Small age gap?

[YellowGreenWhiteRed]

Those of you that have DC with small age gaps (less than 18 months), talk to me!

DS is 8 months old, just found out I'm having another and I'm panicking.

18 mths between my first two... I think it is easier than a long gap. The first few months are very tiring but once the little one gets to six months by or so the two children entertain each other, eat much the same and generally can do things together. They are friends for each other as well.

15 months between my 2nd and 3rd child (found out we were pregnant with baby number 3 when I was 5 months post partum) and I won't lie, some days it's impossibly hard. But other days it's lovely. They are 2.5 and 1.5 now and they fight like cat and dog but are also best friends when they want to be😅 a big positive is they share clothes so I save a tonne of money there🤣

13m here ...
It's difficult, but manageable.

13 months between 1st and 2nd, 19 months between 2nd and 3rd, 15 months between 3rd and 4th.
You just need to find your routine. I found having the first was the hardest. Mine are now 7, 6, 5, and nearly 4. I survived! Its nice the small age gap as they play together.

Thanks everyone! You're making me feel a lot better. We'd planned a small age gap, but didn't expect to fall pregnant so quickly so it's quite a shock.

If you don't mind me asking, how was the birth with your second? I'm worried that my body won't cope with the two being so close together.

19 months apart - now 6 and 8 (boy older than girl). Literally overheard them playing together tonight and son telling sister she’s his best friend. It’s amazing.

EDIT for birth question: Second birth was natural, non-intervention, no tears/stitches, in a midwife-led low risk birth centre. Born in 39.5 weeks at 7pm, home by midnight!

My birth with my 3rd (the one with the 15 month age gap from the 2nd) was the easiest labour I've had. I think because it was so close together my body just knew exactly what to do. I feel like between the 1st and 2nd it had forgot the drill😂 (there's almost 4 years between them two)

I'm 10 weeks pregnant now with baby number 4. So the age gap between our 3rd and 4th child will be just over 2 years, so technically we won't have 2 under 2 again 😅

Delivery with DC2 was precipitated; luckily I was already at the hospital having my routine obs. appointment.

18 months between mine. A bit of a blur in the beginning, but quite a nice one - I leant into the roll with it maternity lifestyle.

Now 5 and 6 and great friends (mostly!!). Holidays, days out, activities all much easier as they like the same things. They are friends with a lot of each others friends too which makes parties and playdates easy as can be done together.

Actually I have found that friends with DC close together like the fact they are for many of the reasons explained above. Hard to begin with but easier later on.

What I’ve observed though is that parents can treat two individuals as twins. My friend had two DDs really close together. If one wanted to do a sport, the other DD had to go too. Ditto clubs, Ditto playing with friends. You got both DDs, not one. I actually felt this stopped each DD having their individual personality respected. If one DD wanted to stop an activity, they both did. Obviously people parent as they wish but I do think this style of parenting can have its drawbacks for the DC involved. DDs and DSs obviously will want different friends and activities eventually but same sex DC seem to be traded as one.