Can you tell me good things about a small age gap :)

[mrssunshinexxx]

Pregnant again, planned but having a little wobble as it happened month one of trying and took much longer conceive lo so I am abit shocked but he/she is very very wanted.
There will be a 16 month gap and just want someone to say that it will be good in the long run. I know of course it's going to be hard especially the first 6months BUT any age gap will have it's hard parts.
Should add my mum died suddenly last year and very young 6 weeks before I had my lo and she was my best friend in the world so I think I'm like argh how am I going to do this again without her but of course I know I have her strrength and I will

My sister and I are a year apart and it was lovely having someone so close in age growing up. You'll get all of the baby stage over with in one go and they'll be more likely to enjoy the same activities as they grow up.

Best of luck

Thank you @sarahb083 🙃

I have friends ten and half months apart and they are really close, they were almost like twins growing up. My Goddaughter has a brother twenty months younger and they have always been extremely close too. In my experience small gaps work better than the classic two and a half to three and a half year gap.

I have two with about the same gap and I think it's been brilliant. Sure can be a bit chaos, but neither of them remember life without each other and they are very close - has been particularly good over lockdown!

My two are 16months apart , dd and ds and the best of friends at 6 and 7. First year was an absolute blur but worth it now imo. It'll be great op!

I have a 16 month gap between my DCs. You won't regret it I promise. Congratulations!

16 month age gap is amazing! I’m so pleased we had them so close together. Wish we’d had number 2 sooner actually.

Getting out and about isn’t easy to begin with but you soon get the hang of it.

Congratulations!! Honestly can’t say enough how great it is

Congrats🥳🥳.

I think I’ve seen you on the June 2020 birth club thread (not sure if I’m saying that right 😂) I lurked when I was in labour June last year.

I’m also pregnant with DC 2 (due sept DC1 should be 15m then), I swing from wondering how we’ll cope to getting excited about being a family of 4 and them both being quite similar in needs. So potty training in one go, sleepless nights in one go, all that sort of thing. It’ll probably feel never ending at the time but it’ll be over quicker.

One big plus is we still have all the crap from DC 1, should have to buy anything new really. How’re you feeling?

Mine are 17 months apart and I love the age gap. I won't lie - the first 6 months of DS2s life is a complete blur - it was just survival mode with two in nappies and two not sleeping through the night. But now they are older its amazing, they are best friends and do everything together.

Thank you so much everyone you have really helped my nerves :)
I can do this!

@FTEngineerM ah really eek that's lovely congrats ! A little wobbly and similar to you but it was planned and will all be fine I hope going to get as organised as I can before he / she is due fill the freezer etc
I just really hope I can manage a natural birth this time as do dread a section and not being able to lift dd straight away etc it would break my heart

You can definitely do this!

I have the same gap, but mine are 22 and 23 now. It's been a brilliant age gap and they're so close now. It makes me really happy when I hear them FaceTiming each other etc. The first six months were very hard, but to be honest I think the first six months with a second child and any age gap would be challenging. I think there were some advantages of a small gap even at this stage - DD1 didn't really know what was happening, and was too young to feel she'd really lost anything. She still needed a lot of sleep and because she wasn't yet at playgroup or anything we didn't have a timetable to stick to, or anything we had to rush out to etc.

Later we found an advantage of the small gap was that they could go to activities together and we suddenly had time to ourselves occasionally, which was great.

I had a baby, a one year old and a two year old. It was fine.

mine were 16 months apart and it was great,

Really important to have no 1 in a routine and sleeping well if possible then be organised about same with no 2..

By the time no 2 was crawling they were an endless source of fascination for each other, and stayed the best playmates until 11 and 12.....still get on well though.

Boy and girl 16 month gap. Looked like twins when small. Always played together.Mid 20s now.Have own lives, friendship circles but still close. At uni saw and supported each other. Both came home at 1st lockdown and it’s been fab.

I have a 13 month gap between my boys (now 10 and 11). Despite being very different to each other they have an incredible bond and loads of common interests and friends. They've chosen to share a room together almost every night since the start of the first lockdown despite having separate rooms. Wouldn't change a thing

Following this amazing thread thank you op

11 month gap, planned, it’s been great and much easier once they are old enough to play together.

I wanted a 12 month gap but ended up with a 19 month gap. The first year definitely is hard (DS2 is 9mo) but I have no regret. It's lovely to see DS1 taking care of his brother and playing with him already and will only get better as they grow up. I wanted a third with a small gap too but realized my limitations and decided to wait a bit longer (but then I'm a single parent so obviously it'll be easier for you !)

Like pp said it's great to not have to stick to a schedule and them being close and having similar interests. It's a bit harder now, but will be so much easier in only a few months as they can entertain each other while I sit down for a coffee !

I wish I could share a few videos of them together as they are adorable. Just a couple of days ago my eldest was shampooing the baby's hair and when he cried he said gently "everything's okay M" (I'm roughly translating to english).

Forgot to add - they can also share toys and books in a way they couldn't with a bigger age gap. Not to mention clothes. I'm already using the same clothes and diapers for the baby as the toddler (he's a future rugby quarterback clearly...)

I have a 13 month gap between mine (youngest is 7 months). It's really hard work and I don't remember much from the first 6 months of her life, but they are starting to interact with each other and it's lovely fo see. My 20m old calls her his best friend.

I have them in a routine which makes things easier. They can even sometimes have their afternoon nap at the same time. The fact that the youngest is a good sleeper has been a lifesaver because the eldest can still wake the odd time in the night. There have been a few interesting nights where they seemed to tag team night wakings!

We are surviving and it's getting easier, I've learned how to juggle and prioritise, I leave things out the night before etc.

Ah lovey to wake up to so many more positive ones. Love the idea of them being into the same things at the same time and only one school year apart. My little one sleeps through and it in a great routine 2 naps same times every day although I know that will change to 1 before baby comes . You've all helped me feel less wobbly so thank you

@user7891011 you are welcome

And if you can get them to nap together you’re onto a winner!

I have 4 DC’s with small gaps between all and under 6.
There is 12 months and a day between Dc1 & 2.
Dc2 & dc3 is 20 month gap
Dc3 & Dc4 is 20 month gap.

I had 4 under 4 when the youngest was born.

It’s hard work and tiring however they (mostly) play well together and are all the best of friends. Activities are easy as they are close in age. You don’t need much stuff as you still have Dc1’s stuff.

Don’t try and do to much at first find a rhythm that works for you all. Get organised the night before if you want to go anywhere. If someone offers help, take it. There was a lovely lady at our local Surestart centre that used to hold dc2 &3 when they were babies so I could spend 10 minutes with the older ones. I have no family support so it was much appreciated and precious.
I am glad I had mine close together, I know a few parents whose children are the same age as my eldest (6) who are now having babies and I find it baffling, we are getting rid of the baby stuff and there starting again 6 years later. ( just my opinion)
Congratulations Op!

@EcoCustard Thanj you! Same with no family support.
I know what you mean I agree but of course everyone wants different but I didn't want to start again with the baby stuff we are hoping for 4 being the magic number too! 🤞