2 year age gap

[missrose0110]

Hi,

We have a 15 month old and considering starting ttc next month. Can anyone tell me what a 2 year age gap is like please?

I love the idea of 2 years between my children when they're a little older, but unsure of what life with a 2 year old and a newborn would be like haha.

Thanks in advance xxx

When I had dc2, I had stopped breastfeeding and changing nappies for dc1, yet I wasn’t far enough beyond it that it felt too hard to start it all over again.
Dc1 had just started not needing quite as much of my time and was nearly ready to start nursery a few hours a week.
As they’ve got older, they’ve shared similar interests in toys, activities and even friends, making day trips and playdates easy.
I did find it quite hard to explain to dc1 who was slap bang into the terrible twos that a new addition was joining the family. I also find that there’s quite a bit of competitiveness between them.

I have a 2 yr 4 month age gap and I’m glad it wasn’t any smaller. Actually a gap of more like 2yr 8 months would have been quite a lot easier and without making much difference to how well they play together.

There’s a huge difference between just 2 and 2 going on 3 in terms of how well they talk, how much they can do independently etc. Also they can get free nursery time from 3 which helps a lot.

Having said that, my eldest was very hard work - a bad sleeper and very defiant! If you have an easier older child then perhaps a 2 yr 0 month gap would be more manageable.

I have a 2 year 4 month age gap and at the moment it's bloody tough. It was hell when baby was first born but is slightly easier now she's a few months old. Lots of jealousy and we were right in the middle of toddler tantrums so it feels pretty hard a lot of the time. Plus I have potty trained the eldest since the baby was born which was fun .

However, I am starting to get glimpses of how sweet they are going to be together when they are old enough to play together.

If I had a newborn now my eldest daughter is 2years 10 months I think it would have been a lot easier, she has so much more understanding and her language is a lot more advanced. I think she would have understood and been excited rather than just this baby suddenly appearing.

I had a 2 year age gap and honestly, a 3 year one would have been easier. Suppose the plus is they start to play together and you get the baby years over faster?

2 years and 6 months between my two youngest. Lovely gap IMO the two year old wants to help bring nappies and wants cuddles. They are 4 and 6 now and best friends. Much easier than the 10 months between my eldest two

My DD was 2yrs and 6wks old when DS was born. Myself and DH had always planned for two and aimed for a 2 year gap. I like that they are close in age.
Honestly I didn't fully think about how incredibly tired I would be when pregnant with a young child but sickness didn't help! My first trimester was brutal. Personally I didn't find the night feeds/constant bfeeds half as bad the second time around. I definitely feel I was more prepared and it wasn't so far in the past that I'd forgotten what it was like.

I loved the idea how TTC when DS was just over 1 but then around 20 months his personality really changed for around 3 months where he just became really defiant and a real toddler. He's coming out the other side now, however I would've really struggled to then also balance a newborn.
3 year is lovely IMO as already DS is so much more independent and his speech has hugely improved + free nursery hours

My 2 eldest have a 23 month age gap. DC2 & 3 have 2 years, 10 months between them, DC 3 & 4 have 2 years 3 months gap. From my experience, I would say 2 years 10 months was definitely the easiest. And if I was doing it again I would probably aim for 3 years. But saying that, obviously a lot depends on the individual personalities.

Newborn and 2 year old I found fine.
1yr old and 3yr old was infinitely harder.

But I got through it and am on my way out the other side, though still not as easy as it was at first.