Does anyone have a one year gap between their kids - what's it like?

[redclover79]

I'm 15 weeks pg (not planned!!) and ds2 is just turned 6 months old. I had a 3 year gap between ds1 and ds2, and apart from pnd have not found going from one to 2 kids as difficult as I imagined!
What should I be aware of and planning for? If I had not ended up pg so quickly it would never have crossed my mind to have children with such a small age gap!!
TIA!

I had a fifteen month gap between dd1 and ds2 and I must admit it was hard.

However when they're a bit older it means you can pitch activities and entertainments and bedtime stories to suit them both at the same time.

I have 12months and 3 weeks between my eldest two. TBH, the hardest thing for me was being heavily pregnant and having a non-walking child as well. DS1 started walking while I was in hospital having DD. So there was lots of lifting involved.

Once I was home with DD things were fine, busy, but not as hard as people led me to believe. A godsend was getting them to both sleep after lunch, so I had an hours peace to crash out on the sofa with a cuppa.

The 2 and half year gap between dd1 and dd2 was a lot harder than the 12 months between ds1 and ds2, tho as Beth said the lifting was hard. Ds1 didnt walk till he was 14 months old. Now they are 3 and 4 and it's on the whole pretty good, though they are at the same stage with toys so i get 2 of everything if i can

15 mths between mine, and it was easier than I expected. DD's jealously didn't kick in until she was two and by then ds was mobile. Now he can look after himself (almost!). She was walking by the time he came though, so that made it easier

thanks for your responses! I have been wondering about the lifting thing: how did everyone manage? I'm thinking about getting a sling for dc3 so I've my hands free to deal with the other 2 (although ds1 will need minimal input I would imagine!), but of couse ds2 will still need a lot of carrying about so maybe that wouldn't work...

We've got 3 DC all under 3! Less than a year between DS and DD1. It was fine, not as hard as i thought it would be, as beth said nap times were fab! Also there has never been any jealousy between Ds and DD1 as he was still a baby when he became a big brother! Its great fun, if a bit noisy. Good luck !

my first 2 were year and 5 days apart.hard (but isnt having 1 hild hard,its no harder just different)but worth it,they get on amazingly well,both at near same stages espesially now older.best friends who miss each other when apart!

Transporting them has always been a headache, all are heavy, i have a sling for dd2 7 weeks, which is good and a double pushchair for longer journeys with a buggy board on!

I had 2y9m gap between 1&2. Then 16m gap and then 15m gap. Tough at times (nightime and sleep) but thoroughly enjoyed it. Would recommend it. Went on to do it all again.

juuule - will reserve judgment on whether I will do it all again!!
kathrynharriet - did you find it a bit easier going from 2 kids to 3, than you did going from 1 to 2?
moljam - did your oldest 'notice' when your second arrived? do they have the same kind of awareness of change that an older child would do you think (am I making sense?!). I'm hoping that as ds2 already has to share me with ds1 the transition from 2 kids to 3 will not be so big?!

Going from 2 to 3 was harder but only because of not having enough hands! As my oldest is only 2.9 i still have to have hold of him when out and about (reins have become my best friend)Getting them all in and out the car is a job, but getting easier with practice! I think the thing to do is allow yourself plenty of time and cut corners were poss, online shopping forget the ironing, ceebies, accept help! Have you grandparents/friends that will be around to help? They all love each other and we haven't had a major prob with jealousy its all great fun!