OT-How soon did you have Baby #2?

[monorailsilver]

My oldest & middle are 2 years 4 months apart & my middle & youngest, aka oops & the last baby, are 2 years 6 months apart.

I couldn't of planned it any better.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Mine are 13 1/2 months apart in age and both boys. I didn't plan it that way, but my DH wanted our children that close together in age. In fact my DH told my OBGYN at my first appointment after I had our first DS that I would be back in less than 6 months b/c I would be pregnant. I loved it b/c we got all the baby stuff over and won't have to do it again. Don't get me wrong I love babies. However right now my favorite kind of baby is the one that I can hand back to mommy when they are cranky or need changing.

 

[bonybroad]

18 months. Don't ever believe you can't get pregnant when breast-feeding.
OOPS!

 

[bonybroad]

My husband is one of four boys all born within 3 years. No twins, one was premature.
My MILs father told her she should get a new hobby.

 

[HelenePA]

First 2 are 22 months apart.. I wish they were all about 2 years apart.. this one will be 3.5 yrs from his brother... I wish they were closer in age but I miscarried about 7 months before this one stuck

 

[huntconn]

Our DS's are 11 months apart. Our second was not planned but we eventually wanted a second child anyway...maybe not that soon though! Anyway, it's turned out great with them being so close in age. They just turned 7 and 6 yrs old and are best buddies.

 

[jodifla]

I only have one DS, and most of my friends had their kids two to 3 years apart. That seemed to work really well.

But I have two friends who had their children 14 and 16 months apart.

They found it VERY VERY VERY challenging when the kids were young. I remember them being kinda miserable a lot of the time.

It was great when the kids were a bit older so they could play together.

Now these parents are finding it VERY challenging again to try and pay for TWO college educations at the same time.

So, there are pros and cons, like everything, to each situation.

 

[Erin1700]

My kids are a little over 6years apart. DD7 is/was a handful and I swore I did not want anymore. Well, God had other plans. DS will be 17 months old this week and I couldn't imagine life without him!

DD loves her brother and he just loves her too!

 

[AKBAFB]

My oldest was a January baby also. The second one was born 2 years and 10 months later. We started trying at 2 years and I got pregnant right away! We were aiming for 3 years apart and have been very happy with the family dynamic.

Not that you asked, but I'll tell you anyway...for me I really liked being able to focus on and enjoy my firstborn as she went through all the different stages. When we had #2, #1 was almost 3 and she could play with toys, watch a video, or take a nap when I really needed to focus on the new baby's needs. (I always made sure that sometimes Daddy, Grandma, or one of the aunts was in charge of the baby for awhile and I could get some one-on-one with #1.) I think if they were very much closer in age, it wouldn't have been as easy and I may have felt like I couldn't have given either of them enough attention. But there are a lot of families who would say that the closer in age, the easier it is...

Good luck, whatever you decide!

 

[trivial]

We had our second baby about 1½ hours after the first one!

It's such a personal decision that I don't think any responses here should matter much. Whenever you're ready.

 

[3goofyboys]

My boys art 19 months apart and if I were having more kids I would do it again in a second. My older DS doesn't remember a time without his brother, he adores him and thinks he is the best toy/playmate ever! My younger DS worships his brother and wants to do everything he does. Plus, my older DS gets to enjoy DS2 purely as a brother with no responsibilities toward his care; some of my friends have 4-5 years between their kids and they rely on a lot of help from the older ones.
I will say that I was on bed rest with DS2 starting at 24 weeks and bed rest with a 14 month old was not a picnic. Other than that, it was the perfect age gap in my opinion.

 

[rt2dz]

I’m probably going to walk around the block here just to get next door, so just hang in there.

When DH and I were getting married, he wanted two and I wanted four. We compromised on three. Since I really, really wanted four, DH said he’d go for four if we had three boys or three girls. He just really wanted a son and most of our siblings had all girls—I have eight nieces. Too bad he got stuck with that! lol Anyhow, we thought 3 years apart each. Not so close there are two little babies and not too far apart that we are always needing to split up.

DS#1 was born. He is this amazingly perfect baby, just wonderful—that perfectness is still in him, mostly. Kids like him are one in a billion; they only exist in the movies. I wanted six after him and right away!! I had gotten pregnant with him the first try, but didn’t expect that to happen again—thought it would take 2-3 months next time. So we started trying at as soon as a 15 month age difference. It took me two years to get pregnant with DS#2. We ended up with a nice three year age difference after all. And thank goodness, DS#2 is…challenging… to say the least. Any closer in age and poor DS#1 would have gotten the shaft. Especially since DS#2 has health issues to boot.

Well, I really liked that three year age difference. It was so nice having one out of diapers for awhile before having another. DS#1 was in preschool, had friends of his own, could dress himself, was off the sippy cup, etc., etc. It was so nice. But, opps, I was pregnant with DS#3 as soon as I quite nursing; they are just a 1 ½ years apart. I spent 9 months wishing I wasn’t pregnant yet. Could have cared less the second he was born; that child has me wrapped around his finger like you wouldn’t believe. Guilt probably, but I wouldn’t change a thing about him for the world. I found two so close in age wasn’t that hard, easier in fact. They are in the exact same place at the exact same time. They’ll be able to play on the same sport teams. It was easier to go to a bigger diaper bag than to go back to a diaper bag. They are best friends. And with DS#2 challenging personality (how nice I am being), I think he would never have adjusted to a new sibling at a later age.

So, I decided that close in age was best and went for #4 as close as a 15 month age difference. Haven’t gotten pregnant yet and if I do, there would now be a 3 ½-4 year age difference. I think I might be ready to be done with this stage of my life though, so if it doesn’t happen before DS#3 birthday, I’m done.

We’re next door now. I have a three year age difference and a 1 ½ year age difference. Neither by choice/planning. I think God (or the universe in general) had a plan and knew better than I. I love each age difference. I simply took my kids when I got them. Whatever you get works for you; you have no choice in the matter really!

 

[SDFgirl]

DD is 10 months old, and we're feeling the baby itch again. However, I DON'T want to get pregnant before our trip to WDW in September because I want to ride rides and drink. So, we'll start trying on our trip or soon after. DD will be 13 months. We had a really easy time getting pregnant with DD, it only took 2 months, so I'm hoping we'll have the same luck the second time around.

 

[Merriwind]

Well, we never had baby #2. DD10 (also a January baby) has been such a joy. We've been so busy enjoying her, we just never wanted to change that family dynamic. Now, we feel like that ship has sailed.

If you're not sure, why not just enjoy your baby for now? From what I hear, you'll know when you're ready. Congrats on the new addition!

 

[disneymom8589]

Our DD and DS are 3 1/2 years apart, partly because my sister was getting married and I didn't want to be pregnant during the wedding. Even though they're young adults now, they are the best of friends. DS is the younger one. He's 6'2" and DD is 5'4", so people think he's the older one. We sometimes call DD the "little sister"!!

 

[cmariew]

16 months. Two girls. Works out great now. They are 3 and 4. When they were 18 months and 3yrs I thought I was going to lose my mind. They are best friends now and even share clothes and toys. It is nice to know that the diaper days are long gone. My sisters in law's spaced their kids 4 yrs apart. They were very happy with the spacing the first year but now they are having some trouble finding activities that both kids like. What ever you decide I'm sure you will be happy with the decision.

 

[Jenvenza]

We only have one right now, but I wonder the same thing. I think we are going to wait until DD is around 3 to start TTC again.

 

[ammeador2]

My kids are 19 month apart. At first I was devastated b/c I found out that I was preggers 2 weeks before my DD 1st bday and baby #2 was a surprise!. I didn't think that I could do it. Two kids in diapers! Argh! But in all honesty I would not have it have it any other way. My DD at the time was too little to understand and she still had a routine bedtime etc. Now that DD is 3 there is no way I could consider bringing home a new baby. I am so glad that my DS was unexpected! It has its up and downs...but in all honesty it has been super easy! Good luck to you.

 

[Elmo888]

I just wanted to add something...I wouldn't have another child and expect them to be close because of whatever age difference. Being close in age doesn't seem to necessarily mean that they will be close. I think that there are different factors, one being if these are two girls.

My sister and I aren't close, and we are 2 to 3 years apart. I don't remember being close as kids. I remember having to do the same activities and feeling awkward because, for some activities, I was the oldest in the group. I do believe that some of this was caused by my parents.

I met two teenaged girls a few years ago who were less than a year apart. They were 12 and 13 at the time. They had the same activities and were highly competitive with each other and did not get along, partially because they were in the same activities (they might have been in the same grade). And they were close in age (again, this could be different with boys).

I have a friend (woman) with a sister 6 years younger, and they are very close.

So, you just never know. There are a number of factors that cause siblings to be close or not close growing up and as adults, and age difference is just one of those factors.

Just something to think about...

 

[SarahKate]

I really have enjoyed reading about families who have their children spaced further apart (5+ years). We have DD6 and for a while we wondered if we were done. I'm definitely not ready to have another one right now - lots of weight to lose, and am trying to start a home-based biz so I can be home....it's kind of a step towards having a 2nd because I know I can't work and have 2 in daycare/school (before/after school care is expensive!!!).

I went through a lot of guilt when she was 3-4 because that's the "prime" time that everyone always told me. But I'm fine with it, because I hear about more and more siblings who are VERY close with so many years apart.

DH & I both are only children, so this is a very hot topic for us!