Do you regret 2 under 2?

[Sunflowerx]

Currently 5 weeks pregnant and have a baby who is 1 next week.

Does anyone regret having such a small age gap in their kids? I keep worrying about how people are going to judge me, even though I'm married to the dad of both children!

Talk me down please ☹️

There's 16 months between my two. They are teens now. Absolutely no regrets, and it was lovely watching them play when they were little.
Hard work initially, as the eldest wasn't a very good sleeper and didn't walk until 17 months! But definitely lovely!

It is tough. Relentless. So many emotions having to be juggled at once (one is hungry, the other tired, then bored, then angry etc). Also they require so much energy sapping at this age. Trips to the park and playgroup and playdates and playing at home. So much mess. Oh god the never ending mess of toys and food and nappies and snot.
Theu are now 3 and 5 years old. The light is at the end of the tunnel.
I love them both so much but there were really really hard times.

Disclaimer: this was my experience raising 2 boys during the pandemic lockdown whilst trying to juggle a career and zero other family/outside help. Other people might have had an easier ride!

I had 3 under 2. It was hard work but having kids all the same age (ish) has been great for us as a family. Good luck!

Fewer than 12 months between mine so I had two under one. It’s been great and they play so well together. Much better for our family than a bigger gap would have been.

I'm currently 31w pregnant with a 11 month old and a 2 year old. I honestly didn't find 2 under 2 anywhere near as bad as everyone makes it sound. It's definitely busy but easily managed if I try to stick to a routine.

21 months here. Currently 9m and 2.5y.

Its relentless, I don’t do a thing for my self and I don’t care because I love it. They’re already good friends and love each other so much. I’m far more capable than I thought I would be.

It also helps that DH is a proper parent too (not like a lot of the MN husbands!). We do one each at bedtime, we share a lot when it’s the two of us home together and he will take them solo for me to work occasionally too.

I'm functioning on 40 mins sleep in 2 days as my 3mo has covid so failing at trying to work this out well but did you fall pregnant 1 month pp? 3 months in here and sex is so far from my mind 😂 poor DH

Not for a second.
I was unexpectedly expecting again around the time of ds1’s first birthday. 21 month gap.
it was hard going. I don’t really remember the first few years of having two tbh. And hardcore in terms of nursery fees. Career went to pot (but back on track now).

however they are best buddies and things are MUCH easier now and have been for some time. They are 9 and 7.

ps I have never experienced any judgement of any kind even though it seems typical round here to have 3–5 year gaps between children.

Ahh, this is reassuring me! I'm 10 weeks and dd will be 20 months when this one comes so this thread is reassuring me somewhat!

There's 18m between my girls, and it's the best thing I've ever done. I'm now pregnant with DS1, due 3 days before eldest turns 4 so it hasn't put me off!

The first year with 2 so close is hard, but they're literally best friends and adore each other and it melts my heart. x

This is good to read. Currently pregnant with 2nd and when they're born my DD will be 18 months.
I'm dreading it a bit as I know how exhausting the first year has been with her but I'm sure we'll all get through it

Hard work at the time but so much easier as they got older. Also got the teenage years over v quickly.

19 months between my first 2, I think it's quite common now to have children close together and anyone who judges you should mind their own business.

12 months between mine

Don't regret it for a second

Hard work obviously but easier when they got to about 2 and 3

They are almost 17 and 18 and great mates and just fabulous ❤️

I conceived 6 weeks after giving birth. My boys are only 10.5 mths apart and it's working out more and more. It has been tough at times but on the whole has worked out. People may judge but to be honest most people want to give me a medal!!

20 months between #2&3, and I'm old. Now 2 and 3 and it's all calmer. Yeah, some of it is super hard but they have a lovely time together and I don't regret it at all. My MIL has 11 months between her youngest 2 and says she has no memory of first 18m whatsoever. Aunt says the same about her 1y gap.

I’ve got both big gap 5 years then 4 then 13 months between youngest 2 and it’s all fine it’s just works itself out. It’s tiring and relentless at times but also wonderful and fun and crazy too. No regrets at all

Oh I love this! Thanks so much to everyone being honest about it too! I know it won't be easy but also feel deep down it'll be so rewarding cause my little one already loves babies so much so I feel she'll love having one around her all the time!

My partner is also a 10/10 dad, even now it's always him who gets up in the night if she cries or brings her through to our bed if she won't settle back! Just glad we have a super king when there could end up 4 of us 😂

18 month gap, and if I could go back in time I would do the same again.

I've got a few friends in the thick of x2 under 2. They are struggling and wish they left a bigger age gap. They love they adore their children and when children are older it will probably be easier.
I wouldn't be able to cope I don't think.
I found the transfer from no children to having children quite easy. But I found toddlerhood the child needed more attention and needed me more xx

Second was planned but premature

I am currently 22 weeks pregnant with a (very) unplanned third baby, I have a three year old, a 14 month old (11 months corrected was a 28 weeker) and due beginning of feb. When baby comes (if I make it to term this time) I will have a 3 year old, 18 month old (15 months corrected) and a new born. I’m absolutely bricking it. Nice to hear some success stories, although I must say I have requested to have my tubes tied during my c section 🙈

Currently 29w pregnant with my first, but from a child/sibling point of view, I loved it that my brother and I were only 20 months apart. He was older and at the beginning of the school year and I was younger and at the end, so we were only a year in school apart. We were always good friends. We still get along. :-)

Funny, I was just talking about this to someone.

2 in 19 months, both enormous, and at 50yo my hips are absolutely fucked from carrying huge babies and toddlers around while my pelvis was still loose and unstable from pregnancy.

At the time, I found 2 x toddlers way more challenging than a toddler and a baby. It's always going to depend on the kids though. Mine were great sleepers, I'd probably be dead by now if they weren't.