Your stories of going from 1 to 2 please!

[ellecf21]

As the title suggests. Have a DD who will be 2 in June. I find one manageable and she's great. Of course this age is a lot of emotions and I'm sure that will continue but we do want another baby. Just want to hear your experiences of 1 to 2 please. Was it completely overwhelming or did it all slot into place? For context DD will be almost 3 or older by the time we may welcome another if we are blessed.

We have a 2.5 year age gap. Two boys. 4 and 19 months. I love them to death but some days/minutes/hours are fucking mental and overwhelming. Other times absolutely blissful and everything in between.

I wouldn't have it any other way but sometimes it's hard separating your time and they both need you. My DH is very hands on and that also helps obviously. A good routine but be prepared for lots of crying but also lots of joy

We have an age gap of 3y9m, which has worked out really well. DD1 was in nursery when DD2 was born, so I still had all the lovely bonding time and baby classes with DD2, while DD1 had her own friends so wasn't pestering me while I was preoccupied with the baby. DH was around a lot un the early months as he took a long paternity leave.

I still find it hard to juggle the 2 of them at once, but I'm rarely on my own with them for too long - DH and I look after the dcs together at weekends, and DH gets home from work an hour after DD1 gets back from school.

DD2 has been really chilled and adaptable - we've taken her out to all the same activities that DD1 enjoyed since she was newborn - theme parks, 2 hour long pantos, concerts. She has really slotted right in.

I have a 4 year age gap, DD is just 10 and DS nearly 6. It was a good gap because DD started school a few weeks after DS was born, so she got a few hours of peace from the baby and I got to spend time just with DS as I did with DD.

The good times are wonderful. DD has always been very proud and protective of DS, and DS has adored DD from the start. DD is starting to grow out of "playing" but when they do play together it's so lovely. They've got their own little jokes and things, it's so sweet! They really care about each other too.

However, it can be really hard. DD was an easy 4yo and DS was an easy(ish) baby, but when he hit the toddler months (18mo at the start of 2020...) things did get harder, especially with DD being out of school. So it probably would've been easier in more normal times! But even now they do bicker and fall out and drive each other crazy...

The good times definitely outweigh the bad, though! Especially as they've got older. My two love each other more than anybody else, and miss each other terribly when they're apart.

I have a 22 m age gap. Been great all round tbh. Played well together as children and friends as young adults.

Ds was 3 when DD was born.

We kept DS in nursery when he was born ( but we do live abroad where daycare is cheap).

It was fine... Just very low key activities i.e. park near home.

They get along very well now and play well together.

My 2 are 25 months apart and it’s hard work- but I guess I’m still in the thick of it as my little one is 6 months.

the hardest part for me is it’s quite overstimulating. Which I think is potentially due to the small age gap, so I think that might be better for you.

the nice part of the age gap is I didn’t really feel like I’ve lost anything. Im used to early bedtimes, food chaos etc so my little one has slotted in.

the main thing about 2 is that you have to work as a team with your partner but accept that means you attend to different children rather than doing one as a team.

I found it really easy. I found going from 0 to 1 very tough but from 1 to 2 was a piece of cake.

Thank you all so much for sharing. Really good to hear everyone's different experiences and get a bit of insight into how it might be whilst appreciating that everyone and every child is different ❤️@Whatelsecouldibecalled @gereat @CoodleMoodle @Podgedodge @coxesorangepippin @Pinklilly @SallyWD