[aphraell]

So, what was it like when you had #2? was it easier or harder than the adjustment from no baby to #1?

If we have #2 we will be looking at about a 3 year gap. Sometimes it feels like its a good idea (assuming health concerns addressed) but then we have a "bad" night of sleep etc and I wonder how I would deal with a newborn again and a toddler....

[moosmum2]

I personally found the adjustment from 1 to 2 easier than 0 to 1 (so much so that I'm even thinking about #3!!).

There are 27months between mine. My first was quite difficult so it took me quite a while to get my head around having another. We still had bad nights when I was pregnant & would think what are we doing?!?!

It's so daunting becoming a parent for the 1st time & so hard with all the what if's & how will I copes associated with first time parenting & I think that you are just naturally more relaxed second time round.

The first few weeks with any newborn are hard especially with a toddler to entertain but you get through that & it all seems to kind of work (most of the time anyway!! ) Thankfully #2 is a pretty cruisy baby & generally just slots in to what we've already got planned but we still have days where none of us are out of our PJ's before lunch!

[giggleandhoot]

I had a 3 year gap - pretty much exactly both October babies lol. I found it easy with that age gap. DD1 was old enough to do things herself, and help out. Turned out being good waiting that long as DD2 was shocking for 2 years. I found going 1 to 2 easy - DD2 just adapted to everything we did.

[opethmum]

I have two kids my DS is 6 months and my DD is 2 1/2 and yes it is tough at times and sometimes you want to pull your hair out but it is doable. I would not change a thing and I am incredibly blessed that my DS fit into the family schedule almost right away.
Of course it was tough for the first couple of months I would not lie to you but it is worth it as you no doubt know by having your first. It does come together some people it takes a few months some may take longer but it does get easier as they age and right now I love the fact my DD dotes on her brother and it is cute and she loves to help out with things.
If you do have issues with your fertility given your child's age I would actually start TTC process and start the ball rolling as it can take time and get your levels checked etc so you have all the information to make a decision one way or the other.
Good luck and I wish nothing but the best for you.

[Ehill]

We found it a huge adjustment. DD was a VERY easy baby and we were kind of shocked at how easy it all was and how small the adjustment was to our lives.

DS came along when DD was 2.5yo and a few months after that morphed into a 'turning 3 devil child'. DS was also a harder baby who wanted to be held a lot and hasnt always slept as well as DD.

I did find that with just 1 toddler I was cruising. I was never busy with cleaning, washing, shopping, cooking etc, loads of coffee with friends, playgrounds, visiting my mum, all that kind of stuff. Since DS was born, wow was the change huge. I just remember in those first 3 months being busier than I had been in years. From 7am until 8pm I did not stop for breath some days.

So yes we found the change huge but it is all good. My dh struggles a bit with the lack of flexibility and finds DS hard work but as a SAHM I was getting pretty bored. Now I am happily busy with the 2 of them. DD returned to being a normal child again after 3 and DS is a busy little thing so we have lots of fun out and about together.

I do find I am much more efficient than i was before which is a good thing. I had gotten lazy and would end up at the supermarket everyday or doing a load of washing here and there. Now I have a much more set weekly routine and actually end up spending less time doing housework, shopping etc. i certainly have less time for myself on the weekends but I expected that and look forward to a year from now when DD is at kindy and things calm down.

[bikingbubs]

Some of it is easier, some of it is harder.

We had a 19mth age gap and its still very tough going at the moment. DD is only 3 months old but is very high maintenance at the moment. Dont get me wrong, having DS wasnt 'easy' as I still think the adjustment to 1 is harder - but its that I am stretched in so many different directions at the moment.

No longer do I have downtime, or ME time! Although I know this will come. Usually once (if!) they both sleep a the same time I run around the house like crazy trying to get at least something done. I dont even make housework a priority, but I find it makes me feel more human trying to accomplish something other than eating and going to the toilet

Everyone will have their own challenges. I find it easy going out with 2, my friend hates it.

[bambiigrrl]

way easier!!! I had 20 months between dd and ds, and ds was such an easy baby, and we were so confidant by then that we really didnt have any problems at all. We were all geared up for it to be hard then it was a piece of cake!

They are 4 and 2 now and its not a problem, in fact we are ttc number 3 at the moment. Its great watching how well they play together and how much love they have for each other, its not great when ds copies dds bad behaviour, or they gang up on you! lol They remind me of lion cubs, always rolling around jumping on ya...

Its probaly not gonna be as hard as you imagine it to be hey..

[~Mo+Moosh~]

I found going from 1 to 2 great. There was a three year gap and he just seemed to slot in. He seemed more settled and definitely slept better. I think feeling confident and relaxed from having number 1 really helps.

We had number 3 last year and he has been a breeze. He really does just fit in with what we are doing.

[cassoweary]

I had DD2 when DD1 was 3 and a half, and found the transition much easier than when i had my first, for starters, i was less stressed out about parenting, was much more laid back and not worried about every little thing as i knew i had done it before and DD1 survived! it was a bit difficult though getting used to a little person who needed attention 24/7 though, as DD1 was at an age where she was happy to play with her toys, 'read' her books etc on her own for a while, giving me a break to get things done.

However, it depends on the baby, my first 2 and a half months was very easy, DD2 did a lot of sleeping, but since then she has decided that i will never get a good nights sleep again and wont sleep for longer than three hours...EVER! so since then it has been exhausting. So i think it completely depends on the baby, and the way your family already functions, having 2 may be pushing it for one family but others do just fine with 5!

that said, if i were to have a third, i would wait till #2 was around 3 years old again, they just get things a lot more, they understand quiet time and things like that, i completely take my hat off to parents who have children close together, i don't know how they do it!

[Noah's mum]

I have a 3 year age gap between my two. I found it easier adjusting to 2 than what it was with my first. DS always wanted to be held as was always crying/sooky if he wasn't held then DD came along and she has been easy so far.
You just adjust no matter what the age gap is. DS loves DD!

A close friend of mine is pregnant with her 4th she will have 4 kids under 4 and a half years... I am in awe of her lol!!

This post has been edited by Noah's mum: 25/01/2013, 12:25 PM