Baby #2

agrether7

...Okay so I am very new to this..I'm not really sure how it's supposed to work, but here goes my question...I have an (almost-like two days away) 13 month old son. My husband and I really want to have a second baby. I asked my doctor, and they said health wise I was good to go with having a second one...and then I asked my sons pediatrician and he said that his kids are 17 months apart, they wanted theirs close together so they would be interested in about the same things at around the same times. I just want to know if anyone else has children close together? They'd be roughly 22-24 month apart if we started trying to conceive and succeeded ASAP. With my son, we were pregnant from the first time we tried, not sure if we will be as successful with the second, but hoping so.

rjeller32

Mine are exactly 26 months apart. For the part, I have personally come to the conclusion that I wouldn't have minded an extra year difference. DD1 hates DD2, to the point that even when DD2 looks at her she freaks out. I know not all first borns are this way, but mine is. It is just a handful for me to have a toddler that doesn't understand she isn't the center of our world, or that when the babies needs something (like to eat or a diaper change), I cannot immediately help her. I am sure the older DD2 gets, the easier it will get, but it has been a hard 5.5 months for our whole family.

Keep in mind that it can take up to a year to conceive, so don't become deadset on the idea of a close age. You have a 20% chance every mother to get knocked up. I would talk to the ladies over at Trying to Get Pregnant, they have a bunch of great advice and tools to use to help if you are wanting to start TTC. 

I lurk there all the time. They are a snarky group, but they have some good help and are a tight knit group. 

capinjen152

Mine are 2 years and 4 days apart. I realized when I was about 22 weeks pregnant that I was really screwing up a good thing finally having a routine, sleeping through the night, some independence, etc. However, my first is doing great with the baby, and we still have a routine, etc. This baby is much easier going and that has made a huge difference.

I think it can go either way and you make it work with the family you end up with.

anmile

My two boys are almost 22 months apart.  I love it.  They are the littlest best buds. The first few months were trying, only because when DS1 became a big brother, I suddenly expected him to know how to do so much more.  I had to remind myself that he wasn't even 2 years old yet and once I changed my expectations it was so much better. 

I did much better going out on errands and have friends over.  Only because when we spent so many days at home, DS1 got bored and started acting out.  But today, the youngest is 1 year old, and both get along so well.  

 

greengirl0909

DS2 was born and 3 weeks later DS1 turned 2, so they are almost exactly 2 years apart. It's worked well for us.  As older parents, we feel pressure to have them closer together, but I think even if we hadn't been older we would have done the same.  We are hoping to TTC again this summer looking for the same time frame between 2 and 3.

agrether7

My first baby slept through the night after the first week, so that kind of spoiled me. He's always been an excellent baby, and he really loves other kids. I think he will do fine because he always wants to play with other babies, and he is very gentle with tiny babies. He really is a good kid, a little ornery, but what baby isn't My husband comes home from a two week tour at work (oilfield) on Saturday so I think we are going to start trying. I am pretty sure I'm capable of handling it, and I think my son will do okay...if not, we can always work on that...my sister and I are 19 months apart and have been best friends our entire lives. That gives me some hope, too!

rjeller32

capinjen152:

Mine are 2 years and 4 days apart. I realized when I was about 22 weeks pregnant that I was really screwing up a good thing finally having a routine, sleeping through the night, some independence, etc. However, my first is doing great with the baby, and we still have a routine, etc. This baby is much easier going and that has made a huge difference. I think it can go either way and you make it work with the family you end up with.

Mine are the opposite. DD1 was heavenly. DD2, not so much.

I think every family is different, and you'll find no matter what age difference, it'll all work out. 

kcisthebombdotcom

My kids are a bit closer-they're 12.5 months apart. One of my favorite things about the age spread is that they are into all the same things. Its not like having a five year old with a ton of toys with small parts trying to keep the crawling infant away from. The first year was hard but past that its almost easier having two because they don't need me for constant entertainment/companionship. They are really close-whenever I take my son somewhere solo to get some one on one time all he does is talk about "his baby". Lol. He adores being a big brother and my dd idolizes him. Best decision ever.

magdalina.h

When she's born, my kids will be 2 1/2 years apart. We started trying when Lucas was 18 months old.

It took us 6 months the first time, 1 time the second time and 5 months the 3rd time.

Pepper6

I have no idea how it was for my parents when we were babies, but my sister and I are 19 months apart and I enjoyed that growing up.  We were close enough in age to have the same interests, so it was great to have a playmate all the time.  I definitely remember the two of us playing in our room for hours on end, so I'm sure my mom enjoyed us keeping ourselves entertained...lol.

PunkyBooster

No but I have some friends with 2u2. Some are doing great, others are not.

We expect about a 3.5 to 4 yr gap between ds and 2 but will wait and see with 3. If and when it happens, it happens.

Good luck!

agrether7

Thank you all for all of your help!! I have really put a lot of thought into this and with my sister and I being 19 months apart and growing up as close as we did, I think that's the biggest reason why I want to have my kids close together. I hope we get pregnant quickly like we did the first time, because we really don't have a lot of time to try, my husband works 14 away and 7 home with his job, so we only have 7 days to try in a month! Lol! Me and my son go visit him when he's away since I am a stay at home mom, so I think with two babies I won't be so bored sitting here at home by myself a lot of the time. I love having a lot of time with my son, and I know having a baby can be rough, but I think that we will do just fine. I appreciate all of the help & answers, and suggestions, too! Thank you guys, again!

ChristyML

It took us 5 months to get pregnant with DS. We're on month 5 of ttc this one, and I tested today and got a negative. I bawled my eyes out. Every mother of more than one child has told me "I got pregnant on our first try for our second/third/every time we ttc" or something along those lines, and it eats me up inside.

I knew it might take us a little bit longer, since I'm still BFing, but man, it sucks to wait.

Sorry, this wasn't what you asked for, but I thought I'd share, since MH and I are still TTC #2. 

agrether7

Oh no, any input is very much appreciated. I'm not sure how long it will take us this time, but hopefully it doesn't take long. I, myself, hate waiting. I'm sorry you're having trouble, but keep your chin up, it will happen! No matter how long it takes, you will still have your first baby to keep you occupied while you're trying! Good luck! Message me if you would like to talk about it!