Moms of 2 or more...

If you don't mind me asking, what is the age difference between your children and what are the pros and cons to that age difference? I'm trying to figure out when we should start trying for DC #2. I'm scaring DH because I've been ready for another baby for the past month and DS will be 1 in September. Am I crazy?? Any advice would be appreciated!

Re: Moms of 2 or more...

DS is exactly 3 years older than DD.

Pros:
-DS was just about out of diapers when DD started hers.
-They are close enough that they can play together.
-Far enough apart that DD can get a lot of hand-me-downs from DS (infant carrier, high chair, swing, clothes, toys, etc)

Cons:
-2 College tuitions at the same time...
-DS is still bigger than DD, and he forgets that, so sometimes he plays a little rough.
-Next year, they will start doing different activities at different times and different places (karate, dance, soccer, etc)
-Just when you start getting full nights of sleep with no interruptions, it starts all over again....

Re: Moms of 2 or more...

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

Pros: Easier to entertain, diaper changes, they are both into the same toys and play very well together, less jealousy, and what I like most is that they will go to the same school and ride the same bus together.

Cons: Exhaustion

Re: Moms of 2 or more...

Well, I had 2 from the start, so I don't know anything but craziness, so maybe I am not the best person to ask...

We went for #3 because we want our kids close in age, we want them all to be in diapers around the same time so we're kind of in the swing of it, we want to have all of our kids by a certain age so we don't have to keep going back to the baby stage (although I'm sure I'll miss it and end up pregnant at 40 ) - and we want to be able to start traveling again, etc.

The only "con" we had and will feel is the $$$ aspect. If we had Angelina and Brad's bank account, I'd love to go head-to-head with them on babies!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Re: Moms of 2 or more...

DD & DS are 17.5 months apart
DS and DD #2 will be about 15 months apart
2 yrs & 8 mths between all 3

Pros: diapers, the whole "baby phase" getting over and done with pretty much at once, toys entertain both of them, food--they eat the same things most of the time, IF & WHEN they nap at the same time is nice, won't have to store baby equipment for long periods of time, once the younger one started to "socialize" and now that he's mobile--they entertain each other (which in my opinion has got to be THE GREATEST thing to watch), the sleepless nights will end and never be returned to, at some point we will be able to go out to eat with all 3 kids

CONS: sleepless nights for a long, extended time, sipling rivalry for parents attention at times, UTTER exhaustion at times

Re: Moms of 2 or more...

My boys are 20 months apart.

PROs:
- I'll be done having kids sooner
- They will grow up together
- Was still dealing with diapers and baby stuff, so it was easy to manage a 2nd
- I love seeing them together the few times they play nicely
- They are hilarious sometimes and fun around this age (3yr and 16 months)

CONs:
- I am exhausted
- They fight all the time for the same toys even if there are two of the same
- Did I mentioned I'm exhausted?

Re: Moms of 2 or more...

My boys are 20 months apart, and there is 27 months between DS#2 and DD.

Pros:
My boys are BEST friends. They play so well together. They are 3 and 4 (almost 5) right now, and just have a BLAST together. When #2 was born, #1 was still in diapers, so it was not a big deal at all for me, because I was still in the "baby phase".

Pros to having DD just about 2 years later, now that she is almost a year old, she is interacting with her brothers so much. They LOVE her. I actually wish I had had her sooner. I wanted #2 and #3 to be closer in age (mother nature disagreed).

Cons:
My boys fight with each other.
I am going to have a "sudden" empty nest when they all grow up and move out right around the same time