Do you have babies close together? If so, what are your strategies.

Hi all, I am new to this forum but wanted to ask if anyone had any tips on bringing up two close together. We are due in August, 5 weeks after Lachlan's first birthday.. therefore making them 13 months apart if bub #2 comes on time. Will I have grey hair by the end of the year?? Thanks so much.

My boys are 19 months apart and I find it works quite well. M is in a routine (which he found for himself though it took a while) and with J I just go with the flow. I have some really easy lunch and snack ideas that I can pop out if I have both up at the same time. M has a bottle of water at all times. The lounge with the toys is gated off so I can be in here feeding J and not have to worry about what M is up to at the other end of the house.

I just found my groove and what works for us. Good luck.

well, i have 2 boys 10 months apart, they are now 5 and 6, i have 2 girls 10 months apart, they are 2 and 3 yo and i have a 12 month old (yesterday) and a 1 month old boys, so 11 months apart for them. I think its gfabulous.. you may not have gray hair, but life can be a bit of a blur for about 6 or so months, I have late walkers so i end up with a neworn and baby that are both not walking for a while, and i cant take the double side by side pram out, becuase the older baby attacks the newborn..lol. but really once they are that bit older it is so awesome and the hard days will be a distant memeory. I always give myself that 6 months though as the older one will be putting everything in his/her mouth so its a constant watching them as well as dealing with the new baby, it does work, some days you just have to throw your hands up in the air and think that tomorrow will be better, but overall , i would never have a big age gap again..my first 2 kids are 23 months apart, and that is way to big a gap for me.. You will be fine, a bit daunting at first, but awesome as they grow together.
[Edited on 06/02/2010]

thanks so much ladies, yep I have just bought a play pen for that very reason.. wow you have so many babies, how amazing. I guess a bit of a routine for the older one is the key which I am now finding he is getting himself into anyway..but I agree.. am really happy to be having them close together so they can be great mates growing up.. I have a phil & teds so L won't be able to bash newborn as he won't be able to reach he he! that's if I ever leave the house smile

My to are 18 months apart, I had DD in a really good routine before DS was born, after DS was born I made him fit into DD's routine and it all just fell into place, some days are a real changeling but I think that is just part of being a mum no matter what the age gap is. I could not image it any other way now.
Good Luck!!!

I think when you have a couple close together, you prioritise your jobs..like, do i REALLY have to leave the house today?? lol. I think you can become housebound for a while , it can just seem all to much in the beginning, but when you find your rhythm, you will be so proud of yourself! and don't try and do everything all at once. i am a really organised person (i think i have to be) but sometimes i find my own expectationsa re what drags me down,instead of enjoying the memeonts with the kids.. so i am still learning to find a bablance with it all .. always something to learn.

I have the same gap as what you will have (girls are 12months 28 days apart lol) you have your moments but you get there in the end (the house may be a mess but meh it can wait lol). If it makes you feel a little better I also moved two days after dd2 was born so not only did I have the stress of a one year old and a newborn I also had the stress of moving - but I managed (really dont know how)

As alwaysawake said you do become housebound and some people really dont understand this - home is my friend even now with a two year old and a one year old lol.

mine are 16months apart and i havent had that hard a time. the worst part for me wasnt the early stages, but once the youngest was also walking.
yes my house is often messy but if the kids get to noisy or im getting to stressed i put them in the pram and we go for a walk, when dd was a newborn she would be asleep when we got home so thats what worked for me. also putting the older one in a playpen/porta cot or high chair while feeding the younger one, and giving the older one something special to do playdoh, sticker, drawing, snacks, dvd time etc

Mine are 13.5months apart (3 in may, 2 in july) and here is my advice
* buy a tandem not a side by side pram, i've got a graco one sold at baby on a budget (the newer of the 2 modles they sell, i've used it nearly everyday in the last 19moinths)
* make and freeze as many meals/soups as you can before bub 2 arrives, one less thing to worry about if you have a crap day. invest in a slow cooker and a rice maker too.
* accept offers of help - not to sit and cuddle bubs while you serve them a cupppa, but folding washing, doing dishes, ironing, vacuuming, cooking
* if both kids are asleep during the day at the same time - join them in the land of nod!! Bugg*r the housework - it can wait!!!!
* find activities that older bub likes and have them handy for feeding times, books, shape o balls duplo etc are good cause you can sorta help one handed

All the best, its tough at the start but it does get better!!!

My girls are 14 months apart and I'm due in September so will have around the same age gap between the next two.

The first probably 8 weeks or so are the hardest. I agree with PP's if you can have the first child in a good routine it makes it all the easier once the next comes along. I had a non nighttime sleeper DD2 for the first few months, so the biggest help people could give me was to take DD1 for a long walk once DD2 went down for a nap so I could catch up on some sleep too.

Slow cooker is the best invention in the world.

Housework can always wait - sleep is more important.

Accept every offer of help, however small. Don't think of it as people thinking you can't cope with the two (which is stupidly what I did lol) but the fact that people genuinely DO want to help.

Involve the older baby as much as possible. I found once DD2 was on solids some jealousy did kick in. This was instantly solved by giving DD1 a spoonful of DD2's food at the start and at the end of her feed. Strange, but it seemed to work lol. Also by asking DD1 to "please pass mummy the cloth" or whatever, and then praising her, she was helping (a lot actually!) and also felt really involved.

Everything you do "for the first time" will be hard. But once you have done it once you will feel invincible!! LOL. First times are definitely the hardest.

Every day we're still learning new things and changing as the situation dictates.

I agree with PP I love my tandem pram, but now the girls are a bit older I'll probably get a side by side stroller (cos they are both now a bit big for the pram).

Oh, and the BEST invention ever IMO besides a slow cooker is a magna doodle....DD1 will sit and draw for ages, no need to worry about crayons or pencils or paper running out, once the picture is finished she clears the screen and starts again.

All the very best with it, feel free to pm any time if you like smile

Christy

p.s. congratulations on the impending arrival!

Hi.
My 2 are 13months apart and i have no signs of grey hair yet.
It wasnt really planned to have them that close together, we were hoping to concieve when the oldest turne 1 not have a baby the next month!! lol
As long as you have got a routine it is hard work bu the routine does help.
Once the youngest starts walking and playing with the oldest it feels liek having twins.
They do al the same things together.
I make them nap together and go tot bed at the same time as each other, fo me its easy that way.
Good luck
:]

My boys are 18mths apart and they are best friends(only time they fight is when it comes to there toys when they want the same toy)
but my older son became very jealous/teritorial as soon as DS#2 was rolling crawling, but DS#1 was very helpful always wanting to help with everything, and now at 3 1/2 and almost 2 they are best friends and DS#1 is always reading books to him and helping him and looking after him with everything