Too close together???

[thedevinemissm]

I'm not sure this is the proper place to post this, but I'm needing some reassurance...

DH & I just learned that we are expecting Dec 04. I'm really excited, but at the same time it's really starting to his home that ds will only be 1 at the end of this month.

Not that we used birthcontrol, but I just figured since I still nurse ds on-demand & he nurses a lot ~ that he would be at least 2 before baby #2 came along. Somehow 20months apart doesn't seem like enough? : Has anyone else survived this? Please tell me there are some great things about having babes this close together!

~MissM

[sweetpeasmom]

I'm sure everything will be fine. you'll do great. I wanted ours close together, they'll be about 21 mths apart.

[cinnamonamon]

I went to school with many who had siblings in a grade before or after them, i.e. just over or under a year apart. They had great relationships with one another. My ds is 14 months, and I am glad there isn't going to be any more space between them. I was 15 months older than my sister and we always had a playmate -- I very much want that for my own.

Oh, and I don't know anything about the temperment of your ds, but right at 12 months my ds underwent a personality change -- he became much more forceful & learned to cry/scream, etc. if we didn't do just what he wanted. He also learned to walk, started using his first sign, started getting his molars (he now has all four!) etc., etc... He has settled down in the last few weeks, but if I had gotten pg at 12 months during all that I would have been scared out of my mind. :LOL

[mommyheidi]

My girlfriend's daughters are that close apart, and she nursed her older child the entire time she was pregnant with the second (although she had it down to just a few times per day by the end of the pregnancy and when the new baby was born it jumped back up.) She was actually glad because it helped relieve any pressure from the initial oversupply of milk. The younger girl is more advanced for her age; she tries so hard to keep up with the "big kids" at play group. She's also really easy going and very pleasant. I think it'll all work out - good luck!

[ekblad9]

I have two that are 18 months apart. And while it was difficult in the beginning it is wonderful now (they are 6 and 7). Really it was only hard for the first few months. My other kids are 23 and 26 months apart and that wasn't any easier (if that makes you feel better :LOL). I have several friends that have kids as close as 14 or 15 months apart and they did/do fine.

[Larissa]

I was hoping that I would have them close together like that...and would have but had a m/c...that are wonderful benefits to having them close together.

My two will be 2 years and 7 months apart.

I plan on having more, so I may be in your boat some day!

[lilmiss'mama]

My girls are 16 months apart. It is hard in the beginning, but now sometimes I think it is easier. They play with each other now and entertain each other, making their demand on me a little less. Hopefully you have some family or close friends nearby to help out. That really makes a difference. Hey, I now find myself to be a single mom; if I can do it so can you.

[mamamoo]

My first two kiddos are only 16 months apart, and while there is an amount of time(maybe a year or two) that are hard for me to remember(tandem nursing all night and day), it is awsome!! They are 5 and 6 now, and are both great kids, they play well together and with others(usually on both accounts. LOL), it seems like they have always know how to share and stuff like that. I really think the constant nursing was the toughest part...but I survived. LOL
And now my youngest and the new baby will be exactly 2 years apart...

[hmg7500]

my dd and my twins are 2 years apart. when #4 is born, there will be only a 17 month age gap between him/her and the twins. i am less worried about raising them close together (i already have twins!) than i am about other people's snide comments about having them close. i guess i will just have to let it roll off my back, though, because people will always talk.

[michray]

Im also due in Dec and mine will be 19 mos apart. DD will be 1 on May 3rd and she is SOOOO attached to me that I have no idea how I will manage a newborn and a 1 year old who thinks she has to be in my arms all the time.

I am sure they will be great friends and we will get thru it, but it is a bit worrisome!

[lilmiss'mama]

hmg7500- (nothing snide about that either!) You go mama ! And I think I have a lot to handle!

[sandrajoon]

Loving the 21 month gap so far...DD is the elder, DS is now 8 weeks old.

We did TONS of talking prep about the new baby the whole pregnancy, and DD really GOT IT - amazing. She has adjusted smoothly and there has been no jelousy.

One thing that really helped us was that my DH was able to work from home for several weeks pp (I had a c/s and we live away from town, I couldn't drive, nor lift, etc.). The time he was able to be with DD, and the relief and companionship he was able to give to me, helped with the transition enormously.

I know many moms who have thrived with this kind of gap; I hope that thats the case for you .

[thepeach80]

Mine will be 19 mos apart and I'm still nursing too. I have a friend who loves the fact her kids are 18 mos apart so I'm excited!

[Adamsmama]

Ours will be 22 months apart. We really wanted them between 2-2.5 years a part but decided to start ttc a little earlier than planned. We are happy with how things have turned out! Hopefully they will be great playmates!

[faithlovelife]

Not too close

There are a bunch of us (7) in my family and the two oldest are 15 months apart, my brother and I are in the middle at 23 months apart. The others are all farther apart. My brother and I were very close growing up. The two oldest started fighting as teens and never got over it, but were great when young. I think it depends on how you handle the fact that they are close more than the number of months between them. You'll do great and they are going to be wonderful together!