Is adding another child to the family a big stress factor?

Question

My wife and I found out 2 days ago that we are pregnant with our second child. Our daughter will be a 1yr in the beginning of August. Having a 2nd child is something we both wanted but last night the two us ended up staying up a long time, talking and wondering about how much work a 2nd child may or not be, what it'll be like to have 2 babies instead of focusing on just one.
Is adding another child to the family a big stress factor?

Answer 1

The age difference between #1 and #2 was 12yrs so i didn't have that much of a problem but the age difference #2 and #3 is about the same one you'll have between your two children.
At first it was overwhelming because we hadn't settled into a pattern and schedule, but after a few weeks, it started to get easier. My son (#2) was still in diapers and needed my attention a lot. He wasn't a big fan of the new baby with her constant crying and taking my attention, but he liked to help me with her (handing me diapers and throwing things away). I made sure though that each day I he interacted with the baby and I had some alone time with him. I think the hardest part was trying to potty train him and getting him to sleep in the toddler bed since we gave the crib to the baby.
Every family is different: some get really stressed out, others handle it better. But think about this: if this task really was extremely difficult and a huge stress factor, would there be as many people as there are today with 2+ children? You'll adjust just as you did when you had your daughter, and personally, I think going from a couple to 1 child is harder than going from 1 kid to 2.
I wish you the best of luck and congrats! :)

Answer 2

It can be for the first child.Let the child know there's a baby in "there" and that is a little brother or sister.I wouldn't say anything until the mother is somewhat showing or the baby moves.Then let your little one feel it move and watch her belly grow.Telling the child all along the baby's growing and pretty soon the doctor will take it out.Stress how important it will be for the older child to "help" and how excited you are to have another baby to love.Make sure you say things like I hope the baby is beautiful like you etc.
On you as a couple it may not be much of a stress or it may.Depends how you are as a couple.My stress level was fine with the children.It all depends on a HUGE sense of humor while you raise kids.Believe me.

Answer 3

I have a 3yr old daughter(end of august) and a 3 week old daughter and I will tell you sometimes it does get a little stressful but it is well worth it... I love em both and my 3 yr old loves her little sister. It gives the older child someone to play with later on and to help with while the 2nd child is still young. I'm not gonna lie there are some long nights and when one gets a cold the other does and so on and so forth but like I said before it is nice having 2 children. Hope all goes well

Answer 4

I beg to differ with the noter who said you will not have any stress. Regardless of how ready you are, there WILL be stress. You will have two different personalities to cater to, two different personalities to train. Possibly two babies in diapers at the same time. So yes, there will be some added stress, some added work. But it will be worth it.

It's not a bad kind of stress, just a more active kind. You will be happy you had another one, and your daughter will be happy to have that younger sibling, especially if you let her help out where she can. But always remember: If you begin paying less attention to the first child in order to take care of the baby, she will become jealous. It is very important for you to make specific time for her so that she knows that even though Mommy and Daddy have another one to look after, she still has all of her place in your hearts.

Answer 5

It is a big stress factor if you feel that you aren't financially stable enough or have the energy to support another child. However, if this is something you and your wife really want, then I'm sure you can make it work out just fine.

Answer 6

How are you guys with one? Its easier going from one to two. The age thing your kids are close in age but it's your child's temperment and how you get her prepared for the second baby. I bought my daughter gifts from the baby and also a baby of her own. That worked wonders. My third baby I didn't do that and I see a big difference. For me having three's not hard but I see others that struggle. It's how you look at it. I love it. They have a play mate who is a sibling, it's wounderful...

Answer 7

All depends. If your a stressed out person, then you'll be stressin', if your laid back then having another won't be a problem. Plus, when you have two, they will play together. I know, b/c I have 5. Ages 18, 17, 14,13, and 10. I wish we had more!

Answer 8

to a point it is. i mean you start thinking of all the downsides to being a parent. and yes there are some such as sleepless night. but having another child wont cause major problems in the family if you both work together. take my family for instance we have six kids two sets of twins. yes its hard but we get through it. its one of life's many hurdles we jump over. start focusing on all the great things to come. everything will work out.

Answer 9

i'm no longer interior the united kingdom yet I do have 3 little ones. money smart, it extremely is not any longer a great project for us besides the shown fact that he remains little. i will forsee a manner forward for starting to be value and having to shrink issues like dance, soccer and different activities that value money. Even finding out to purchase college lunches will could be constrained because of the fact of on an identical time as the value of a million lunch could be $2 yet multiply with the aid of three and then for 5 days a week... properly, all of it provides up. the different element is that we are a starting to be form of wanting further and extra meals! We now flow by using 5 gallons of milk a week and as they become previous, i'm advantageous that will advance. I grocery save 2x a week just to maintain adequate clean fruit and bread interior the residing house. Non financially, that's difficult coping with 3 little ones with balancing all their desires and attempting to entertain them and grant particularly some studies. I could shop song of particularly some issues now that 2 of them are in school and have activities. i'm nevertheless understanding a company time table. I do sense that I spend greater time looking after them - feeding, cleansing,laundry, etc than i will spend twiddling with them. I make each attempt to take a seat down on the floor for classes of time to play with the toddler yet I in many cases am folding outfits or something else on the comparable time. it is not because of the fact i'm extremely prepared, that's barely because of the fact if i do no longer proceed to exist actual of all the paintings, it gets so overwhelming. Now the rewards - i like all of them and am so curious approximately way of how each and each of them are so different and how they're springing up into human beings. I even have have moments that have moved me to tears on some issues they say or do that are merely so touching. i'm extremely surprised with the aid of how lots they effect one yet another and produce lots to a minimum of one yet another's lives. i like to observe them play mutually or the two older ones paintings at making the toddler snigger. They get merely as excited at his new words and accomplishments as I do. And he adores the older little ones and loves it whilst they comprise him. there is not any uncomplicated answer to the economic element. you're able to do what you could to grant to your toddlers. in specific situations the only selection is to grant for those you have.

Answer 10

by the time you have your second, your daughter will be all about "baby" and helping mommy bring a diaper or take one to the trash, handing you a blanket.... give her (at that age) ''big helper'' jobs and praise her often so that she doesn't feel rejected or resent the new baby.

newborns sleep so much in the beginning anyways... the transition isn't actually as sudden as it seems.