What's it like with two babies?

Question

My daughter is 5-1/2 months old. We're planning to try for another baby when she's 18 months old. If we should get pregnant right away (like we did the first time!), our daughter will be a little over 2 when baby #2 arrives. What are the pros and cons of having them this close in age? Initially I thought I would want to wait a lot longer...but that changed after my daughter was born. I would love to hear everyone's experiences. Thanks!

Answer 1

I have 3 year old twins and just had a baby who is 3 months old.  So far it has been great (glad I had the twins first--the one baby is so easy).  My kids were potty trained before the baby was born which was really nice and they do help out sort of (getting a diaper, etc) they are also able to feed themself so that makes it easier.

Good Luck!

Cheryl

http://www.swapsavers.com/

Answer 2

No experience yet, but everyone keeps telling me that children close in age tend to be very close growing up. Its also like having a built in playmate and they can keep each other occupied when they are a bit older. My daughter will be about 16 months old when #2 comes along...if I'm doing the math right with my pregnancy brain ( thinking can be a challenge at times lately) So I'll find out what it's like before too long!  

Answer 3

Its hard if your first is really head strong because you can't carry both in a parking lot.  Also you'll have to wait to potty train, they say not to do it if you are moving, having a new baby, or anything drastic in the near future.  But you get the diapers done and out of the way, you also have two kids that will fight as well as play with eachother, you can do all the little rides your first time at disneyland and then the big rides and you won't have to go back and forth in the park.

Also thinking of the future you will have two kids in college at once, two kids in preschool, which makes it expensive.

Answer 4

I just had a baby girl one july 29th off 2008.so she is over a week old now.my other daughter is 13 months old on the 19th.I did not know what it was going to be like having a year old baby girl and a newborn baby girl.It was hard for me at first because i was only getting 5 hours of sleep the first week.Hailey would sleep in the day time and stay up at night which Taylor would be up in the day time and sleep at night.I am now getting 8 hours of sleep!It's also hard when they both are crying at the same time.

              I love them both with all my heart so i would never change it for anything.I love spending time with them both and i would never change it for the world.You will get used to having two babys but it may take longer than a week for you.Just remember how great it is being a mom!

           It's not hard for me and i'm a mom at 18 of two babies and i'm the only one who works because my husband is a stay at home dad.I want to work and don't trust people so he stays home.So if we can do it you can also!!!!!

                              Good Luck

Answer 5

My kids were born 18 months apart.  It is very busy having two kids close in age, and there are many times when they both need you at once!  There is never a dull moment around here.  It can be tricky getting out of the house with two small children at once, but once you get the hang of it you will be fine.  Now that my son is over a year old and very mobile, my kids are finding lots of trouble to get into together.  My house goes from zero to chaos within an hour each day.

While it is insanely hectic with two kids close in age, I have no regrets about having them so close together.  My kids have a very strong bond, and they always look for each other.  My daughter runs into my son's room every morning to put toys in his crib when he wakes up.  If she's upset about something, he wil be right there giving her a hug.  They are just so sweet together  :)

Answer 6

I don't have two babies, but I do have one and one on the way.  It took us two tries when trying to concieve.  From the pregnancy perspective, this pregnancy has been quit a bit harder already.  I am just more tired and have had a lot of headaches.  I want my children to be close together so when they get a little older, we can all do the same sort of things.  I don't want to tell my three year old we cannot go to the park because we have a newborn.  Our original plan was to have two now and have two in several years.  I am now thinking just these two.  I want to focus on them and be able to do what they want to do without babies added to the mix.  My husband is adopted so maybe after our children grow up we will foster.

Answer 7

Well, I had twins in my first pregnancy.  Is that close enough?  :-D

It's hard for me to list the pros and cons of twins vs. singletons close in age because a lot of my pros like a built in playmate, sharing clothes, sharing toys, etc. may not apply in your case.  One thing I can say is that my brother and I were 14 months apart singletons and we fought like cats and dogs from baby/toddlerhood on.  We get along now, but not then.  My girls who are twins are best friends and they don't fight, even at 14 months.  They are very sweet with one another.  One of them is a bit more agressive but her sister is soooo loving and she shares and doesn't complain when her sister takes something away from her.  I try to prevent it as much as possible but half the time the girl I gave the stolen toy back to voluntarily gives it to her sister who stole it in the first place!!!!!

One pro would be that if you choose to stay home until your children are in school you can get back to work sooner.

They'll be moved out of your house sooner.

They'll have more in common being so close.

Cons would be that if you choose to put them in daycare, private school, pay for college- you'll have BIG bills with not a lot of time for catching up.  This won't be a huge issue if you're wealthy, but most people aren't super wealthy.  :-)

Another con is that it's a lot of work having more than one in diapers.  Overlapping napping schedules may be an issue.  Carseats, multiple strollers, diaper bags, sippy cups... oy veh!

It doesn't scare me, though.  My twin girls will be 20 months old when their little brother or sister is born.  Eeeeeek!