Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Did you have a small age gap? Be honest - what's it like!

42 replies

mamagosh · 02/08/2023 17:03

Hello everyone,

I've just found out I am pregnant with DC3. I have DC1 almost 4 and DC2 only 5mo. When baby is born, DC2 will only be about 14mo.

Has anyone had a similar experienced and survived 😂 I'm really excited but also, absolutely bricking it and wondering how the logistics will work out like cars etc

Thanks 😊 x

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Whyemseeaye · 02/08/2023 17:04

We have two 17 months apart. In the beginning it was savage but now they're a bit older it's lovely. They really are best friends 💖

Joder · 02/08/2023 17:07

It was hard at first, dragging car seats everywhere!
But I got a double buggy and walked everywhere and lost tons of weight 😂
my two boys are now the best of friends and holidays are always so much fun because they always have each other.
it was the best thing we ever did having them close in age x

KnickerlessParsons · 02/08/2023 17:09

18 months. Hard going for the first year with two, but much easier as they got older as they were able to do the same activities at the same time. Eg same groups for swimming lessons, Brownies etc.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds 1st trimester General parenting General pregnancy

manontroppo · 02/08/2023 17:11

18months here. Brutal in early years, especially if they are poor sleepers, amazing once both at school. Mine are best buddies, long may it last!

mumtotwox · 02/08/2023 17:12

I have a just turned 3 year old and just turned 1 year old. I'm almost 12 weeks with baby 3 😊

It's amazing when they can play together and the bond is super special 🥰

SisterAgatha · 02/08/2023 17:15

I had a 14 month gap and honestly, I don’t remember much of that time. It’s all gone, i was merely existing.

The two memories I really have are breastfeeding on the school run whilst pushing the other in pushchair, as middle baby didn’t walk till 16 months so I had to carry him and newborn while looking after eldest - this was after a c section.

I remember counting how many times I clipped a car seat or child in and out of the car on the average day and it was something like 26 (but I had the older one to do school runs for, and this included going to a baby group and doing a shop).

They are close now but fight a lot.

Babdoc · 02/08/2023 17:18

16 months between my two.
It was good in one way, as it got all the nappies, sleepless nights and feeds out of the way in one fell swoop, but it was gruelling after DH died before DD2’s first birthday.

FrenchandSaunders · 02/08/2023 17:20

3 minutes between mine 🤣

WTFdidwedo · 02/08/2023 17:21

17 months between my daughters (hence the username) and it was really, really difficult. 5 years on it's absolutely lovely but there's no denying that the first 3 years were horrific, but mostly due to having fussy babies!

Mere1 · 02/08/2023 17:23

3 minutes. Twins. It was very tricky at first-6 months or so. Then easier than taking siblings to different activities, schools etc. I have two friends who had twins when they already had a one year old. Choosing a car with a back seat for three was not easy. A Skoda of some sort worked. They said they coped as it wasn’t all new to them, so not as terrifying as expected.

Coffeepott · 02/08/2023 17:23

Not quite as close, 17 months, agree with previous posters. Sleep deprivation kicked my arse - and neither were terrible sleepers, just regular bad! But they are devoted to each other, don't fight and love the same books/toys/films

the elder is still a baby when you have your newborn - so they still need you too . I feel like focusing on that really helped the sibling bond, because my eldest didn't feel like the baby had stolen me because they still got lots of my attention.

Aquamarine1029 · 02/08/2023 17:25

Mine are 15 months apart and I absolutely loved it. They are adults now and still very close.

Mammyloveswine · 02/08/2023 17:42

23 months so a bit of a bigger gap but now they are 5 and 7 it's much easier... they still fight etc but nowhere near as much as they used to!

Pros: ds2 soon slotted into Ds1s routine so that was handy!

Plenty of clothes ready for Ds2.

Getting nappies and night Wakings/early mornings out of the way whilst still in the thick of it.

Days out etc are easy to plan due to similar interests and stages.

Cons:
I'm knackered 😂

climbershell · 02/08/2023 18:37

16 months. Currently 3 months and 19 months and its brutal. Baby is very fussy/difficult, which doesn't help. But tbh I think it's more having 2 maternity leaves so close together and i find maternity leave so boring and lonely, esp as tho I have a partner we're not in a great place and he's not a talker. Not that we spend any time together as toddler doesn't usually sleep til 9pm and by that time baby is v unhappy unless upstairs in dark room with white noise

They do have very sweet moments together already though and I just somehow have to get through the next 8 months before I get to go back to my business and by that time my 4 days at home should be nicer lol

DramaAlpaca · 02/08/2023 18:41

A 16 month gap here. It was hard work and the first year of DC2's life is a bit of a blur, but it was worth it. They are grown up now and still best friends. I had DC3 a couple of years later and survived the chaos.

Yourebeingtooloud · 02/08/2023 18:44

Whyemseeaye · 02/08/2023 17:04

We have two 17 months apart. In the beginning it was savage but now they're a bit older it's lovely. They really are best friends 💖

This sums it up perfectly. First year was awful. Since then it’s been a dream.

onlynotafan · 02/08/2023 18:44

15 months between dc2 & 3 oldest one is 4

Whiskeypowers · 02/08/2023 18:45

I had three under 4 and it was brutal for a while.
now they’re almost 6, 7 and 9 it is getting easier 😄

ShadowPuppets · 02/08/2023 18:47

18 months. Now 1 and nearly 3. First year hideous! But getting better now. Just as everyone told me it would…

Roselilly36 · 02/08/2023 18:49

21mth gap between my two DS’. Two under two is hard work, I won’t deny it, but easier in some ways, didn’t have any jealousy when younger sibling arrived, they liked the same programmes, toys, they don’t ever remember a time without each other. My two DS’ are adults now and best friends as well as brothers. My DH’ siblings were much more spread out, very big age differences, he is not close to any of his siblings, sadly.

gracielooloo · 02/08/2023 18:55

14 months difference, both girls now 13 and 14.
As a PP said the first year I don’t remember, I just trudged through! They’re very close now but can have spectacular rows, usually over borrowing clothes! Although the early years were hard, I’m so glad we did it.

ComeOnWill · 02/08/2023 18:58

Congratulations!!

We have 17 months between the first two, it was brilliant TBH. I didn't find it particularly tough but DC1 was the most chilled toddler ever, also I was in my 20s and don't need a lot of sleep so think I am more the exception there!

They're mid/late teens now and best mates.

There has never been any jealousy or sibling bickering, we think that is due to that they've always been used to coming as a pair!

There's more of a normal sized gap between 2 and 3 and I found that more difficult in many ways.

user64827723 · 02/08/2023 19:10

13 months and two babies in lockdown was goddamn HORRIFIC.

Maybe if it hadn't been for lockdown I'd be ok.

Life is easy now they're older.

Congratulations

ThisGirlCantAlways · 02/08/2023 19:16

16 months. I thought baby stage was fine, both in nappies, in the zone of weaning etc, eldest not a great sleeper but 2nd was great sleeper.

school years were great, you’re just concentrated on one school at a time (apart from odd year). Similar out of school clubs etc.

what we are finding really difficult and expensive is uni years, it’s a killer and really should have planned financially ! Doh!

I’d do exactly the same gap again!!

ZebraKid71 · 02/08/2023 19:22

I had 3 under 4 - the first year with 3 I found OK, not much sleep but with 1 immobile I didn't feel so outnumbered and baby just lived in the sling and we cracked on. It was the time the youngest was between 1-2 I found hardest, two toddlers and a preschooler was really tough. Now our youngest is nearly 3 it's loads easier, they play together, entertain each other and seeing them together is my favourite part of parenthood.

Flip

1 2