PROS / CONS to having babies close together??

Question

We are having our second baby when our current son is just a few months shy of his 2nd birthday -- anyone else had them this close together?

Anything to be aware of, parenting tips for this scenario or pros / cons VERY much appreciated. THANKS!!

Answer 1

My kids are 19 months apart and things are going well so far. At first it was scary to have two kids at the same time who were so dependent, but now my older one (two years, two months) is much more helpful. The pros for us (because we did plan on having them this close) were numerous. We wanted to get through all of the stages at once. Two kids in diapers at the same time, then done. Both kids starting school back to back. College costs all in six horrible years, then done. We wanted our kids to be able to interact with each other, too. When kids get far apart in age, they don't share as many interests. With only a year and a half between them, they'll watch the same TV shows, read the same books and be able to talk about things without the younger one being treated as a baby by the older one. Furthermore, our older child has already forgotten life without the baby, so there isn't any feeling of resentment. It's working out well for us so far. Best of luck to you!

Answer 2

mine are 22 months apart. Of course there are problems, there will be problems no matter how far apart they are. They fuss with each other some (but I think all siblings do) and it was pretty demanding when my youngest was first born. My other child still needed help doing just about everything from getting dressed to using the bathroon to taking baths. I was on the move almost all the time and I was CONSTANTLY changing diapers. HOWEVER, they are very close to each other and always have been. They do just about everything together. There is always a playmate around when they need one. They are both at an age where they can enjoy the same activities together. And they will both get grown and get out of the house at almost the same time (hahahaha) no seriously, its wonderful, there are always moments that will rack your nervesbut overall I am glad I had mine so close.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU

Answer 3

Mine are 23 months apart.

It has its challenges, although I think it also depends a lot on what baby 2 is like. If he is easy going it will be a lot easier than if he is say (like mine was) a big tine cryer, whiner, generally unhappy never go with the flow kind of kid. I feel like I am finally getting a hold of things now that he is 2!

But, my daughter doesn't remember life without him. They play pretend together. They watch Sesame St together, play with the same toys, like the same preschool music, etc. I like that my daughter is still into Sesame, Barney, etc. while he is (instead of telling him it is babyish, etc...). They also fight together, but they would do that at any age.

I think it will be even better when they are in school together.

Just know it goes sooooo fast with the 2nd one. I feel like my 2.5 yr old should be about a year now.

Answer 4

I don't think that's too close together. I want to have our next child soon, and my son is only 9 months. My husband wants them 2 years apart, I want them 1.5 years apart. I think it may be harder in the beginning to have two young babies, but it's easier and better in the long run. It'll be easier for them to be close siblings because the age gap isn't so great. The oldest one wasn't an only child long enough to really resent his younger sibling. When they're older, they can go on rides together and take classes together.

Answer 5

Number one ALL children react differently! Coming from a full time mother of four, I call my children the older set and the younger set.
At ages 11 and 8 those two would be my older set. As you can see there are three years between them. I found this to be THE perfect timing. My oldest was not "put out" from the new sibling coming into the home. As a matter of fact we talked often of the baby during my pregnancy and he couldn't wait to be a "big brother". After the baby came home he was all over it, we would include him in everything. Getting diapers and helping wipe the babies bum, to sitting side by side on the couch and holding the bottle for the baby while i held him. As time went on we would allow the oldest to feed the baby still side by side and hold him. We would let him pick out the baby's clothes - as funky as some outfits were... etc., we included him. As they frew up they were and still are very close to one another. I found it to be the perfect timing because the oldest still had a year at home with mom and baby prior to going to school. So with a three year age difference - things went perfectly fine for my household.
Now there's my youngest set ages 2 and 3. There's only 10 months between them. (We adopted the youngest - we make a good couple but we aren't THAT quick! lol )
With only ten months between them - i swear haveing twins would have been easier! As the 2 yr old is always trying to keep up with the 3yr old. So one was always right behind the other in "stages" and that's not where one wanted to be! On the other hand - as quickly as the baby caught on as she watched her older brother - the older brother is holding off on things because his younger sister is still in those stages. O-kay this is getting confusing - it'll be longer cause i'm going to simplify. In the beginning it was great, the baby learned to crawl and then walk a few months earlier because she wanted to keep up with her older brother. When it came to getting the older brother off bottles and potty trained - he refused. I feel it's because the baby was still in diapers and still on the bottle. So if they were twins they would be at the same stage at roughly the SAME time. Instead of one being a "little later".
Now obviously i don't have a lot of time for my oldest two as i am quite busy with the babies. So we have "dates". They each get to pick one day every week and they have one hour of alone time with mom after everyone else is in bed. Whether we watch T.V. together, talk about school/friends, play a board game, whatever. They know it has to be in the house cause mom can't leave - but they get to decide what we are going to do. FYI the older two adore there younger siblings and this household wouldn't have it any other way! All my children are really close - we've got a strong bond thorugh out the house! Even more so i think becuase even though i am married i am a single mom - my husband gets sent all over the world to work and it is not unusual for him to be away from home for six months at a time.
That's my advice to you. Don't allow other people's negative thoughts break the bond you have with your son now. Bringing in a new baby - as i told my own - just means you have enough love to go around. With a newborn mom and dad tend to get caught up with the love of their new member - but there's lots of love to go around so be sure to include the whole house! Even dogs get jealous! Include the whole house and things will be great - i promise!
At the age of two you should be talking to him about the new baby coming home, and that you have to go away for a couple of days to "get" the baby... so he doesn't feel like he was abandoned while your in delievery! Good Luck to you and your's!!!

Answer 6

Mine are 18 months apart and for the most part worship each other. Watch out for your oldest biting the baby, if he does bite him back and that should solve the problem. Buy diapers by the truckload!

Answer 7

Well, it's just crushing to a child to be knocked off his first born throne. Five years between kids produces the most emotionally healthy and intellectually high achieving siblings.

Too late for you to change that set-up, so I suggest you be really sensitive to it and give him lots of comfort for destroying his life (which will be his view point when he's not loving the heck out of his baby sibling.)

Answer 8

it makes college expensive