My parents had four in less than four years. We all survived and there was always someone to play with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard for the first six months and then freaking awesome. Seriously.

This. This has been my experience.

+ 1. Mine are 6 & 4.5. It’s the best!

My sister had hers within 12 months. A little bit too close, Irish twins as they say.
She said it held the older one back, like it was easier for her to feed both similarly instead of have the older one eat by itself
She redshirted the older kid and they were in the same grade

My last two are 20 months apart (we have 4 boys). It was challenging, but doable. I think the baby took some attention away from the toddler. Now they are either best buddies or fighting with each other (no middle ground).

I have two that are 16 months apart. They are now 8 and 9 and best of friends. Not sure if that is an age thing or just dumb luck.

Mine are 21mo apart and youngest is 9mo. Brutal for first 5 mo, get all the help you can and embrace screen time. Ok from 6-8mo, I can see the fun coming now that baby is 9mo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard for the first six months and then freaking awesome. Seriously.

This. This has been my experience.

Makes me so happy to hear this. Not OP but also expecting two under two and am equally excited as terrified.

Anonymous wrote:Hard for the first six months and then freaking awesome. Seriously.

This. This has been my experience.

Hard for the first six months and then freaking awesome. Seriously.

Set them up to have different activities and different friends, in an effort to avoid comparison/competition.

My two under two never got on the same nap schedule, which was a bit annoying, but it also meant that I had alone time with each kid during the day. It was really nice to focus all my attention on just one for a few hours.

Otherwise, my advice is to go easy on yourself, especially in the early days. You will be tired. You will be overwhelmed. You may not be ready for outings or play dates for several months and that’s ok. If your older kid watches too much tv one day and your younger kid doesn’t get as many snuggles, it’s ok. It will all be ok. One day, you will get both kids to the grocery store and then home again in time for naps! One day you will get the schedule right so you will be able to spend an hour at the playground! It’ll work out fine so be kind to yourself on days when it doesn’t seem like it.

Also, take lots of pictures and videos. Those early months/years are so cute with two babies and they go so fast! I treasure those pictures now that my kids are less cute.

Congratulations!

Anonymous wrote:My first two are 19 months apart. Best advice is to get them on the same nap schedule. My two were doing the same afternoon nap (1-3pm) from 4 months old until my oldest dropped her nap at 4 years old. So a solid 2.5 years of same nap schedule. Definitely a life saver for me on the weekends.

+1 Mine are 15 mos apart and were both good nappers. Having that couple of hours every afternoon when they both napped was priceless. When the older stopped napping he still had "quiet time" in his room while DD napped.

I had not planned to have mine so close together but it has been good. However, I kind of expected and lots of people told me that they would be "best friends" since they were so close in age. They really aren't. They get along OK and have never fought much but they would never be the other's first choice of a playmate. It's partly gender and partly very different personalities/play styles/interests. My sister and I were 20 mos apart and we have been life-long best friends so it was a little disappointing that my kids' (now both teens) are generally not interested in hanging out with each other.

My first two are 19 months apart. Best advice is to get them on the same nap schedule. My two were doing the same afternoon nap (1-3pm) from 4 months old until my oldest dropped her nap at 4 years old. So a solid 2.5 years of same nap schedule. Definitely a life saver for me on the weekends.

I know this has been asked many times, but how is life with two under two? We have a toddler ( turned one in September) and another baby ( boy) due in May. We are really excited, but I'm a little nervous how we will manage two kids. I know we will figure it out, but what are some ways to make life easier?