the massively different stages they're both at quite difficult to manage.