Two under 2! How is it?

[babyboybluex]

Yesterday we found out we are expecting number two and we are over the moon! We have a one year old son who was born in June 2020 and our second will be born in March 2022.

Those with two under 2, how is it?

My birth children are 18 months apart and I found it OK, I now foster and often have two under 1 which has been OK too. I think I preferred having a small age gap as I was still in the swing of baby days.

We have exactly the same age gap. They're teenagers now. It was, and is, lovely. Congratulations.

Our 2nd & 3rd have a 16.5mth gap. It was tiring but not that bad once we got in to routines. Then we had twins!! Our 3rd was not quite 3 when they arrived and that is a whole other level of tired lol. You get through it though and it's worth it.

I'm due with my 2nd and it will be a 13 month age gap. I have moments where I freak out and think how will we do this!!

We've been working on getting our first in a good day and nighttime routine which I think will be key.

My eldest (now 10) was 17 months when number 2 was born, number 2 was 23 months when number 3 was born, so I had 3 under 3 and a half. I'm not going to lie, it was massively tiring, but ultimately lovely, it's easy to do things together with them as they are close in age. I also knew if I came out of the baby stage I would not wish to go back there. Now they are 10, 9 and 7 and the thought of redoing potty training etc makes me shudder! So my verdict? Tiring, but perfect!

Better when the youngest turns two. Agree with PP you never really get out if the baby stage so it’s one long blur and then you really notice it getting easier. Bonus is you don’t have to store the baby stuff because your littlest needs it as the older one is growing out of it.

Oh and I never bought extra stuff either, just added a buggy board to the single pram/push chair we already had. Used to navigate chores in town with 1 in the pram, 1 on the buggy board and 1 in a sling 😂

My DS2 and DS3 were 18 months apart. I was really worried but really it was very easy! The baby just slotted in, (he was a very good baby though!) and didn't find it affected me majorly. Was a lovely experience and they are the best of friends now!

My 2nd and 3rd are 17m apart (now 11 and 10) and my 4th and 5th are 22m apart (dc5 is 3wks old)

Aside from being 10yrs older its been OK so far. I dont have childcare aside from PIL taking DC4 for a couple of hours once a week, so the hardest bit I've found is not being able to nap and snuggle with my newborn. DC4 also chose 1wk after DC5 was born to escape his cot and start nap refusal.

But tired aside its been fine. I have a sling but I also have a double buggy (babyjogger city mini) I have lots of safe spots to put baby down where toddler can't reach. He adores her but obvs isn't that gentle..

My 2nd and 3rd, the gap was easier, as dd2 still napped! And there wasn't a pandemic! But also I probably look back with Rose tinted glasses! Ultimately though I never had jealousy as they didn't ever know a Time without each other. They fight a bit now but hormones!!!

Ive done 2 under 2 so many times cos i've now 8 under 11. I think you might find it easier in some ways cos you're still in the same mode... years on from nappies and night feeds and mess it must be hard to start again or at least feel like you're a newbie. You'll be juggling, no doubt, but in the way of things and they'll grow up sharing so much.

Eleven months between my first two and eighteen months later I had my third, so three under three, needless to say I very quickly had mirena fitted, single parent for a vast majority of the time. They're all mid twenties now and have always been very close and able to relate to each other, they are all independent and happy, It worked out very well though obviously hard work.

Mine are 11 months apart you adapt to it quite fast to be fair you basically do most of the things you do for your first anyway congratulations by the way🥳

Thank you everyone for your experiences, this is really useful and so lovely to read!

I have 16 months between DD and DS1 and 15 months between DS1and DS2 so three in just over 2 and a half years . It wasn't too bad and even better now that they're all in their 40s