So... I recently found out I'm pregnant. Again. We thought we were done, but apparently God had other plans. Baby #3 will be born just 2 weeks before baby #2's first birthday. So of course we are freaking out!! My oldest son is 5 (will be 6 when this one's born) and the baby is just 5mos- and a BIG boy at that!
After 3.5 years of trying for #2, the docs told us we wouldn't be able to have any more children without fertility treatments. We told our parents our oldest would probably be an only child. We finally came to terms with it ourselves and then were blessed with that lovely little message on a stick about 6 mos later: Pregnant! While starting all over wasn't easy, we loved that our boys were so far apart in age... only 1 at a time in diapers, learning to drive, our older son would be off to college about the time the little one hit teen years...
BUT here we are now... How do you mamas handle it when your little ones are so close in age? I figure we will probably have to get a tandem stroller, what about diapers, handling a crawler/toddler & a newborn, keeping our older son involved & not left out, and my little guy is not so little- almost 20 lbs already! We are really freaking out... Any stories, advice you can give would be GREATLY appreciated.
You moms are so awesome! Thanks for all the support from those who have been there/done that. It's amazing how I keep telling myself the same things a lot of you said, but it sinks in a bit more when I hear it from someone else. LOL I love this site!!
I have two setss of Irish twins! It is not as hard as you think. They actually have a built in playmate after the first year or two. I can't imagine not having them now, since it really frees me up to play the same games, buy the same sized clothes, do the same arts and crafts with both of them. The first year is the hardest, but it is easier after that.
Mine are almost 3 and 4 now, and I absolutely love it. It was tough the first year but I really would not ask for it any other way now. They always have a friend to play with and keep each other occupied for the most part. I love watching them together.
You'll do great I'm sure! For me it's easier having them close in age (I have four under four right now) Like one poster said.. you line them up for diaper changes lol! But really... they will be SO close and will love eachother sooo much! You are so blessed to be given this gift when the doctors didn't think you could have any more! You will have so much fun! I DO recommend getting a double stroller! P.S. schedules (feeding and sleeping) make things SO much easier :o)
Congratulations and good luck!
As with any other situation in life, you will find a way to make it work. Mine are 14 months apart and it was a lot of work the first few years, but I found ways to work with their schedules. I searched out drive thru restaurants, dry cleaners and post offices to make running errands easier. I bought baby gear that suited my needs. I kept diaper neccessities and a few outfits for each child on both floors of the house. We didn't have any dining room furniture so we turned the dining room into a playroom with gates at the doorways for the toddler and put a bassinet or pack 'n play in the living room for the baby. Fellow mamas and I teamed up to help each other out. Your oldest can be a big help with chores like playing with the younger ones, help with feedings, etc. Make sure to find ways to spend some one-on-one time with him. Congrats!
I found out I was pregnant with #3 when I was 41, moving to France, number # was 15 and #2 was 7 months old! Wow! She is 17 months younger than her brother. He was a handful, she was easy. Because we were in Paris with lots of stairs we used a snuggli and umbrella stroller, then 2 umbrella ones. The hard stuff you've already figured out. The easy stuff is that they'll enjoy the same movies, books, toys. Diapers are diapers. You'll have 2 sizes, no big deal. Bath time involves dumping both in at once. Bedtimes later are the same. You'll know your way around schools and all that involves with one right after the other. That part is great. 2 in college at the same time hasn't been as easy however. The big plus for my older one is that she knew what to do when she had her own. Since you're doing little kid stuff, you may as well do it for 2 as one. The biggest problem was dealing with my son, #2, who was a world class runner. He would take off wherever he could if he could. It took 2 adults (that teenager was a big blessing) to handle the two of them. You'll be fine, really. Your 5 year old will be an adored big brother. The big adjustment for him was the one you have now; the next one won't bother him. If you have another boy, they'll be great buddies. If you have a girl, you get the joy of all the girl stuff. You're in a win/win situation really.
Congratulations!
my girls are 11 months apart, and after the first 6 months, everything was a breeze! kidlet #1 was starting potty training, and #2 wanted to try too. #1 was
learning letters and numbers, #2 wanted to too.
diaper changings were a bit of an issue, but we bought diapers at sams club and it was nice when they were both wearing the same size. baby gates were a life saver, #1 could walk when #2 was born. i didnt bother with a double stroller, as i usually didnt leave the house without my husband so we each pushed a stroller. plus, once they were both walking they didnt want to be in the strollers anyway. now theyre best friends (and worst enemies at times lol) and its great watching them "read" to each other (theyre 3 and 4 now) and playing pretend and hearing them say "youre my friend!" to each other is sooo worth it.
My oldest was 5 months old when I found out I was pregnant. I had also been told that I wouldn't likely have any more children. When my second was 6 months old...I was pregnant again! And when she was 13 months old I found out I was pregnant with my fourth. I really liked having them closer together, I found the 23 month difference more difficult then the 13 and 15 month difference. You aren't out of baby mode, and that helps a lot. Feeding and sleeping and diapering schedules help a lot too.
When I worked in day care I had 4 young babies by myself or 10-12 babies under the age of 1 with only two caregivers. Now THAT is difficult!!
You'll do fine, and congrats!!
I don't have Irish twins, I have actual twins. It can be overwhelming at times, but the best advice I can give you is to always allow yourself extra time to do anything. Anytime you need to go somewhere or leave the house, plan to leave early. This is really the toughest part, in my opinion, is getting my boys dressed and out the door. If you don't have an infant carrier/sling, get one. Make sure the one year old is on a schedule by the time the baby comes.
You will survive, and it will be absolutely amazing! Good luck.
You are not alone my babies are only 11 months apart. I cant really tell you how you handle it you just do. To be honest with you I am finding now that when my youngest was a neborn it was actually easier than it is now that they are almost 1 and almost 2. PM anytime you need advise or encouragement.
Congratulations!!
I have real twins and it's tough... but you get thru it. To watch them interact is such a gift that all the huffing and puffing and craziness is so worth it!
I too had a changing station on each floor (just a basket with everything in it). We always changed them on the floor - which is much easier b/c you can use your feet to keep them in place!! (just keeping it real!). You'll get through it. The toughest time is 18 mos - 2.5 years when they just run in separate directions, etc.
Have a friend who has 8 children under 13 and she's not even Irish, that I know at least. One of her best tools is to use either a sling or something like that to carry baby around while in the house (and yes she's in great shape :) (I did this too but I must not have done it long enough :)) It helps you be mobile so that you can keep up with the 2 year old at the same time as nurturing the infant. Work with your children before baby is born to get them keeping a consistent nap...it will make your life easier! Also, when getting out of the car have the children exit the one door that is right next to the car seat you are emptying to get the youngest baby out. Saves mayhem in the parking lot and is much safer than having kids exit two sides of the car while you are concentrating on baby.
I always wondered why God didn't create us with more hands. Maybe the challenge we're presented when we get that 3rd one, makes us grow some other way :)
Congratulations!
Hi there.. my kids are 13 months apart... and I LOVE it. Don't get me wrong, the first year is a total blurr, haha, and it was tough. But, I can remember having my son (the older one) in his high chair eating his dinner while I had his sister (the younger one) in the sink giving her a bath. Then when I took him upstairs to bath I would bring her bottle into the bathroom and sit on the floor while feeding her and watching him in the tub. Haha. Then I was stressed and thinking what am I doing.. haha.. but now I look back and know I survived it all and so did the kids. Another poster had so always make sure to have somewhere safe to put "baby" in case you need to help your older one and she is exactly right. I brought my bouncy seat with me to every room I was in for that just in case times.
Also, the first few weeks I did have a sitter twice a week for my son just to give me and my daughter some one on one bonding time (and some rest for mom too, hehe) My husband works out of town Mon through Fri so I did all of the caring for the kids and worked 40 plus hours and as I said, we survived and we are all happy and healthy. You will be suprised how creative you get with getting things done, hehe.
Congratulations though and it will be such a joy watching them grow and be best of friends. Mine are 3 and 4 now and they do everything together. I get asked alot if they are twins haha b/c they are always soo close to eachother and as I said do everything together! It is a great blessing to have babies... enjoy them!
Relax. I was nearly hysterical when I learned we were having kids 14 months apart! Both boys. All works out fine. I wish I had spent more time enjoying the second pregnancy and the preparations instead of stressing about taking care of 2 babies.
We bought Diapers in bulk, had 2 cribs, 2 highchairs, etc....had a tandem stroller (awesome purchase!) and I traded kid watching with a neighbor so I could do errands and grocery shop. (we had no family in town and my husband flies a lot...so it was just me.) I would watch her 18 month old for a couple hours a week while she was first pregnant and sick with #2, and she would watch my oldest so I could take only the baby to the grocery store.
It all works out just fine.......relax and breathe.
Now the boys are ready for college.....schools give you more financial assistance if you have 2 kids in college at the same time than if they are spaced far apart and go thru one at a time. People with triplets probably get some great aid offers from colleges!!!!
My boys are 11 months apart. They are now 13 and 14. Oh, and i was a single parent by the time my 2nd was born. M. and Dad helped tons! I remember bathing them together and they would take turns on diaper changes. In feeding sometimes I would hold the baby and give formula while having oldest in high chair and feeding baby food or table food. For a while I would carry #1 in my arms and carry #2 in the carrier at the same time. Then my oldest learned to walk and that helped tons. You learn to adapt. It's hard at times though. They stick up for each other and can be the best of friends and worst of enemies at times.
Potty training was easy cause when my oldest was potty training, youngest wanted to do it too. Same for reading, letters, numbers, etc. Everything just followed for the younger one. They even had many of the same teachers.
Make sure you oldest and your middle boy have some one on one time with you so they don't feel left out. They need to feel special to you too. Get someone to watch the baby while you spend time with the older ones.
Hope this helps!
You will survive just fine. Babies 8 and 9 are only 11 months apart (last 3 kids were all born within 27 months). And, I've had twins.
Diapers, well, you just do it. Line em up for diaper changes. Eventually, they will end up in the same size diapers, and that helps. A double stroller is your friend. I like a side by side stroller because I can push that while I pull a shopping cart behind me, and you can do diaper changes for both kiddo's in it if need be.
They will be young enough, they will be best buddies. It really will not be as bad as you think it is.
Well as one poster said you just do it. I have twins who are 8 now. I always got asked how do you handle 2 babies at once. You just take it day by day, and it all works out in the end.
Always have someplace safe and out of reach to set the newborn - like a bassinet, a baby swing (in a room behind a babygate) or a bouncy seat set out of reach (kitchen table or bed)..... babygates have saved my sanity!
lining up for diaper changes - and meals - pre-cook ANYTHING you can in the evenings. On Sunday evenings I boil pasta, brown ground beef and cook a pot of white rice. All of these items keep for several days, and all of these items are very functional in meals. I can quickly whip up spaghetti, gumbo, tacos, nachos or even just mix the rice and meat together with some sauce and bam - a nice, hot lunch and no more pb&j!!! .....this also keeps my kitchen from getting filthy EVERY SINGLE DAY.
bathe them together age appropriately and set up a meal calendar, a bath schedule and a bed time schedule... that way you can always look at the clock and know where to jump in....
And set up a "No-No" Spot. I have a bench. We call it the No-No bench. It is my best friend.
Best of luck! You'll make it!!
