HELP! - pregnant with second baby, first child only 9 months!

[Fedup2303]

I am terrified

My little boy is only 9 months and I am pregnant again.

I’ve only just gotten him into a good sleeping routine, napping during the day in his cot and sleeping through the night, so this feels extremely daunting. My life has just started to get some routine and normality, this is so hard to process.

How do I look after a toddler and newborn at the same time!!

When my first baby was born my partner was on furlough due to the virus so I had help from him for the first 3 months of my child life. The thought of him only being around for 2 weeks paternity leave with the second baby is causing me so much anxiety.

By the time this baby is born my first will be 17 months and I don’t want him to feel like he’s being pushed to the side.

We also stay in a small 2 bedroom flat so we are going to need to think about moving which is adding to my stress. **

Has anyone else had 2 babies close together? How did you cope?

I’m one of two children born 17 months apart (I’m the younger)

My mother liked to tell the story that the second baby is easier but in fact, you’re now experienced. You know what to do and it’s not going to take you as long to change a baby, bathe a baby, understand about different cries if that sometimes babies just cry.

I had my last two a few years apart and I’d tell you my last baby was a dream, no problem at all. When in reality she grew up hearing noise in the house and learned to sleep around every day house activity. We had a routine for her sibling and she got in alongside this.

You’ll be fine. You’ve done it once already.

My best friend had 2 very close together and it was hard to start with but then they became amazing little playmates.
Congratulations OP

Mine are 14 months apart. Surprisingly it was easier than I thought it would be. Routine is key. If I fed baby then my eldest had food/bottle too, if I changed baby, changed eldest too etc. They never napped at the same time, so when baby was sleeping I spent time with eldest and vice versa. Don't get me wrong it was a struggle sometimes but they are like best friends now (5&4) I'm expecting number 3 and live in a 2 bed, just to put housing into perspective.

18 months is a common age gap. I was pregnant again when my twins were three months old and it was and is fine.

I was pregnant with my third by the time my eldest reached 17m
(Not planned I might add, but much adored!) So I had three in 2 years and 3 months.
It was fine.. you adjust your routines a bit, and honestly a second one is much less of a shock.. you know what you are doing a bit more!

No 1 will adjust too and it will be ok :)

I found out I was pregnant (planned) when my baby was 9 months old. I’ll be 24 weeks tomorrow so can’t give you my own experience as of yet but from what I’ve heard from others I’d spoken to it’s hard work but very rewarding. I’ve been advised to keep organised and have the older of the two in as much of a routine as possible with sleep etc and the new baby will just slot in.

I have friends with a 16-18 month gap and they’re children are always entertained with each other it’s lovely.