Newborn and a 2 year old-how do you cope?

[Katie272]

Hi, I've recently found out I'm pregnant with baby number 2. My son is currently 15 months and by the time baby arrives will be 23 months old.

2 years is an age gap that in the long run I know I'll be happy with. However I'm now having doubts that I'll cope with a new born and a 2 year old. Does anyone have children with the same age gap? If so how did you find it?

I just want it to work, but I'm now worrying about everything including the effects it'll have on my relationship. Now our oldest is 15 months he's great with him. However I'm worried that the stress of 2 will be too much :(

Newborn and 2 year old I found absolutely fine. Like having a toddler with a high maintenance pot plant to carry round!

Mobile baby + toddler and toddler + toddler = 😱

But by then, you are better at juggling 2. A 2 year gap is hard, but it starts off pretty gentle in my experience.

My children, now adults, had that exact age difference. I absolutely LOVED it. Best time of my life. Honestly, stop worrying and stop concocting problems that don't even exist yet. Life will be busy but you'll get through it, we all do.

Have a 2.5 year old and a 4 month old. It’s hard not going to lie but I’m very reliant on routine and ensure things are done on a certain time. I also send the toddler to nursery 3 morning a week.

I'm expecting this age gap in august! My little one is quite high maintenance haha so we'll see how it goes. I just keep reassuring myself that it's a very common age gap and people manage all the time!

There is 16 months between my two little ones and I can honestly say I didn't find it an issue at all. Your age gap will be a lot bigger than that so you'll be fine 😃

Mine are 21 months apart. Having a newborn and toddler wasn't as bad as I expected. Didn't find it massively hard until baby could walk. They are 4 and 2 now and are hard work. I'm hoping it will get easier.

Mine are currently 12 weeks and 2y 3m. I’m not going lie, it is really hard some days. But we stick to a routine (I think this is really important for the toddler) and make sure to get outside every day. Personally I find being indoors with the two of then for too long quite maddening but a walk and some fresh air re-centres everyone.

I had this age gap with mine. What helped was a good sling. Learning to breastfeed in sling. Eldest probably watched a bit too much TV. DH did eldest's bedtime while baby was cluster feeding- would your partner be up for taking over your eldest's care a bit in the first few mlmghs? We also kept DS1 in nursery half days. It's hard while they're still very small but very much worth it later on!

First few months*

What helped was a good sling. Learning to breastfeed in sling.

Yes, and yes!!
Total game changer!