OT-How soon did you have Baby #2?

[WDWorBUST]

DD is 4 1/2 & I'm ready to start trying for #2 - now just to get DH on board.

 

[coolbeans]

10 years. I had a rough c-section with DD and it took that long to convince me that it would be better the second time around. and it was sooooooooooo much easier.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

Mine are 21 months apart. Growing up, my brother and I are just shy of 4 years apart and we are not close. We had absolutely nothing in common. I knew I did not want to space my kids out this far if at all possible. Shortly after my oldest was born, I was visiting a friend who's kids are 22 months apart and they were 2 and 4. They played together so well and were very close. This is what I wanted! When DD#1 turned 1 year old, we started trying and I got pregnant right away.

There is no right/wrong answer - and sometimes you don't get to decide! But I'm very happy with the decision to have them close together. Other factors were my advancing maternal age, and being a SAHM. Everyone's situation is different.

 

[abdmom]

There were 2 years,11 months between my first two and 6 years, 11 months between #2 and #3. I thought that the 2 years, 11 month gap was good.

I think one of the main considerations in deciding when to have another baby is YOUR age. I was 32 when I had my first. I felt old then, very tired after having the baby- it was very difficult to lose the weight. By the time #3 came along, I was in my 40's - it was very difficult to get pregnant, I had multiple miscarriages before I was pregnant with #3. The weight's been almost impossible to lose.

My advice would be to think about how many children you want and try to plan to have them by the time you are 33 or 34. Infertility is much more of an issue after 35. Of course, even the best laid plans can go awry....

 

[nessz79]

We were going to wait but, oops, I was pregnant with #2 when #1 was about 10 months old. They are 19 months apart. It was pretty tough for the first 2 years- pretty exhausting. But it's all been totally worth it!! They are now 5 and 3 and they get along very well. Being siblings means that they are going to fight...and they do. But they are also very good friends and they play together quite a bit.

 

[kidneygirl]

We adopted our dd and I was ready to start the process for #2 when she was one. However, I ended up needing a kidney transplant last year so we wanted to wait until I was fully recovered to start the adoption process again (I'm now almost 7 months post transplant and I feel GREAT ). We just finished all of our adoption paperwork last week! We waited for 2.5 years for our dd so I'm REALLY hoping it won't be such a long wait this time because I'd like to have my kids close together. My dd is now 2 years and 3 months old so most likely our kids will be 3 years apart (keeping my fingers crossed for a relatively short wait!)

 

[DawnM]

20 months

 

[notsosnowwhite]

My sons are a little over three years apart. I think this is practically perfect in every way.

 

[turnlisa]

My DSs are almost 5 years apart. I also agree with the previous poster about this being easier on the kids. My older DS got to experience being an only child and getting all of the attention for his firsts. I was also able to just pack him up and take him with me places that I wouldn't have dreamed of with 2 toddlers.

When my youger DS came along, my older one started kindergarten 2 months later. This worked out great since I am not a SAHM but work full time - luckily I can work at home a lot. While my oldest DS was loving being a big boy in kindergarten I could still spend special time with the younger one on his own. Now that they are 6 and 11, it is just about perfect. They like to do things together but are still able to do things on their own. Plus HOPEFULLY I will only have to pay for one in college at a time!

 

[janey99]

Another one for 10 years - DS1 starts fifth grade in the fall, and DS2 is 3 weeks old tomorrow.

Although not everyone will want to wait as long as we did, the spacing is nice to enjoy both of their childhoods separately, and it's nice to have a helper who is thrilled to be a big brother and can really help in a meaningful way.

Jane

 

[MissyDVC]

DS & DD are 16 months apart and we LOVE it! They are very close to each other and it is a great help for DD to have her "big" brother help her with things that he just went through. I wouldn't change it for the world Best wishes with whatever you choose

 

[chocovrdmicears]

17 months apart..not planned.
Girl first...boy second. We are blessed.
First few years were HARD. 2 in diapers. Ugh.
Our son has autism & had some medical issues..made the first few years very very tough.
They are now 5 & 6 and we LOVE it. It is 1000% times easier now!

 

[santa's surpriz]

I have a theory....We fall in love with the first ones. It's not hard to do!! Then about 18 months we all decide we want another. So we start trying, the day before the terrible twos hit we find out the great news about baby #2. By the time baby #2 arrives, we are approaching the troublesome threes, which in my opinion are far worse than the terrible two's ever were! It's how get punished for all the terrible stuff we did as kids and got away with it!

Seriously, only you know if the timing is right. Plan realistically and think about how you will be paying for college!

 

[pednurse]

4 years apart (to be exact....4 years 1 month 5 days apart). Did not want them any closer. DS had colic, reflux, lactose intolerance, and sleep issues (didn't sleep through the night until 2 years old----woke every 45 minutes----and stopped napping at 18 months old). No way would I have survived them any closer together than that. DD on the other hand was an easy baby----no colic, although she did have reflux----and slept through the night within a few weeks after birth (yea!). The spacing has worked out well for us. They (usually!) get along well. And with the age spacing, the activities they are now involved in don't overlap too much so there's not too much conflict with both DH & I getting to participate in both kids' activities, which has been a nice plus at this age. Also, we should have DS through college by the time DD starts so we'll only be paying for one college tuition at a time.....so even many years down the road, the spacing will be nice.

 

[sueh]

My girls are 19 months apart. I was a stay at home mom when I had dd1 and dd2 was a surprise. I was also taking care of my neice who was 3 months old and my nephew who was six. Here I was as big as a house pregnant lugging around a baby carrier and trying to chase a toddler around. Not fun but I did what I had to do.

My girls are now 8 & 6 (she will be 7 in December).

 

[_queenie_]

My older two are 3.5 years apart. I wanted my DS to be able to occupy himself while I was tending to DD (he was great at 3), I didn't want to juggle two babies at once. I had the itch when he was barely one, but didn't get pregnant until he was almost 3.

My third is just under 10 years younger, at first I was mortified but then realized it wasn't so bad. I didn't always have to keep the older two occupied and they could even help. I could run out for 20 minutes without taking the baby with me, if she was sleeping she could stay with the 13yo and he could just call me if he had a problem.

 

[JerJan]

7 years and 9 months apart ..... it's like having two "ONLY" children!!!!

 

[starann]

I had PLANNED on waiting 5 years after....that being said, I was preggo in 5 month and my kids are 14mo apart.

That being said I have no other children so I only know how hard it is to have kids 14mo apart.....so I have nothing else to compare it to (like a mother who has kids 3 years apart then 1 year apart).

They are the best of friends, we got rid of Baba's, nuk's and diapers together. They share clothes (one wears 3t, one 4t, but can often swap if needed), toys (well we get 2 of everything so they don't fight, but they are pretty much on the same level).

The downside is that I feel like I never got to enjoy them being babies....I was preg when my older was a baby, and when my baby came, I was running after a toddler (and dealing with severe PPD). I sometimes feel like I am spread thin with the 2 of them needing me (esp when they were both younger).

I have no clearcut answer for you, it is a personal decesion that will work out for your family no matter what you decide!

Good luck!

Star

 

[momma of 2]

I have a dd who was 1 week shy of her 1 year birthday when we found out we were pregnant with our ds. They are 19 months apart and I would not change it for the world. The first year and a half was tough but now that they are 4 and 2, they are best friends and do everything together.

Good luck

 

[daleswife]

my kids are 5 and 19 months. so 3 years and 8 months apart....but I tried for 18 months before my son came along....never thought it would happen.....very hard to deal with cause there are things that my dd can do that my ds cant. Kinda sucks. but I deal.