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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anyone else have a small gap between babies?

22 replies

Italianbride · 30/04/2013 20:53

I've just found out I'm pregnant and my first baby is only 6 months old. This will mean a gap of about 14 months between the 2 which sounds like a bit of a nightmare!

Does anyone else have a small gap between 2? And can you reassure me it's not so bad!!!

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TinkyPeet · 30/04/2013 21:35

I don't but my cousin has only a 10.5 month gap between her eldest two, she said she found that easier than the gap between the toddler and newborn that followed x

embaker112 · 30/04/2013 21:36

I nanny for a lady who has 3 children all very close together. 2.5years, 1.6 years and 4 months. She copes amazingly (albeit with my help). She sticks to strict routines and loves that they are all so close in age. It might be a blessing in disguise...she said that she didn't managed to get back to a normal sleep pattern between children so is used to not sleeping much! Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great!

Mandy21 · 30/04/2013 21:38

About 16 mins between No 1 and No 2 for me .

One of my closest friends had a 16 month age gap and I think there's no getting away from the fact that its tough in the early days but as they get slightly older, the pay off is there. Hers are only 1 school year apart so similar ages in terms of entertainment / activities / them getting on and playing with each other.

Congratulations!

Wossname · 30/04/2013 21:44

I have 15 months between my two and I found the first year to be absolutely awful, sorry! Its has just, in the last 6 weeks or so, started to be enjoyable.

It's now so lovely that I have started to forget how completely hideous the whole thing was.

Congratulations!

GrasshopperNchipmunk · 30/04/2013 21:45

I have a 2 yr old a 1yr old and just found out I'm pregnant with a third .

The older two are 18 months apart and when I was pregnant everyone kept telling me about 'how hard' the first few months would be. However, my first born was a really difficult baby and this conned me into believing all babies were like this, so when my easy peasy second came along, I was delighted at how easy the whole thing was, and wondered what everyone had been on about.

My friend however, did the same thing but her kids were the other way around and she's found it much more difficult after her 'easy going' first baby.

So I suppose its all about your experiences and expectations, and this will influence how easy/ hard you will find it

Congratulations btw

MarvellousYou · 30/04/2013 21:47

15 months apart here and they would be lost without each other, no sibling jealousy when DS2 arrived which was lovely. They sometimes play fight and it's been important to keep organised but only when it matters (e.g a bit of structure, appointments, pre-school). Lovely seeing them play together now and DD (DC 3) will be arriving shortly! It certainly changed me but for the better x

pinkteapot · 30/04/2013 22:07

I've 13 months, 15 months, and 14 months between my DCs. they are now 3, 2 and 1 year old. I'm either crazy or stupid as currently 36 weeks with DC4...!
I am wrecked. BUT I wouldnt change it. they are close, scarcely remembering when either of them wasnt there. They fight and play and are each others equal rather than a distinct older-younger relationship. what I find hardest is being pregnant, aside from increasingly bad spd i'm just too tired to feel adaquate, but thats me and pregnancy, nothing to with them or their ages or closeness. I think you'll be just fine, you'll juggle things and probably wish you had more time sometimes, but essentially you'll have two children who will grow through all the stages together.

honey86 · 30/04/2013 22:55

21 months and 18 months between my 3 dcs. theyre now 7,5 & nearly 4. was exhausting but i got through it. although im grateful i waited longer this time, as theyll all be in full time school by the time dc4 is born therell be 4 1/2 years between #3 and #4 xx

pinkteapot · 01/05/2013 06:54

sorry meant theres going to be 14 mnths tween dcs 3 and 4... I must be forward thinkin!

kittykatsforever · 01/05/2013 07:59

My friend has only 12 months between hers, she did find the first year tough no doubt but I think the benifits now they are 3 and 2 are paying off, I think there are pros and cons to most age gaps

D0GWithAYoni · 01/05/2013 08:02

Not quite such a small gap but I've done gaps of 20 months between the first two and 18 months between the second two and at one point all 4 were 5 and under. It's not that bad and gets easier with time

PoppyAmex · 01/05/2013 08:03

Great thread OP - I'm also pregnant and have a 13 mo DD and am petrified so it's good to hear about good experiences. Thanks everyone!

PhieEl06 · 01/05/2013 08:28

Congratulations OP, no personal experience here but my best friend & her sister have a 14 month age gap, they're not close in the sense of tell each other everything & live in each others pockets but have grown up really looking out for each other & have a really strong bond now. My friend tells me that when they were younger it was great because they liked similar things at the same time, always had a friend to play with & shared everything. when I first met them I thought they were twins, for about 6 months too

Huffpot · 01/05/2013 08:34

I have 11 months between my 2.
It can be really hard (especially when they were BOTH teething!) but at 2 and 3 now its been worth it all as they are the best of friends and play happily together most of the time
Mine will even be in the same year at school and start nursery together this September

You'll hear lots of negative things from people but its fine

Myliferocks · 01/05/2013 09:35

DC2 - 3. 19 months
DC3 - 4. 15 months
DC4 - 5. 13 months

DC2 was 4 years and 1 month when I had DC5.

In some respects it was easier when they were younger as now they are older there is far more arguing and hormones flying round!

gardenpixie32 · 01/05/2013 09:38

2 minutes

pinkteapot · 01/05/2013 13:08

Myliferocks, you have my respect! I'm takin a little time out after this one!

cherrycherry41 · 01/05/2013 13:15

Im 17 weeks pregnant with my second and my DD is only 7 months, meaning if all goes to plan there will be exactly 12 months and 2 days between them. I have no doubt itll be hard but very rewarding!
Good luck and glad to know im not the only one!!

notso · 01/05/2013 13:24

I've got 16 months between DC3 and DC4. They are 2.4 and 1 now, it's no walk in the park. It would be easier if I didn't have the older 2 and didn't need to be up and out for school or have homework to help with etc.
I keep hearing they will be close and I will appreciate the small gap, can't wait for that to happen!

Shellywelly1973 · 01/05/2013 16:58

My best friend has 11.5 months between her 2boys. They are 4&5 now. She was dreading it & spent most of the 2nd pregnancy depressed.

I also have a 4yr old. I have 5 dc in total. 23,21,11,8&4. The three younger dc were 3.5 yrs apart. Totally crap age gap. The dc all are at totally different stages. Different schools as of next September. Different friends etc.

Whereas my friends boys have loads in common. Yes the first 6 months were hard but now they are great. Play together & do clubs etc together.

If i had my time again i would have small age gaps.

Best of luck, it will be fine! x

Myliferocks · 01/05/2013 19:35

Thank you pinkteapot!

Mine are now 17, 12, 11, 9 and 8.

The 12 and 11 year old don't get on very well at times. They share a room and are in to different things and just generally rub each other up the wrong way. They are girls.
The 9 and 8 year old share a room and yet again are in to different things. They tend to get on better though. They are boys.

The 17 year old is either in her room, at work or college or out with her friends. She can argue with the best of them.

In some ways it has got easier as they have got older but in other ways it has got more difficult.

Hormones have a lot to answer too!

Last year they were spread between 4 different schools. This year it is 3 but next year it goes back to 4 again.

Original poster

Italianbride · 02/05/2013 07:59

Thank you for all your replies. And for the honesty about the challenges ahead! I think I already knew that it is going to be hard in the beginning but will quickly become a positive as the two children will grow up together.

OP posts:

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