How did you know you were ready?

[justanotherday4]

How did you know you were ready for another baby? Me and dh have an almost 2 yo ds and every now and again I feel such an urge that I’d love another one (should we be fortunate enough to have another) and then I think maybe I’m rushing myself; would life be awfully difficult with a 2 yo and a baby? Just wondering if you were sure you were sure you wanted to try for number 2, 3 or whatever!

Our decision was based on age and finances. We definitely wanted 2. I was 36 so we felt like it needed to be asap but we would need DD to be entitled to some free nursery hours when I'm returning to work to make it viable financially. The timing has all worked out perfectly, DD will be entitled to some free hours from January 2019 which is when I'm returning to work after maternity leave for DC #2. There will be almost exactly 2 years between them. If I was younger we may have waited another year.

Never was 100% sure and flip flopped a lot but we wanted smaller age gap between no 2 & 3 - as above poster work leave, finances and also age made it better for us to go sooner rather than later. Not regretting so far but still pregnant, will be 16 months between 2 & 3 DC, 3.5 years between 1 & 2 and feels too long to us but they get on great so far. There's pros and cons so leave & financial were our deciders

I was pregnant when my Ds turned 2.
He was 2 and a half when she was born and it was fine.
It was old enough to be out of that intense neediness of babyhood although sadly not old enough to be properly potty trained so I did have two in nappies for a bit.

Then when he turned 3, he got his 16 hours free nursery provision so that made things easier again.
I think its good that he wasn't starting nursery at the same time as the new baby as that might have made him feel pushed out. In retrospect, and if it were possible to time these things exactly- 2 to 3 months after he started nursery would have been ideal!
Its lovely now because at 5 and a half and nearly 3- they are close enough in age to play together.
I think its a very doable age gap OP

I'm pregnant with number 2 and my DD will be 3 years 2months when baby arrives. Finances were a big deal for us, as was the fact I didn't want to be at home all week with a newborn and a toddler. I just wouldn't have coped!

DD will start her 30 hours a week at pre school 2 months after baby arrives, which means most of my maternity leave I'll just have time with baby. Perfect for us too as she will have s couple of months to adjust to having a sibling before starting pre school, we didn't want all her big changes at once. Hoping she will also be potty trained by that point, so only one in nappies.

For us a lot of it was practical timing but I'm also glad I will have had three years of just DD, rather than spending her toddler years juggling two. Everyone is different in their preference but for me it feels the perfect balance.