2 under 2's how bad is it really?

[anniz91]

I'm considering another...BUT is having 2 under 2 really as bad as everyone makes it out to be?

no. it’s hard at the start because you have to sit down and feed baby a lot and the older one wants you to get up and get a drink, play with them, xyz. once second baby is crawling or sitting up even it all gets easier as time goes on

I’d say to be avoided if possible because of the impact on your body. The care wasn’t impossible for me.

The smaller the age gap the easier it is as the DC are closer developmentally and so can be entertained in a similar manner. This holds true right the way through their childhoods and teenage years.

It's pretty rough. I wouldn't do it again.

Fine for me, 17 months between my eldest 2, they were both pretty chilled and the eldest was very loving towards the new addition.

I didn't find it particularly hard. I've 18 months between my 2. They've generally been into the same thing at the same time, come as a pair kinda thing.

It's brilliant!
I had three under three, it was fine.

Also didn’t find it awful with an 18 mo age gap.

I mean obviously it’s hard work but the benefits of close in age are great and stuff like nap routines are easy to do for both.

Also you’re so much more relaxed with second baby, everything seems easier.

No it’s fine.

It's when they are older 😂😂😂 mine are 11 and 10 fight like cat and dog 🐕

The first few months were ROUGH. Really really rough.

But DS2 is now 7 months and DS1 is much better at entertaining himself for a few minutes while I sort the baby, and isn’t as jealous of my affections or his toys any more. And they adore each other.

Toddlers and babies are just fundamentally very impatient so you just have to deal with a lot of screaming when they both want something at the same time. I find that psychologically very difficult.

And the hope is that the close age gap will pay off later on!

I found it really hard because my second was a velcro baby and was always crying and grumpy. I think i would have found it extremely challenging even if it was just her alone. However once both hit the 2-3 years old mark things got easier and they're so close now it's a joy to watch them together.

I just remember feeling stressed all the time. I had a 21 month age gap.

It was hard at times and easy at others. Both little ones were at a similar developmental stage and so shared lots of interests which was a huge plus. They napped at similar times and both enjoyed going to the park etc. Seven years on now and they are really close. Looking back I would definitely do it again.

I love it so far

Yes. I had 2 under 2, but overall 3 under 5. 26 month gap and 17 month gap.

It was awful and I'd never do it again. They are 7,9 and 11 now and it's okay but it's only been okay in the last few years.

The first few months were a doddle tbh. I used a sling a lot and tbh just embraced being a kangaroo with less jumping. I even breastfed in the sling a lot. I carried on doing most things with the toddler with baby attached.

It got harder after about 7m, and probably reached peak difficulty when the youngest was about 18m. This was apart when my youngests sleep was worst (newborn 2-3hr stretches, 12m 30-90 minute ones).

They are now 4&6 and incredibly close. Very much best friends.

I really didn't find it that difficult however my older son has SEN, non verbal and can't walk at the moment so wasn't isn't typical toddler but the baby just slotted right in.

He's 3 and She's 1 now (22 month age gap) and it's still pretty alright.

I found it awful and I went back to work when the youngest was 4 months. DH was around in the evenings and weekends so it was fine when we could divide and conquer, but hugely stressful trying to deal with both their needs in my own. We did get a sleep consultant involved early so they slept through from an early age, which helped - they'd only be home for an hour or so after nursery before going to bed.

I am not a big fan of the baby/toddler years though so I'm glad I got that over with quickly. They are very close now as teens.

Divide and conquer is right @ferneipe. I think without an active partner who was willing to properly be involved, it would be very hard indeed. You can feel a bit outnumbered sometimes.

I'm going to have 3 under 2 come April. I'm dreading it to be honest but thankfully the early days go fast even though it doesn't always feel like it.

I don't remember it being that hard. I was in my 40s too. I thought two years (20 months to be precise) was a good gap - close enough but not too close.

I'm 3 weeks and definitely questioning it 😅

3 weeks in *