can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

for those of you who have 2 under 2, what have been the good and the bad aspects?

and for those of you who planned for 2 under 2, what were your reasons for planning it that way? did it work out as you expected?

THANKS!!!!!!

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

The pros:
-Very little transition & "getting used to" the new baby.
-Younger one seems to potty train faster.
-Baby equipment isn't out of date


The cons:
-Daycare costs are a big hit. On the other hand, since they go up every year, you do make out in the end.


I could go on & on but it's really whatever works for your family. I wanted them close together because I had that growing up & most people we knew with a large age difference aren't that close. I know it's the small sampling of people that we know, but that was our reason for spacing.

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

My are exactly two years apart...5 days short of being exactly two years. Anyway...the pros:

1- You haven't really left the "baby trenches" so you haven't reached a comfort level of having a more independant child and then having to go back and re adjust to having a baby. Its double the work, but instead of changing one diaper, you just change two!

2. When it gets easy as they get older it gets drastically easier! Mine are now 3 1/2 and 17 months. By now means am I sitting on the couch and eating Bon Bons, but they now play together and entertain each other

3. #1 doesn't even remember life without #2, so no huge transition there

CONS:
1- Its super exhausting. You don't have an older child that can be a helper or that is independant. You still have two babies.

I like that mine are close together. It works for us.

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Keep em coming

these hints are helpful-- DS is almost 11 months and I am trying to decide if I want to wait longer or shorter to try for a second

Just knowing myself: I think it will be easier to go thru the "baby" stage again since I just did it

Although...I might want to hold out for another one so i could have a baby longer in my life....does this make any sense? i am going to bed

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

I think this is a great thread!! DH and I have been throwing the idea around about joining the 2 under 2 but i'd love to hear more from the moms who are actually living it!

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Mine are 20 months apart... I wanted them close in age but I got PG on the 1st month of trying for #2 so it was a bit of a shock that it happened so quick but...
They are now 2 and 4 months old and it is no walk in the park but it is getting gradually easier...

My oldest LOVES the baby and just kisses her all day long... and the baby loves her big sis, can always make her smile and giggle...

I can't wait until they can really play together, I think they are going to be best buds!

CONS: Exhausting as you can imagine, like a pp said, you still have 2 babies...

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Posted by JenBenMen

Keep em coming

these hints are helpful-- DS is almost 11 months and I am trying to decide if I want to wait longer or shorter to try for a second

Just knowing myself: I think it will be easier to go thru the "baby" stage again since I just did it

Although...I might want to hold out for another one so i could have a baby longer in my life....does this make any sense? i am going to bed

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Mine are 15 1/2 months apart. So far - there have been no cons for me. I loved having them so close, and if we had the financial means, I would go for 3 under 3!

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Mine are 20 months apart and I wouldnt want it anyother way. I love having them so close in age....I would LOVE to have another now, but thats not happening!

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Mine are almost 15 months apart. Definitely more pros than cons.

Pros: Easier to entertain who are close in age, diaper changes, less jealousy, go to school together and best pals.

Oh, I forgot one more thing, waking up in the middle of the night, those days are over

Cons: Exhaustion

Message edited 4/2/2008 8:54:09 AM.

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Mine are 10 1/2 months apart....
and aside from the one OBVIOUS con (exaustion)

it is Definately outweighed by PROS!

Pros-
You are already in diaper/bottle/crib mode, add 1 more to the mix-it's alot easier than doing it seperately!

The kids will be best friends! THey will be eachother's playmate, and to me that seems so much easier than having 1 that you have to entertain constantly!

You never need a playdate! (again, they have eachother!)

If you were considering going for #3, it is a lot more doable(timewise) when the 1st 2 are close in age.
(if you have kids later in life)

They will play with the same toys, and be into the same things, whch really makes life so easy!
(I have friends who have kids that are 3-5 yrs apart, and its really difficult to entertain them when they are on vacation, go out etc.)

If they are the same sex, you save a ton of $$$ in clothes (you can pass them down!)

You can get back in shape quicker!

Your arms will be JACKED from holding 2 babies for 1-2 years straight!lol!

I know there has to be more PROS, but these are off the top of my head!
JUST DO IT! lol



Good Luck!

Message edited 4/2/2008 9:14:25 AM.

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

This is a great thread. We are decisioning this right now. I already have difficulty thinking back to the days of getting up in the middle of the night, etc. I think the further I get away from that the harder it will be to go back to it so we may try sooner rather than later. DD is 7.5 months.

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

mine are 20 months apart to the day.

Pros:
1.didnt really need any new big purchase items for baby #2, everything was just about brand new from my first.

2.no jealousy to deal with between the two. baby #1 was too little to understand or really care. lol.

3. a built in playmate from the start.

4. everything was still fresh in my mind. burping, etc.

5. I was still sleep deprived so baby #2 didnt spoil that either.

and there are so many more.

cons.
1. none.

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

I say this a lot, but having twins is hard, but I think having 2 under 2 is harder due to the differences in age. Right now my boys are 18 months and running around like crazy and want a lot of attention. I don't know how i would do it if there was a newborn around (even with one).

So bless you all who have done this or are doing this.

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Posted by Theresa05


jacked arms WOHoooooooooooooooo

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

My girls are 20 months apart. The main reason we planned it that way is because we (well, I ) wanted more than 2 children and, as a result, sooner or later age will become a factor for us. Also, I just really started getting that itch!!

I'm sure I'm about to be repetitive here, but...

The pros: I've never left the baby stage: diapers, highchair, crib. When I'm done I want to be done! You have less years of diaper changing overall--and let me tell you...2 in diapers? So NOT a big deal! I honestly don't understand when people say they don't want to have 2 in diapers...I'm dreading the day DD#1 is trained

VERY little transition for my older one. It's like the baby always existed in our family.

They'll be able to play with each other very soon--same toys, etc.

The cons? Hmmmm...I think the big one like everyone said is sheer exhaustion. I remember thinking...and this is TMI for sure...wow, my sex life is even BETTER after having DD. Yeah, well now with the 2...not so much!!

Getting out and about--shopping, stores, just to my mom's--is very challenging, especially in the beginning. But like the 1st, you'll adjust just fine with that!

I would not change one minute of it...but that 3rd baby? Yeah, that one won't be so soon!

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

I agree with everyone, lots of pros, from already being in baby mode to having a built in playmate.

Same cons as mentioned, being exhausted and if you need daycare it's very expensive.

This really isn't a pro or a con, but now that they are older (3 years & 21 months) they are pretty much the same size so I sometimes don't think about the age gap and just expect my son to behave the way my daughter does, which isn't fair, he's just being a 2 year old.

And if I'm cooking and I hear bickering I tend to immediately scold the older one assuming that she did something to upset him. I don't always remember that about half the time it's him taking things from her.

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Posted by Mrs. Patticakes

Posted by alexlynn7

for those of you who have 2 under 2, what have been the good and the bad aspects?

and for those of you who planned for 2 under 2, what were your reasons for planning it that way? did it work out as you expected?

THANKS!!!!!!

Something you want to share?

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Great thread! I am considering trying for 2 under 2. Not sure if DH is on board, but he wants 4 kids. Does he expect me to do the "baby" stage over a period of a decade?

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Ahh, I see...it sounds like you are considering the 15-18 month apart thing? I think it sounds good!

Re: can we discuss the pros and cons of 2 under 2?

Posted by Mrs. Patticakes

Ahh, I see...it sounds like you are considering the 15-18 month apart thing? I think it sounds good!