2 under 2... yes or no?

[Helloitsmi]

If you have done it what are you thoughts (honest) on it?
Worth it?

What did you find the hardest part?
Pregnancy with toddler?
Newborn stage?

Tell me alllll about it please!!!

Yes.
Hard work for the first year (very hard) but easier after that, particularly if they are the same sex.

Their ability levels will be much the same, so it's easier to entertain them, and they will play better together. They will likely share friends too. They will be closer as adults, and their childhood memories will be much the same.

The early difficult stages, waking up at night etc are all done and dusted in a few years, there's no starting over with nappies, sleepless nights etc.

When they reach adulthood you become financially better off very quickly because they both become independent around the same time.

18mths between my DDs and I wouldn't have done it any other way in hindsight.

Having babies close together is very hard work initially but worth it. I had newborn, 20 months and 3.5. They are now 15,16,18. The first year of all 3 with none at school was an absolute killer but after than it got easier each year.

My first was 15 months old when my second was born.
it was knackering and we pretty much just stumbled through it but that was also true before number 2 was born. 😁
I don't think it was terribly difficult, just very tiring, but I don't have a bigger gap to compare it to.

11 month gap between my two.
They are still little but things are getting easier already!
The first year was tough but you just get on with it because you have no other choice haha

I think it’s hard at different stages. Mine are now 2 (27 months) and 13 months. They are starting to play and interact and absolutely adore each other. But two toddlers is harder than any other stage so far ! My youngest was a really each baby so it made the transition easier for the toddler.
I have no family support and my partner works long hours which makes it difficult to do simple things such as going to appointments. However I love the madness, the mess and the sleep deprivation and cherish every moment because I know one day they won’t need me like they do now.
Go for it!

Yes!

15 months between mine. It was harder being pregnant with a toddler (but that also could have been the crippling spd and sciatica). Over all tho it wasn’t too bad and I love their bond now. Little best friends

The first two years were the absolute worst thing to ever happen to me, hence my username. I was unfortunate enough to have two velcro non-sleeping babies however, so I appreciate my experience is probably not indicative. My youngest wouldn't tolerate moving in a car, pram or carrier so I had to carry her EVERYWHERE for about 18 months while pushing my eldest. We essentially became housebound because I was so anxious and depressed. If we met friends for coffee I would have to stand pretty much the whole time, it was horrendous.

It's nice now they're older but I don't think the pay off has been worth it for me personally because of the lasting mental affects.

When I discovered I was pregnant again barely a year after having my third child, and then found out that the baby was the same sex as my toddler, I had visions of two rather similar children growing up and playing together. They couldn't have been more different in appearance and temperament. In practical terms it wasn't all that difficult compared to the bigger gaps I'd had between my older children, and they're still very different in their twenties but have become good friends.

It's hard work for sure but they'll be so close with each other. IMO it's worth it!

The first few months are the hardest as you're trying to figure out how to balance your time and attention.

14 months between mine and I think it's been really good for us. Both the same sex so even things like clothes just pass on without needing to pack away for a while.
Also same hobbies and intererts. We only have to bring them out to two sports things a week and both at the same time.

Bedtime stories - both like the same age group in books. Cinema etc

Yeah the first year or two is hard but not really. They entertain each other to the point now I hardly see them as they are out in the garden making up games or in the winter playing away or building a den.

Fine if it works out that way.

I conceived my son first month of trying but then took 2 years and 3 months to conceive our second. Whih included ivf and miscarriage

DS1 at 14 months deciding he couldn't feed himself, so I was bfing one and spoonfeeding the other at the same time.

Hard at first but much easier now they are older. The pregnancy was absolutely fine with a little one, the newborn stage was good, but tiring. There is no napping when the baby naps like with the first and obviously up at night doing night feeds so not much sleep for a while and tbh house work got put to the side many days. Age 1&2 was hard, I wanted to die most days tbh it was endless chaos and I couldn't cope as my 2nd was just a nightmare and just felt constantly drained. And now at 3/4 they are best buds, although they do fight some days because one of them is grouchy and the other one is being a wind up. But its so much easier, they entertain each other, they both love the same things and have similar interests and I can get on with what I'm doing without being followed having my ear chewed off.
I have had to set some firm boundaries and rules with them though or I get walked all over by the pair of them.
I also found DC2 was walking, talking, playing/interacting, learning a lot quicker than DC1, which was good but hard again because a walking 8 month old is no fun.
It couldn't have been to bad though as I had a 3rd child as well

I did it twice! (3 years apart). DH is very hands on which helps. The first year as others have said, is hard but then it's great! Mine are Now 12, 11, 8 & 6. They are a proper little tribe and really appreciated having a little friend.

The hard part I found was when the oldest of the pair went to school and the other was left at home. They really really missed their friend.

But honestly, I would do it all again.

Done it with a small age gap and twins.
It's not that "hard", can be exhausting at times. You have highs and lows but you get those with any age gap.
We have 6 kids now. Hard atm as only 12 days pp after a difficult birth so not physically 100% which is frustrating. Being very organised is a must, don't sweat the small stuff and enjoy your little ones.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Very interesting to read! I am tempted but DH will need some convincing 😄

@Chelyanne
I kinda "followed" your pregnancy on the pregnancy section not in a creepy way just reading posts. What happened with the birth? How are you doing and baby?

I am the middle sister do 3, eldest is 14 months older and younger sister is 18 months younger. I vowed never to have my children close in age and went on the have 2 with a 6 year gap.
We were expected to get on because we were close in age, you never get the sole attention that you need as a child.
Our friendship developed after we all left home.

@Herbie0987
Thanks for sharing. I do worry about this

I've got an 8 month old boy and a 22 month old girl. Worst year of my life to be honest. Love them both but F me it is HARD! They adore each other and I know it will be worth it in a year or so. You've still got 2 babies who both want/need your full attention and that's the hard part, trying to split yourself between them both. You also need a seamless bed time routine for the eldest - have them off their night time bottles and have them able to self soothe so you can literally put them in bed awake and walk out or bed time will dictate your life (like it did ours for the first 6 months)

Absoloutely not for me 😂 I have a 3 year gap & that is hard enough! I mean, the baby bit was actually fine. DD1 has been brilliant, no jealousy & very helpful! And DD2 was pretty chill, good sleeping baby. But now we are 4 and 18 months & I can’t remember the last time I sat down 😩😂 and the chill baby is now a monkey of a toddler! My two do get on so far & my eldest is old enough to understand when I tell her DD2 didn’t mean it, DD2 doesn’t understand .. & she accepts that. Which is helpful. Also, fully potty trained before DD2 came along & relatively independent at playing. The thought of having a newborn in the middle of the two year tantrums & the weeing & pooing all over the floor makes me sweat to just think about 😂

Yes. Potty trained at the same time 😃

Yes had a 15 month age gap. I found it hardest when they were 1 and 2 and both on the move but with zero safety awareness. Found it easy enough one second was a baby as couldn't move!

Honestly it was fine, really small age gap and they grown up really close and love having each other.

Hard yes but you reap the rewards later when they can do the same activities etc, and IME they are more likely to remain close as adults.

@Helloitsmi oh right lol. I booked an elcs at 39wk. Went in to labour a day early, though for the 1st 12 hours I kept hoping it was just braxton hicks. 3cm dilated when checked at hospital, got me in to surgery 7 hours later for cs. I had started to get scar rupture due to size of baby (10lb 15oz/4.96kg) so lost 1.6ltr of blood in surgery and heavier loss than they'd like after. My blood pressure was low but heart rate high, I was very unwell. Could barely stand when they took me for a shower, had to have catheter back in so was in hospital 3 nights. I've never felt so shocking after birth, it was a real shock to the system but I was back to doing a lot of stuff once home. I'm terrible for overdoing things tbh and pay with pain later but it gets better each day. Baby girl is an absolute little treasure and very chilled out so whilst I wouldn't want a small age gap I would have another.