[Oriyan]

BTDT moms, can you explain in all the gory details what its like to go from 1 to 2 kids, especially if you have 2 under 2?

This is at the request of my DH.

[Frozendesire]

It was alot smoother then I thought it would be. I only had 2 under 2 for a few days. Curtis turned 2 a few days after Dustin was born. Potty training Curtis while taking care of Dustin was hard. I think that was the only really big down side. You just sorta get used to doing everything in twos or in shifts. Curtis learned patience well and he loved his little brother so much. He was a big help too.

[Resi]

I watch 3 under 2 and all I can say is it's non stop and very frusterating a times! Of course I think it's different with two of your own. I know for me going from 1 to 2 will be harder than becoming a new mother. It's hard to spilt up time, less time for myself, and I'll need more help from DH. However I know I can handle it since I've had a year of watching another baby.

[SandKmommy]

haha I miss understood

I'm no help cause my kids are 2yrs 9mo apart and everyone tells me(even Seamus' counsoler) that my kids have a HUGE age gap

[Frozendesire]

Resi is right though... you spread your self thinner. You have to force some time for your self sometimes. I enjoy bed time I stay up a touch to late just cause I want some internet/reading time alone. There is always someone needing your attention haha. But things DO fall into place.... once the newborn stage is done you get into a routine and that helps ALOT.

[IamMom]

My head would have popped off if I didn't have the age gap I did...I have to have Harrison do alot for himself...cause I just can't attend to both of them at the same time. I always wanted to be able to do as much for my kids as I could and not have to pick and choose who I attend to when. A little selfish on my part I guess

Don't get me wrong there are still times one of the other needs me and I have to make them wait but hardly ever since Harrison can do most things himself. Him being able to go to the bathroom by himself is very helpful....like HUGE! But everything takes more time - getting into and out of the car, bathtime, bedtiime, etc. So yes you have less time for everything you want to do and you need DH a heck of a lot more!

[ShannonMVT]

Originally Posted by Resi

I watch 3 under 2 and all I can say is it's non stop and very frusterating a times! Of course I think it's different with two of your own. I know for me going from 1 to 2 will be harder than becoming a new mother. It's hard to spilt up time, less time for myself, and I'll need more help from DH. However I know I can handle it since I've had a year of watching another baby.

I didn't realize you were watching 3 now Resi. So there is Jett (?) and who else now? Are you watching them 5 days a week?

The biggest thing I worry about going to 2 is sleep (or lack thereof). I take naps while Matthew naps a lot of the time. Although that is one "pro" for me having them close together is there's a greater chance of both of them napping. Don't most kids give up their nap around age 3? I think that is what will kill me. Oh and the newborn phase, the whole "sleep while the baby sleeps" obviously goes out the window and somehow I have to take care of Matthew and a newborn while I'm dead tired? That is going to be rough! Despite this I'm hoping for around a 2 year age gap, but it might be more.

[Resi]

Originally Posted by ShannonMVT

I didn't realize you were watching 3 now Resi. So there is Jett (?) and who else now? Are you watching them 5 days a week?

The biggest thing I worry about going to 2 is sleep (or lack thereof). I take naps while Matthew naps a lot of the time. Although that is one "pro" for me having them close together is there's a greater chance of both of them napping. Don't most kids give up their nap around age 3? I think that is what will kill me. Oh and the newborn phase, the whole "sleep while the baby sleeps" obviously goes out the window and somehow I have to take care of Matthew and a newborn while I'm dead tired? That is going to be rough! Despite this I'm hoping for around a 2 year age gap, but it might be more.

Jett is 13 months now and I'm watching a 8 month old girl. She is very needy! She cries if I set her down for 1 sec. That is what makes it hard. I've watched her for about a month. I watch them 3 days per week but sometimes not all together. The girl's mom is a l&d nurse and her work days change each week.

oh and my worry is how the heck will i keep that all up w/ a newborn? i'm never going to sleep again w/ co-sleeping and nursing 2 if it works out that way!!

[ScottishBrit]

I dont know If I wanna read this thread cause it's to late to turn back now!!! LOL.

[**Jenn**]

I actually didn't find it that big of a deal. My boys are 19 months apart and while we did deal with a bit of jealousy in the beginning and that was hard, it didn't last long. After a couple months I don't think Liam even remembered there was a time before Loch and they became fast friends. Once Lochy got mobile and could really play they got even closer. They really are each others best friend. Logistically it was a little rough in the very beginning but that smoothed out quickly. Since Lochy nursed 24/7 I read a lot of books to Liam and did some more quiet type play a lot. And by the time Lochy was about 6 months or so (I can't really remember exact age) they took their afternoon naps at the same time and that was wonderful! There are pros and cons to every age gap, you just have to do whats comfortable for you. Regardless, it all does work out.

[Frozendesire]

The way I see it is you wont know any different! You'll have your second baby and learn how to deal and survive it! I think there are pros and cons to any age difference.

[~Jess~]

Personally, adding #2 was no big deal. NONE! I breastfed and wore him a lot so I always had a free hand (or two). By the time #2 gets here it's all 2nd nature, IMO. It's all btdt stuff and the baby is super easy. It's the 2-year-old that will drive you crazy, lol.

You will get less sleep, but your body is more used to the lack of sleep and transitions better. I thought having 2 was actually easier at times because they entertained each other and played together so well that they needed less attention from me. Mine were 2y2m apart.

Now going from 2-3 is a whole 'nother story. HARD AS HELL! But 2 was no biggie. Really.

[~*Bethy*~]

honestly - my transition wasnt normal. I didnt have a problem at all...maybe Im just weird. I couldnt leave the house on my own though. That was a big hassel till (honestly) up until this last year!! but going from 2-3 has been easier....weird hu?

[*krista*]

Ooooo I like this thread.

[**Jenn**]

I thought 2-3 was easier too, but I think it depends on the type of baby you have. Lila is very easy but both my boys were high needs and needed lots of time and attention so that was draining. You are used to the lack of sleep already so it does make that aspect easier.

[Adriana's Mommy]

I think the transition depends on the child.. I happened to have a vary jealous 24 month old when my son was born. This was so unexpected because my dd was such a easy going baby and toddler.

But it was an easy transition when I was at home.. Going back to work was a different story and I work 10 hour shifts.. To this day it can still get over whelming for me.. I have to be super organized.

Oh and I agree, taking care of a baby and infant is the easy part.. It's my 2 1/2 year old that requires the most attention.. You feel like your being pulled into two directions..

oh and my kids are 24 months apart.

[niknok]

Drake and Eli are almost 15 months apart, but not quite. It's hard, I'm not gonna lie. I go to work to get a break. And everyone is right about the oldest one being harder. Forget about sleeping. That's a joke. You will have zero time for yourself. I really miss my husband; don't really have time for him either. With all that said, I wouldn't change it. I don't think there is any "perfect" timing. Go for it!

And Jess, tell me about 2 to 3. You are scaring me.

[~Jess~]

Originally Posted by niknok

And Jess, tell me about 2 to 3. You are scaring me.

I don't know, 3 just turned my world on it's side. 2 was no big deal and although everyone with 3 warned me that it was soooo much harder, I guess I just didn't listen. I figured one more would be as easy as having 2. With 3 kids, you now have more kids than hands.

My daily life in the early days went something like this:
Wake up 5am, nurse baby & get her dressed,
lay out clothes for kids,
make breakfast,
nurse baby & change diaper,
come out to an entire box of cereal dumped all over the living room floor.
Put baby in sling and vacuum the floor, she falls asleep.
Yell at boys to stop fighting and get their clothes on.
Find them in the bathroom which is now flooded and their clothes are on the wet bathroom floor.
Yell at them to get out and go sit on the couch.
Baby wakes up and cries.
Leave mess in bathroom,
turn on tv for some peace and quiet
Nurse baby & change diaper
Put baby in swing and go clean up bathroom
Come out to the boys piling toys all over the poor baby--she doesn't seem to mind
Pull toys off of baby--push boys to their bedroom because they're still naked.
Forcefully put them into clothes.
It's now around 8am and everyone is finally dressed & fed--it only took 3 hours.
Send boys outside to play
Nurse baby & change diaper
Put her into her sling and put on a load of laundry
Boys are awfully quiet out there....ETHAN, get OFF the roof!!!! HOW IN HELL DID YOU GET UP THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
*****have a heart attack*****
Put baby down, spank Ethan--YES this is worthy of a spanking and cry a little bit--okay a lot.
Yell at Zach for letting his brother climb onto the roof, Ethan swears Zach told him to do it. GREAT.
Turn on the tv for some peace and quiet
Nurse baby & change diaper, put her into sling
Change the laundry
Clean up from breakfast
Make shopping list & gather coupons
Make lunch for the boys
Realize I never ate breakfast and I'm still in my PJs. Did I brush my teeth this morning?
Choke down the kids leftover lunch.
Nurse baby & change diaper
Get dressed, brush teeth, etc.
Spend 30 minutes getting the kids into the car to go to the grocery store...I'll spare you the commentary at the grocery store. Suffice it to say, grocery shopping with 3 young kids is hell.
Nurse baby in car in parking lot while listening to the boys whine...she falls asleep.
It's now 2pm and I still have a huge pile of laundry, a dirty house, and dinner to get on the table and all I want to do is take a nap, which, of course, is impossible with 3 young kids.

Do I need to go on?

By the way, it took me over an hour to type that because I was interrupted every 3 minutes....

and that's with the TV on...that is considered my "peace and quiet" time.

Don't even get me started on bedtime. It literally takes over an hour and by the time it's over all I can do is wipe up the kitchen and fall into bed...

There is no such time as "me" time with 3 young 'uns.

That said, it's getting easier (and sometimes harder) as they get older and more self sufficient. Working definitely makes it harder as well. Thankfully I only work 5-hour days. But I still have to leave the house at 7am just to get to work by 8am because I have to get all the kids to school/daycare first.

[~Jess~]

double post

[IamMom]

How about just double the cost of everything......way less buying stuff for yourself or your house...its all for kiddos! I wouldn't have it any other way but its the truth!