2 under 3 - how do you manage?

[pawpatrolwife]

Has anyone got or had 2 children under 3? I would love to know if it's as stressful as I'm thinking it will be. Just found out I'm pregnant (not planned) DS will be 25 months when baby arrives. DS will be still going to nursery 3 days a week as he does now. DH off weekends so I'd only have 2 of them 2 days a week and on them days we would probably chill at home or go to the park, nothing too crazy as I worry I wouldn't be able to manage 2 on my own. Would also like to go back to work after 9 months and do 4 half days meaning I would finish in time for pre school pick up. Thinking Ds will also get 30 free hours by the time I'm due back so would only be paying for baby. Sorry I know I'm babbling but my head is going 1000 mph. I would love to hear some positive experiences xx

2yrs 8months age gap and i did worry but it was a lot easier than I thought plus lock down hit as baby was born so we didn’t have nursery / family to rely on. Just me with a new born and potty training toddler 😂🤣

A sling is your best friend for being about to pop to the shops / soft play / garden / cook / clean / wipe bums and have your hands free.

Snacks at a height the oldest can reach themselves so you can say get yourself a snack / drink if feeding baby.

A routine was key, we always had lunch then went for a walk to burn some energy off before having a cuddle, tv and quiet time till DH finished work.

I have dd who is 2 yrs 9 months, and almost 4 month old ds. Its hard but getting easier now ds is abit older and easier to put down etc. luckily he's a pretty chilled baby most of the time. The most difficult thing I find is dd isn't very patient, she always seems to want me to do something for her when I'm feeding or changing ds and she won't wait. But she loves her baby brother and she loves helping me with him so maybe see if your ds would engage with helping with the baby like passing you the wipes and a nappy etc. Also try and get your ds into a good sleep routine and potty trained if you havent done already, these things have made life so much easier

No advice.. I'm 40+5 today with number 2. DC1 is nearly 21 months. No idea how it's going to be 🙈

I had a 15 month old and a newborn.. I found the first year fine (although sleep deprived) but when they were aged 1 and 2 that was really tricky.. now aged 2 & 3 still difficult but slightly easier in that they'll play together and they sleep!

My twins were born when my eldest was 23 months.

It was horribly difficult at first and those early years are all a bit of a blur now but it does get easier.

One beautiful thing about having kids close together in age is that there have the same childhood.

They really do grow up together in a way that kids with a three year plus age gap don't. (Obviously there are benefits to bigger age gaps too.)

My sister and i are just over a year apart and are best friends now as adults, she's been there most important person in my life.

Interestingly, her kids are very close in age too, and they do say that people who have had a happy childhood attempt to recreate it with their own families. So it can't have been that bad!

Good luck.

@moofolk

My twins were born when my eldest was 23 months.

It was horribly difficult at first and those early years are all a bit of a blur now but it does get easier.

One beautiful thing about having kids close together in age is that there have the same childhood.

They really do grow up together in a way that kids with a three year plus age gap don't. (Obviously there are benefits to bigger age gaps too.)

My sister and i are just over a year apart and are best friends now as adults, she's been there most important person in my life.

Interestingly, her kids are very close in age too, and they do say that people who have had a happy childhood attempt to recreate it with their own families. So it can't have been that bad!

Good luck.

3years isn’t a big age gap- a big age gap is when children are at significantly diff stages all the way through growing up

3years isn’t a big age gap- a big age gap is when children are at significantly diff stages all the way through growing up

Oh I know that three years isn't a massive gap, but this is specifically about kids very close.

The difference in development with a 3+ means that they are always at different stages, whereas two years is more similar.

There are of course pros and cons of each option

(Disclaimer: if i had my time again I'd not have three babies in two years, I think spread out is defo easier I was trying to look at the positives of close together sibs for the OP)

I have twin girls 2.7 & just about 6 month old baby girl . For me routine is the key , especially bedtimes. But I don’t beat myself up if things go a bit haywire. My husband is very good , bathing etc , if he is home in time . My mum only lives 15 minutes walking distance away , but she works full time NHS shifts . I do batch cook & freeze which I find very helpful, so we don’t resort to too many take aways when we are shattered . I am breast feeding baby , so no bottle making etc . I get out with them almost every day , double buggy & sling at moment. As pp said find backpack with reins brilliant when we go out as a family or mum or a friend around . I personally don’t really like mother & baby groups , the noise & cliques overwhelming. Try not to fret too much , things have a way of falling into place . ☘️

I had a slightly smaller gap. Two children is hard, but thankfully (for me at least) a baby is a very gentle introduction to having two, and by the time it gets really hard (6m+ in), your more experienced at having two.

I basically just strapped my second born to me and she ate and slept in the sling a lot, and she agreed very little extra work (except for less also, but we were used to that as our firstborn didn't sleep through before she arrived).

I ran after my toddler with baby in the sling, did craft, pushed swings, clambered around soft play, dealt with toilet accidents, all sorts.