2 year age gap!

[ablisha]

Hi all

I have just found out I am pregnant with my second and although I am blessed, I didn't expect it to happen so quickly and that tied in with hormones, my mind is in overdrive with worry!

Does anyone have any positive experiences of a 2 year age gap? I am worried how little my DS still seems at 17 months and also financially. We can afford it, but with prices of everything rocketing, it's hard not to worry.

Please be kind as I am one hormonal woman right now 💙

I did it. It was great. Hard but great.

Finances were the biggest issue. I went part time and worked evenings around DHs hours so we didn't need to pay for childcare. It's hard when they're little but it gets easier quickly. Mine are older now and it's great.

I have exactly two years (almost to the day) between my baby and toddler. It is an absolute joy and I would say I’ve found two not much harder than one so far.

I'm in the same boat. Eek!!!

The best age gap:))

My two have 2 years and 4 months and when not fighting they are really close

Ours are currently 3.5 and 16mo. It’s getting easier every day. They love each other so much, and are playing together more now. They have very different personalities, and it can be really tricky (youngest messes up basically anything DS wants to play with) but I wouldn’t change them for the world.

2 year 3 months between DD and DS. Currently 3 and 1.

It has been tough at times but they get on like a house on fire. I can only hope they continue to have such a bond as they grow older

Both mine are July babies so exactly 2 years. They have always been very close and play together loads. I was lucky in that my first was hard work at first but then super chilled and my second was chilled from the start (and now the attitude starts 😂) they are 5 and 7 now and still get on so well, they enjoy the same things for days out etc. Honestly I’ve no regrets. My maternity leave was so lovely to have 9 months with ds when he was 2 - such a fun age!

@ablisha I am in a very similar situation and feel what you are saying. My son is 16 months and I'm about 8 weeks pregnant I think, all being well the new baby will be born a couple of weeks before my son turns 2.

I've found myself really worried about handling them both and to be honest, affording both. We move house next months and will have a bigger mortgage as well me having just started a new job so it's unlikely I will qualify for my companies (very generous) maternity pay. Once I know my due date, I'm going to try to negotiate with work.

I know two under two will be a challenge and I am scared about how I will handle it but my husband is a great dad, and my.mum has offered to come and stay if we need help which I am sure we will need in the early days. My brother in law has 2 with the same age gap - they are 3 and just about to turn 5 and it's so lovely seeing them play together and keep each other company, so even though it may be hard in the beginning, I look at them and think that in a couple of years it will be wonderful.

I have a 2.5 year old and a 3 week old. Obviously still very early days but so far it's been fine. Hardest bit was chasing after a 2 year old whilst heavily pregnant!

DS loves DD and likes to "help" by fetching nappies, emptying the washing machine etc. Honestly they develop so much between 17 months and 2. Your LO will be a bit more independent by the time baby arrives.

Financially it's not been too much of a hit other than maternity pay. I still had all of DS's baby stuff so only big purchase was a double buggy (get one second hand). I'm keeping DS in nursery but you don't need to do that if you don't want to. By the time I go back to work he will be entitled to his free 30 hours so I'll only have a big childcare bill for the youngest.

It's hard work, but totally doable. Congratulations!

My two are 19 months apart so a bit under 2 years but it's great! It was a bit tricky during the baby stage but they are 2 and nearly 4 now and the best of friends, they keep each other entertained for hours and are into similar things so can take them to the same activities etc.

Mine are 2 years and 3 weeks apart. Hard for the first couple of years but easier when they are older as they had shared interests which were at the same time for instance. We had a double buggy for the first 2 years (dd1 is autistic so was unreliable) and of course we were going through diagnosis at that time, but it really was ok

Mine are 21 months apart. The youngest is nearly 1. It's hard. Their relationship is beautiful. But it's very hard at the moment.

2.5 between mine. I found it so hard being heavily pregnant with a toddler, but once the baby was born it really was ok.

Not exactly 2 years, I have 16 months between my two girls. They are now 4 and nearly-3 and they absolutely adore each other and it has got a lot easier! The first year was hard do that the joy definitely outweighed the harshness!

Thank you all. I really appreciate your posts.

My DS is at a childbase nursery and I was really surprised that funded places at 3 years were still really expensive. At the moment we pay £750 a month and with the funding it'll be £550. Is this usual or just their company?

Thanks

I have a one year gap, it will be fine.

Yeah our bill when the eldest gets 30 hours will be not significantly cheaper than it is now. I just think of it as very temporary.

I think it depends Op. I pay nowt but mine go to a council preschool, 30 hrs pw term time only .

@MiddleParking

Yeah our bill when the eldest gets 30 hours will be not significantly cheaper than it is now. I just think of it as very temporary.

This a very helpful way of looking at it 😊

Its hard, but i didn't find it started off as hard - newborn and toddler was much easier than pregnant and toddler.

Older baby/toddler and toddler, that i found hard, but by then you are also better at the juggling, which helps.

I had my second baby when my first was 17 months. I was extremely sleep deprived for newly 2 years but it's so worth it in the long run as they are the best of friend.
Hardest thing financially was paying for two children to be in nursery full time. I ended up becoming a SAHM after a few months of going back to work because childcare took my whole salary!

@supersonicspider

I had my second baby when my first was 17 months. I was extremely sleep deprived for newly 2 years but it's so worth it in the long run as they are the best of friend. Hardest thing financially was paying for two children to be in nursery full time. I ended up becoming a SAHM after a few months of going back to work because childcare took my whole salary!

I am hoping I can carry on work PT as it is an important part of my life. Fingers crossed.

Maybe we'll have to look at childminders rather than nurseries but it's finding a good one with space...

19 months between mine. Youngest currently 4 months. Getting easier with time and they already clearly love each other, it's very sweet.

15 months between mine; ngl it’s wild, nobody has any energy or patience left but when they both cuddle you.. literally nothing else matters.

They’re 6m and 21m now and he wakes up in the morning and says ‘baby, cuggle’ and cuddles the baby 🥲

Thank you everyone. The gist I'm getting is tough but worth it!