Pregnant with #2 just 9 months later

[mama_nata]

Hi All,

Our beautiful baby girl just turned 9 months last week, and we also recently found out I'm pregnant with #2! I'm mildly freaking out about it, but life goes on. I'd love to hear stories from other folks with babies spaced <2 years apart. What was easy? What was hard? What would you do differently this time around?

Thanks for the support! I look forward to getting excited and ready, but right now I'm still a little in shock. :)

Cheers,
Mama_Nata

[Anime]

My neighbour has 2 kids very close in age (pregnant 1 month after birth of first!) and my friend has a brother who's something like 11 months older. Both seem to be best of friends with the sibling, so I think it's good for the kids but probably pretty tough on the parents! But you'll be able to give lots of handme downs and keep using the same toys etc. And I hear the 2nd one can do things earlier (like crawling and walking) as to keep up with the big "brother or sister".
Good luck to you!! I hope to have another but not quite so soon. (My daughter is 10 months)

[Anci]

when I was in highschool, I had 2 classmates that were brother and sister and were 11 months apart. They were best friends and very close to each other. Like Anime, I too heard that the second one will do things earlier. We want another baby too but we're waiting untill my daughter will be 13-15 months or so...
Hope you have a great and easy pregnancy !

[Jason]

I have three kids spaced pretty closely (4 years, 20 months, and 7 months), and I can confirm the talk about younger siblings developing more quickly. My almost-two-year-old has been talking in complete sentences for months, and my 7 month-old is about ready to crawl into the kitchen and make himself a sandwich. Well, he's about ready to crawl at least.

Having two kids in diapers is tough, and if you have to use formula for them both, it's expensive. I can't really speak to the night-time situation since we co-sleep and have never had any real problems getting them to sleep, but when they're awake, as long as you have two laps available, you'll be fine. They really do become good friends, too (as evidenced by my step-kids, who are only 11 months apart, aged 9 and 10 years).

We were overwhelmed when we found out we had a third on the way so soon after the second, and while it isn't easy, it's not nearly as difficult as we thought it would be. There are tough ages and easy ages, but it's all very deal-withable. The real changes come when you have more than two and don't have enough laps for everyone :-)

[mama_nata]

Thanks, everyone for your responses! Now that I'm feeling more "comfortable" with the idea, the practical questions are coming up. We can deal with them one at a time:

1. After 3 months in the bassinet, these kids are going to have to share a room! At age 20 months & 3 months, how will we deal with the infant waking the older sibling until she starts sleeping through the night?

xoxo
Mama_N

[Jason]

Co-sleeping has worked well for us. It's not for everyone, but for us, it's the only solution that lets everyone get enough sleep.

[Anime]

Hopefully they will be so used to eachother that they will both sleep well. Ihave no idea but I am sure it will be okay and you'll get into a groove...

[SAEBausch]

Honestly, I want my next one sooner rather than later...we were thinking in ten months or so....maybe we are nuts but the idea of them being close and getting all the infant stuff done is appealing to me. Congratulations!

[Cel74]

My two oldest are 16 months apart. It was pretty easy. You will quickly find out that each child is different. Different personalities, different likes and dislikes, it's so amazing to experience this. What I do regret is making my first child grow up too quickly. She had to become alot more independent when my son was born and that makes me feel horrible now. I look at pictures and videos and I realize that she was a baby when my son was born and it makes me sad. But at the same time she is so mature and so responsible that maybe, just maybe it did her a little good. Good luck with your babies. Now I've gone and done the complete opposite. My youngest is now 7 and my baby is due in February. So I'm trying to imagine myself starting all over again. Don't freak out you'll be a great mom you'll see.

[Jana L]

HI there, my son is 8 months and I am 8 weeks pregnant so I know where you are coming from !! It will be hard I am sure but it will also have its easy times. I just feel like it will all work itself out you know? Well keep in touch hope you are feeling well.

[mama_nata]

18-week update! Getting excited for the pieces & parts ultrasound in 2 weeks, and getting used to the idea of a little (more) happy chaos in the family come late May. Also found out another close girlfriend is in the same situation - RELIEF for us both, once we finally shared! Misery loves company (said with a smile).

What I'm finding right now is that I don't have nearly as much focus on pregnancy #2 as I did on #1. Most days we're so busy "toddling" that I completely forget I'm pregnant. I have to be careful not to miss meals, and to maximize when I am able to sit down to a quiet lunch at naptime. Also back to napping when #1 naps, which is helping with exhaustion, although 2nd trimester energy has definitely kicked in.

Looking forward to finding out what we're having. Feels like another girl...carrying *exactly* the same, etc. but you never know...

Cheers,
Mama N

[Jennifer]

Mine are pretty close together... Anna was born 1 minute after Josie :-p I might not be much help because it is different raising twins than two singletons born close together, but while it is difficult raising two babies at once, it has its good points, too, like having a playmate that enjoys the same activities! Although, that's not ALWAYS a good thing... :-p Anyway, congratulations!!

[jamie]

I am 32 weeks pregnant with number 2, my boys will also be just 18 months apart. I haven't been very worried about it until recently as it starts to get closer. My biggest fear is not having enough time to give both of them the attention that they want. I'm also finding that being pregnant is very different when you are chasing a toddler around the house most of the day!