Convince me to have another baby

[MamaLKB]

I have one, 11 month old.

Convince me to have another... soon. 🤣

12-24 months is exhausting, so active, an increased will and little communication.
Some people are lucky but generally most people agree that toddlers are a different level of exhaustion.

1st born was very hard work. Colic made it hell and honestly, we thought we were done. But after about 18 months, we started to enjoy parenting alot more and discussed another one 😂
We started trying a few months after he turned 2.

Now have DD who is 11 weeks and just an absolute joy to. If all babies were like her I'd have 5 or 6. She sleeps her hours, she feeds do well, she smiles the most beautiful smile.

3 year old DS still pops into bed with me and its just the loveliest thing on the world having my babies sleep with me. OH is in other bedroom due to snoring.

Such an easy baby, but even the hard ones bring so much joy. The laughter, the funny things they do, seeing them grow and develop...

I gave my job up for my babies. I gave a career up way before they arrived for the sake of my sanity and happiness. Literally the best thing I ever did.

@NameChange30

"My husband is MEGA keen"

Well good for him, shame men can't gestate and birth babies!

I've just had DC2 (3 days old 😍) and DC1 is 3.5 years old. I'm so glad we have an age gap over 3 years, because we get funded hours at nursery, so financially we can afford to keep DC1 in nursery while I'm on maternity leave, which I'm already very grateful for! It's good for DC1 to continue his routine and for me and DH to have some time just us and baby. Another benefit of the age gap (as opposed to a smaller one) is that DC1 is old enough to be reasonably independent (potty trained etc), understands a lot and is thankfully very pleased with his baby sister and keep to "help"!

So it might not be what your husband wants us to tell you. But I would say wait a bit longer until you're ready and don't push yourself for a small age gap, an age gap of 3+ years is great (so far - it's very early days for me )

That sounds great! 😍

@MsChatterbox

When my son was about a year I wanted to start trying. Didn't actually start until he 18 months then it took 6 months. By the time I got pregnant I was really happy that he was the age he was. When I was going to throw up I could just leave him knowing he would be fine. And we potty trained whilst pregnant and I honestly couldn't imagine him being in nappies now especially all the times I'm stuck under a sleeping baby. So I think a bit of a bigger gap is better personally. He's also absolutely obsessed with her and not jealous at all. He was more clingy when he was younger so may have found it harder.

Great to know! Thank you!

@PlinkPlink

1st born was very hard work. Colic made it hell and honestly, we thought we were done. But after about 18 months, we started to enjoy parenting alot more and discussed another one 😂 We started trying a few months after he turned 2.

Now have DD who is 11 weeks and just an absolute joy to. If all babies were like her I'd have 5 or 6. She sleeps her hours, she feeds do well, she smiles the most beautiful smile.

3 year old DS still pops into bed with me and its just the loveliest thing on the world having my babies sleep with me. OH is in other bedroom due to snoring.

Such an easy baby, but even the hard ones bring so much joy. The laughter, the funny things they do, seeing them grow and develop...

I gave my job up for my babies. I gave a career up way before they arrived for the sake of my sanity and happiness. Literally the best thing I ever did.

This sounds amazing! You're making me want another one 😍

Having two is brilliant!!!

The age gap between my two boys is 3.5 years (bigger than I wanted really) and they love each other so much!!’

When DS2 arrived, I won’t lie, the first 4 months were difficult in terms of my eldest learning how to share me and it was very upsetting for us both, to the point where I felt guilty for having a second baby. It was an emotionally trying time and I think this is the downside of having a large-ish age gap.

However, when DS2 was about 6 months old things seemed to turn around and it didn’t take long until my eldest adored his little brother.

When the youngest started walking (9 months old) they were always off together and were inseparable

As the months and years passed they grew closer and closer and when I watched them I felt like I could cry with happiness. Seeing how much they loved each other was just overwhelming. I felt so, so lucky to have them both and watching them grow and develop together was lovely.

They are three and six now and have a very special relationship. They are best friends and they simply can’t be parted - even when they’re watching the TV they sit next to each to each other, close enough to be nearly in each other’s lap and they lean into each other and hold hands.

My husband wasn’t keen on the idea of a second baby, whereas I don’t want our son to be an only, but he eventually agreed (after a year of discussions) and even he will say now that having a second baby was the best thing we ever did.

When I see them together now I can easily say that those first few difficult months were absolutely worth it.

Nothing would make me want less than 3 years between babies. Nothing!

I loved being pregnant and have loved my first year with DD so would do it again, but definitely one and done here due to age and finances and the way we want to live.

Everyone I know who has two close together loves it. But mainly because they are so maternal that they don’t seem to need any kid free time at all.

I am one of the normal people who finds toddler stage tough. In my mind toddler plus baby is a disaster zone! There is a reason most people have a 2 year gap. Wait until 18mo to ttc. Then you’ll have a 2yo who can watch CBeebies without trashing the house, while you deal with the baby.

If you want to convince your husband, set his alarm for every two hours at night then borrow an 18mo the next day.

Iv got almost 4 years and it’s worked fantastically for us. As PP said funded nursery hours for DC1 so not having 2 big nursery bills at the same time! Toddler years are hilarious and I am pleased I had time to enjoy DC1 before DC2 came along. I also really like my job and wanted to return and have a couple of years back at it before DC2 (returned part time) and I managed to get a promotion during this period which has made things easier. DC1 was in nursery 3 full days when DC2 arrived so then I got one on one time with DC2. Lots of people prefer a smaller age gap but for us 4 years has worked really well and I’m not sure I would have coped with a smaller gap if I’m being completely honest! DC1 adores their little sibling and was old enough to understand that sometimes the baby needed attention first and could happily independently play etc. Also my 2nd pregnancy was much tougher than my first and you have another small to run around after so even if you have another easy pregnancy it is still more challenging as you dont have the advantage of child free laziness that you get before you have your first!