Parenting

What is it like going from 1 to 2?

I know no one can tell you when the right time to have baby#2, but just wondering how you felt after you had #2 (since I can't go there then come back from it! )

DD is still young, IMO, to have another child now.  I feel like I would "neglect" one of time or something.  It just sounds so exhausting to me & I would have to dig out all that "baby" stuff again! :) 

Thanks for your advice/insight.

Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers

Re: What is it like going from 1 to 2?

  • Way easier than it was going from none to one. Our boys are only 13 1/2 months apart and this time with a newborn seems so much easier. We feel like seasoned pros. My husband and I were both shocked at how life didn't seem much different. We brought Jonas home and it felt like he'd been here all along. And, I'm no more tired than I was with just one...still exhausted, but it's tolerable. Honestly, I LOVE having two.
  • Loading the player...
  • I didn't think it was hard at all going from 1 to 2.

    I worried before DD was born that DS would feel neglected, or that I wouldn't have enough love/time for him and the new baby. I was wrong, though. I have more love for DS now that DD was born, and I still have enough time to handle both of them!!!! I love watching how they interact. When DD smiles at DS or when DS kisses DD it makes my heart melt. :) 

  • For me not hard at all.  I was still in the mode (even though #2 was early at 33 weeks) luckily everything turned out fine and we'll moving along nicely.  They get long great and I'm blessed with good sleepers.

    Now the ugly...I don't get out much with both of them by myself.  Not so much because of the baby...because of my son.  He's at an age that you never know when he'll have a meltdown.

    Actually its the second who gets a little neglected, but there are times the first is either sleeping or playing and that's when you devote all your time to #2.  It all works out and they wind up being best buddies :)

     

  • #1 is 2.  #2 is 12 weeks.

    #2 is entirely neglected.  No matter how much attention I want to give #2, #1 always wins the attention.  Next time I wouldnt have kids 2 yrs apart.  It will need to be further apart otherwise the new kid doesnt get the attention he deserves.

  • DD is 3 and DS is just 3 weeks.  Granted that DD was a very high needs newborn (really colicky) but so far it is so much easier going from 1 to 2.  With DD life stopped, but now because we have 1 already, life just goes on.  I think there's a lot less shock because your life already revolves around a child, unlike the first time when you are not used to suddenly putting another person first 100% of the time.  And you know what to expect.  The lack of sleep is terrible, but at least you know what's coming.  Also you have a network of friends with kids that can commiserate with you (I didn't have any friends with kids when #1 was born).  And in my case dd is in school 5 mornings a week, so I have quality time with #1. 

    For me the hardest part is dealing with my dd.  I'm not able to spend nearly as much time with her (when she's home) as I did before which is hard on both of us.  But in the end having a sibling will be worth it.

  • Please bear in mind I have 2 reflux, colicky babies, but it was really hard for me.  I didn't enjoy the infant time with DS #1 and haven't with #2 either.  The good news is that I really love the 2+ stage with DS #1, so I just feel like it will only get better.  I don't live close to family but am fortunate to be able to have a PT nanny, so that really helped me be able to spend time with them one on one, which really helped.  DS#2 already adores his older brother so, while it was hard, I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
  • agree with pp. definately easier than 0-1. The truth is they sleep for that first month anyway so you can ease in.The hardest part for me was being away from ds1 while staying in the hospital and I was only gone one night as I had ds2 in the middle of the first night.. I just felt like ds1 noticed a change so I did everything I could to make it just like normal once I got home.  ds 1 is just starting to play with ds2 he couldn't be bothered much before and we didn't force it. just lightly tried to encourage it. I dreaded feeding a baby that couldnt feed itself or grab a snack on the go. It hasn't been bad though and honeslty you're changing diapers anyway what's a few more. ds2 just fits into our routine and your body already knows what it's like to be up at night so imo you have already had the hard transition which was becoming a mom for the first time. the rest is just learning to juggle. I am only 2 mos in of course but so far we are making this work. tired yes but so happy
  • Ditto most of the pp's..especially LiltteMama as our kids are the same age gaps. It wasn't bad at all for us. So much easier the 2nd time around. I enjoyed DS so muhc more as a newborn than with DD. I was just a lot more confident and easy going.

    Obviously, the first few months are challenging but it's wodnerful now. They play together and are buds now. It got 10 times easier when I got them both on the same schedules.

     

     I think a lot of it has to do with the individual kids though. DS is a dream baby so that always helps.

  • The baby stuff was easier b/c it wasn't new. But, it took a huge toll on our marriage b/c we had much less time for each other and to do our own thing.  The first year was very rough. As tired as I was with one child, I was more tired with two.  Just when I got one sleeping well, the other would wake up at night.  If one gets sick, the other gets it right after the first is over it.  That kind of stuff exhausted us. 

    Things are MUCH better now, so it was worth it to power through a tough year to get where we are now.  But, if we have a 3rd, it won't be until DD is 3 y/o.  I can' t do two really little ones again.  I'm glad they're close in age and there were a lot of good things about having them that close, but it is hard and I can't handle it with 2 other kids in the house.

  • Way easier than 0-1. ? DS is fit right in. ?I kept DD's schedule the same and he slide right in. ?My confidence level was much higher, I already new what worked for us and what didn't. ?I didn't let silly advice get to me. ? My recovery was better and DS was a better BFer. ?Plus its the best sight in the world to see your kids interact

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • DS#2 is still young but I think it is WAY easier going from one to two.  DH and I don't understand why we were so stressed with our first. It's still hard but for us it has been a much easier transition.  It's harder going places now though but we'll get used to that too. 
  • sorry, I'm feeling feisty today. Big Smile
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"