Those with a large gap between children what differences have you noticed in pregnancy/care/baby stuff?

[nymphadora]

And are they improvements or not?

I will have a 9 year gap and after spending a lot of time shopping this week I've noticed masses of stuff for sale I can't see the point in!

Pregnancy care- Lot less contact with professionals than with previous 2 (well would have been if I hadn't been ill)

Shopping- Prams- much more complicated

car seats- Isofix seems to be an improvement but the prices have hiked HUGELY!

Cots seem to be nearly all cot beds

never heard of muslins before this pregnancy

Nappies- Much more choice in reusables as last time there was a choice of pre-folds or all-in-ones and were v difficult to get hold of (here anyway) and it was more unusual to use them (My HV hadn't seen anyone else when I was using them , then she did!)

Slings- don't remember them last time, just carriers

I have a 5 year gap so not quite as big as yours...

Prams, I was at the prices now and how fancy they are. In the end went for a basic stroller as couldn't cope with the expenditure or size of all the new designs!

Same with car seats - they are soooo much more expensive. Luckily I kept my old ones so don't need any!

Oh and weaning is now 6 months istead of 4.

My mum gave me her old muslins when I had my first DC and they are from the 6os so really don't think they are a new thing! LOL

Have you discovered grobags yet? They are marvellous.

I will have a 7.5 year gap (if this baby ever comes out that is).

Nappies definitely. When I had DD it was prefolds or Motherease and I think that was it. Don't remember seeing any other options anyway.

Also slings, I was considered distinctly bohemian for using a Wilkinet until DD was 7/8 months.

The internet! I didn't have it when I had DD - maybe thats why I didn't know more about nappies or slings though? So much more information...

Dunno about prams/car seats/cots as we haven't bought any of those.

Yeah I didn't have th internet then either so that probably makes a huge difference!

Baby led weaning looks so much better than mush too!

5 year gap, bubba 2 due 18th Sept and your not allowed to make up bottles and put them in the fridge any more, apparently, how did all those babies survive!

Oh I saw that one recently too, am so much keener to breastfeed again! I HATED making up bottles

Oh and you get much longer maternity leave too!

Not huge gaps for me, but DH has two from his previous marriage.

With his first batch

• put them to sleep on their front (WTF?)
• didn't even try to BF, now most people do

-rubbish prams (now expensive but BRILLIANT!)

• Used to put 'extras' in their bottles (rusks or whatever)
• dummies (but they're coming back now!)
• 1st two slept through straight away, 2nd batch took months to sleep through.

? Any more suggestions?

Shorter stays in hospital ,3 days for a section 1 for vaginal birth here where as last time it was 5&3

i had 6 years berween dd1 and 1 who are now 6 and 12 and back then everything was different but also between dd2 and ds which was 4.5yrs it all seemed to change again.

never had travel systems when i had dd1

always made up 24hrs worth of bottles and then stuh them in the microwave, appaerently u shouldn;t now

never worried about routines or cc or self settling

no sleeping bags

changing bags weren't a fashion accessory

10 year gap.
Definately a massive hike up in price for carseats.
Bouncy chairs are being replaced by swinging mechanical chairs. (i'm sure people think you can just stick babies in and set it swinging and it will give them hours......no, they get bored just as quick)
Dummies were a big no no. Now there have been studies to show they (may) reduce cot death

So basically - like everything in life... prices have gone through the ceiling and you need an MSc in Instruction Manuals (or a 10 year old) to understand everything.

Sounds about par for the course.

10 year gap.

Found new car seats baffling so used old ones which I'd kept in the loft. And used old cot and just bought v cheap lie back buggy, as i don't get the mad expensive buggy thing at all.

Back to sleep hasn't changed in 10 years and aprt form that i kept to my old routines and ways from first time around. Had next to no contact with HV etc and didn't buy any baby books so I couldn't get too stressed by what I was now (apparently) doing wrongly!

Never had a changing bag or sling or with any of them (used a big scarf to tie them on my hip, as shown me by a Nigerian mum about 15 years ago, works much better and more comfy).

Grobags - tried them this time around but can't see why they are so wonderful. Same with baby gyms/ bouncy chairs etc etc: put baby on blanket on floor to look at washing machine or similar, or in garden to look at trees overhead. Get older sibs to lie next to baby making faces etc...

I am really tight with with money as you can see - 99% of the baby stuff is not required at all.

Yes to the car seat thing.my back seat is going to be quite full with baby seat & dd2 on a booster

we have just had to up grade from a vectra to a 7 seater kia sedona because i can't get a baby seat a booster and dd1 (no booster) all in the back

Don't say that I've got to do that in a yaris!

I had a 6 year gap and the big difference I noticed was that there was much unisex stuff around - lots more gender specific clothes, changing mats, bedding etc. This reflects trends in finding out the sex and no I don't think it is an improvement.
Car seats are certainly more expensive. DD3 rides around in about £200's worth wheras dd2 was about £70 I think.
Sleeping bags - yes and I liked them.

much LESS unisex stuff around that should be

12 yr age gap

This time round people have asked me if we were trying ,( which i think is none of their business )

weaning changed from 4 to 6 months

no bottles kept in fridge ( how did my son survive )

carrying my notes around to appointments.

going to surestart center to see midwife instead of doctors and having to bring my wee sample home as they are not allowed to dispose of it.

4d scans.

loads of equiptment you dont need.

travel systems

baby due in november but i can guess i will be more tired this time round.

16 year gap, (first born 1991) !!
Lots of changes.

Only had terry nappies and crackly hard plastic overpants. Now have delux fleecy things . Great improvement.

Car seat cost £1 !! (ok secondhand) And easy to lift in and out the car.

No internet (was it even invented?)

Limited choice but that was good. So much unneccessary crap out these days.

Simple buggies and prams that were easy to fold and carry.

One piece of card that had all preg notes on.

useless HV. Vast improvements in access, knowlegde, friendliness etc

Prob loads more stuff...

prob lo

baby walkers have disappeared.

The GP's advice and general public opinion on drinking in pg has changed considerably.

The hvs have all disappeared.

Freeview+cbeebies, how did I survive the first time without it?

i find the biggest problem is finding things you can do as a family that everyone can enjoy

It's so nice to see I am not the only one doing the big age gap! Was feeling like i was the only one! Two boys 10 and 7 and 3rd due Sept 20th. Most of my stuff for the 3rd is hand me downs from friends, but I have invested in a cot bed as it seems like a good idea - it was in the sale though! Am definitely going to buy a sling though as they look fab and more comfortable than the papooses (spelling??!) I used before. I have been given a friends moses basket as I used one before and really liked it. Am planning on BF as i did before, have also been loaned some new car seats - have absolutely no idea how to use them but they look very secure and were quite expensive so pleased we didn't have to buy! Muslins I used before and take them everywhere, found them very useful.
Good luck with your pregnancy and birth!