Baby no. 2!

[Katelyn]

So....when did everyone start trying for Baby2. How soon after Baby1 and what is your experience in hindsight?

i.e - do you now wish you'd left a bigger gap, do you wish you'd had them nearer?

Be great to get an idea!

[needsomesleepplease]

I am due in 4 weeks and DD1 will be 23 months, she is great with other friends babies and isnt possesive or clingy, so I am hoping she will be the same when the baby arrives - she asks every day if the baby is comming today and talks to it through my tummy! think this baby is going to have two mum's!!!

[insywinsyspider]

everyone has different opinion on age gaps, I've got 18 months between ds1 and ds2 and same again between ds2 and dc3 (due in June) its hard and days I have with just one of them make me apprecaite bigger age gaps! but I wouldn't change it, its right for our family, siblings all close together, doing the baby thing all in one go, this is our last lo and we feel excited about the next 'chapter' as they all grow up together

btw no3 was a supprise, was told it could take some time and conceieved first month, baby's have a habit of coming along when they are ready

[mersmam]

I have 17 months between DD1 and DD2 then another 17 months between DD2 and DS. There will be 25 months between DS and the new baby (due in three weeks!)
It is VERY hard work at times but I wouldn't change it - it's particularly lovely to see my two DDs playing together at the moment, and to hear them chatting when they're in bed in the evening!
I think any age gap has its advantages and disadvantages really - you've just got to make the best of it!

[sweetkitty]

started ttc #2 when no1 was 9 months, got pregnant first month so 18 month gap.

They are now 4 and 3 and the best of friends (most of the time) they are very close and they always have each other to play with, actually frees me up more.

I wish I had had an even shorted gap between them.

When ttc #3 we wanted a 2 year gap but I had a mc inbetween and it's ended up a 2 1/2 year gap, I actually find this harder than the 18 month gap don't know if it's because I know have 3 or maybe it is that DD1 was an easy baby and toddler, DD2 is not.

I am a fan of smaller age gaps but can see the benefit of larger ones too.

[JumpingJellyfish]

PS. agree with wheelybug re. when to start trying- I was lucky to fall pregnant straightaway with DCs1 & 2- but tried for 10 months to get pregnant again with DC3.

You can plan as much as you like but fate has a way of scuppering the best laid plans!

[JumpingJellyfish]

I have 2 yrs 2 months between DS & DD- fell pregnant when eldest was 18 months old. It has worked well so far- although DS was quite late to potty train so we were doing 2 sets of nappies for 9 months. They're now nearly 4yo and 21 months old, and seem to really enjoy each others company. Yes it was pretty hard to start with but we were very lucky that DS is a very caring wee soul and gentle with his little sister. They squabble over toys quite a bit at the moment but really miss each other if they're ever apart! I'm happy they seem so close (& always up to mischief together).

I have friends with age gaps under 2 years and that was really hard work but as the kids have grown up they have become incredibly close, and into similar things so the same trips out, games, toys etc. suit both kids.

[Wheelybug]

We started trying when dd1 was about 16 months old with a view to getting a 2.5 year age gap. We conceived first month so would have ended up with just over 2 years but miscarried. For some reason it then took us 2 years to conceive again and have just had dd2 so ended up with a 4 years and 2 month age gap.

This larger age gap has had a lot of pros so far - dd1 was v. excited about my pregnancy and desperate for a sibling, she loves having dd1 and obviously it is easier for me with her being 4 and therefore relatively independent and at nursery 5 mornings.

That said, the cons so far - we'd forgotten how hard having a newborn was ! Haven't used nappies or a pram for a while or had to get up much in the night.

Whatever age gap you get I think there are pros and cons. My advice, given the trouble we had, would be to start trying at the smallest gap you think you can cope with.

Good luck !

[jkklpu]

Mine are 2 yrs, 3 days apart, both boys and, because ds1 is so mellow, affectionate and understanding, the early days were about as un-difficult as they could have been. Ds1 was still in nappies for a long time so we had a lot when it was 2 of them, and makes a real difference now it's just 1 lot. They're 3.5 and 18mo now and are able to do rough play together, which they both seek out, and the wee one can understand more about what the big one is doing. He idolises him, really, as well as sometimes going out of his way to do the most annoying thing he can possibly think of.

2 years worked really well for us but could have been REALLY hard if ds1 had had a different temperament.

[dingledangle]

A 3 year gap between my two children. I have found this to be great as DD was out of nappies, starting to become more independent in her play and started free nursery places 6 months after Ds was born.

If I have any more I would recommend at least this gap. As DH does not want any more I wish I had started earlier having children to fit them all in!

As for gender difference, although you did not ask, both mine get on really well despite the gender difference.