2 or more under 2years

I have 18 months between my two, and my one piece of advice would be to get lots and lots of help when bub is born! I found it really hard work, my toddler was/is full on and at that age they are still babies themselves really. He loved his sister and has always been very good with her, but got frustrated very easily when I had to spend time feeding/settling her.

Have lots of family/toddler friendly meals in the freezer and pantry.

Do your supermarket shopping online if possible. Ditto with fruit and veg. Actually buy everything you can online.

Keep to the toddler's routine as much as you can, and make sure they keep going to all the same activities they used to.

A double buggy is a MUST (for me anyway)- I like to walk a lot as getting a baby and toddler into a car can sometimes be fraught and it's good for when everyone looses it. I used to bundle two screaming kids into the buggy and go for a nice walk to calm everyone down.


Good luck! It's blimmin hard work at first, but it def gets better and it's so cool watching your two kids having fun together making each other laugh.

Thanks for the tips, going to get double attachment for my buggy.

They will end up sharing a room once bubs is out of bassinett.

Was thinking of getting DD a doll and accesorries of her own so she feels like she is doing what mummy is with her baby. which will b given when bubs arrives

Interesting reading, we will have 16-17 month gap - in 3 wks time. Its fair to say its really just dawning on me, and I am starting to get a bit nervous!

Let me know how you get on with a baby doll kelz86, i have been looking for one, but they are all so creepy. Think its impt over summer that we get one that will cope with a bath/paddling pool dunking too! Almost considering flagging the doll idea, and just getting a really cool toy to distract her with!

Interesting reading! If I go full term then I will have 16mths between #2 & 3. I also have a 5yo so will be doing school runs and afterschool activities. EEKKKK!!!!!!!!

Great thread idea Kelz.

Squoggs and KH25 could you please come back and update after your bub's arrive - if you have time that is! I'll also end up with a 16-17 month age gap...

Kelz the doll idea worked really well for us, plus as others have said having other people around to pay lots of attention to your toddler really helps.
I found the hardest after the first few weeks when everyone figures you should be fine and then you end up having the 2 of them wanting your attention at the same time.
Squoggs our 2 are 16mths and a bit apart, we found our doll at kmart, its bathable and comes with a nappy/cover and some clothes.
And also agree, toddlers love to be involved, so it seems to be a choice between having a permanent crying clinging toddler who wants your attention or asking her to help and her being really helpful and happy. (Not sure if thats just my girl rather than in general though)

Thats all I can think about atm. But feel free to ask more if I can come next week.

haha Amy Katie is so doing that at the moment even if i give Lucy a cuddle she tries to push her off and says 'Mine' and the cat is in no way allowed on my knee.

back on topic, lol i have a 20 month gap between my two dd's and have been super super lucky and havnt really found it hard at all, we got DD1 a baby born doll for her baby. we also involved DD1 a lot she got to help bath and give lots of cuddles, i think it helped that she was at every midwife visit scan etc.. and was also there for the birth. i am not an organised person at all so didnt have frozen meals etc.. BUT Dh took two weeks off work and so he did all the housework stuff while i focused on the girls.

now at 3 yrs 4 months and 20 months they are the best of friends and i just love the way they play together.

I was reading this thread for tips for me too!

I've just had my 2nd and they're 20 months apart. I have been surprised that I've had no real problems apart from when the toddler was sick and I definitely needed help then. And occasionally she's all clingy and trying to cuddle her whilst BF'g the new one is a little tricky!

Lots of good tips in here though and yep, getting meals sorted is the biggest challenge here too. So having some help there or having preprepared stuff you can re-heat is really handy.

But as for toddler entertainment then I'd also say if you have an iPad then get some kids apps on there (even free ones). I was stunned at how quickly Kiara worked out how to use it and it's the one I use if she's getting a bit stroppy. She LOVES it.

No signs of jealousy which has surprised me since she used to get jealous if she was sitting on Dad's lap and I came to share the cuddle. But in fact she wants to spend time with the new baby so I let her be involved as much as she wants (passing me nappies when I'm changing him etc). And I really make sure I don't get overprotective of the baby because I thought if I tell her to go away etc every time she went near him she might get resentful.

The other thing I do is make sure I still spend some 1 on 1 time with the toddler. Eg We still go to swimming together and to Mainly Music and I leave baby with my MIL so it's just the 2 of us. I also still always make sure I can do her bedtime stories with her even if they're a bit earlier or later than usual to fit around BF'g baby.

Oh and I have baby in a carrier (Moby at the moment then Manduca once he's a bit bigger) and toddler in the pram when we go out. I couldn't afford a double pram and actually the carrier works better for me anyway.

But so far (6 weeks) this age gap hasn't been nearly as hard as I thought it would be.

I had 21months between 2 and 3,my eldest was 8 so while she was helpful (when it suited her I might add) I was also dealing with school pick ups and drop offs and what not.

Get as much help and support as you can

Expect that somedays you aren't going to be able to be supermum,and thats ok.

Have a mantra that your goal each day is to get the kids and you through it relatively unharmed,

don't feel guilty if your house isn't spotless or if sometimes you spend most of the day watching movies and reading stories with your toddler cos you don't have the energy to run around with them,they WON'T remember and it wont do them any long term damage.

And remember it DOES get better,eventually...or so I've heard :-P

^^ Agree too!