How is 1 to 2 compared to 0 to 1?

[SamanthaVimes]

Hi everyone
I’ve recently found out I’m pregnant with number 2 and am curious how other people found going from 1 to 2
In my head it can’t be as bad as going from 0 to 1 because we know so much more now but I’m not sure if I’m being naïve!

I'm only a month in but number two has slotted in nicely so far, number one is near enough 2.5. I'm finding we can get out of the house fine BUT aiming for a specific time (e.g. playgroup) is pretty stressful so that will need to wait a bit longer I think.

The only other thing is the baby seems to come alive in the evening, which I'd forgotten, so the quiet time after the toddler has gone to bed has evaporated. I can't complain though as baby is very obliging and sleeps well in the day so her sister gets some quality attention, and she only wakes once in the middle of the night.

Toddler is still in nappies and I'm glad I've not had to do any dashing to the loo with her while juggling the newborn, although I'm not sure how much easier it will be when the little one is a bit bigger!

I found going from 1-2 waaaay harder than 0-1. 0-1 didn't phase me at all and it was just the 3 of us... with number 2 you have to juggle so much more! I found it exhausting and to be honest 4 years later still do!

However, my 2nd baby was and remains a challenge!! Love him to pieces but he certainly is more challenging! So that may be part of the difficulty.

Friends of mine who had a more challenging first born, found 1-2 a breeze.

Really interesting to hear the mix of opinions!
Sounds like a lot of it depends on how “easy” the baby is

I mean, if baby 1 cluster feeds for 5 hours in the day, you just out in a box set and ready biscuits. If that's baby 2, you have to entertain a toddler at the same time. Oh, and your toddler now needs taking to the toilet for a poo/has fallen over etc.

If you take a toddler to a park, you can push them on the swings, be there as a support on the frames etc. If you have a younger and older toddler, they go in opposite directions!

And how do you get your baby to sleep, when your toddler is screaming and demanding that you lie with them to get them to sleep? Fine with 2 parents, but the fact that it often takes both parents to make it manageable shows how much more difficult it is.

I read on here that one child is like having a pet, two is like having a zoo. That about sums it up for me. But it is a gentle levelling up, as I found it didnt stsrt off so hard

I think 1-2 is

• busier
• can feel a bit overwhelming when two of them are howling for you.
• the guilt - there is always one child that has to wait while you attend to the other!

-joyful - watching them together giggling 🥰 nothing quite beats seeing your two children love each other

• easier in the sense that you're already a mum and a dad - you kind of expect to have no time no sleep no money no life😜 whereas this is a shock form 0-1!

Massively depends on what baby 2 is like and how child 1 copes with the new arrival. Also the age gap is relevant. Having two babies is very different to have a schoolchild and newborn!

I found going from 1-2 much harder. Not so much in the early days, once we’d got over the colic and I could plonk DS down on a playmat while DD played or watched tv it was quite pleasant. Once DS was on the move that’s when shit hit the fan. They love each other but stopping them from bickering is a full-time job. 2.5 year age gap.

I completely agree with @moonbabysmum that has been my experience too. The newborn stage was ok but my second is a terrible sleeper so I've really struggled. It's completely worth it though.