You just manage! It's kind of like the decision to have your first child - if you waited til the "perfect" time, you might never have one! You just decide when you are going to go for it and hey look at that, it all works out!!!

Having a second is the same - you decide when you think is right for you and just go for it. It all works out!

I only have 16mths between my two (some say I'm crazy... ) and it is getting easier and harder as they get older. We put DD into a bed with a rail, like Heaven, and again we hardly use the change table so you don't need a second.

Naps - when DS was very little, he just slept where and when he could - in the pram, sling or at home when we were there!

It's actually getting harder as he gets a bit older wrt sleep - he's on two sleeps where DD is on one, so I don't often get a time when they are both asleep at the same time. Nice that I get some 1-1 time with each of them but gee I would like a break sometimes!!!!

To try and encourage them to sleep together, we do a lot of activities in the morning and he's starting to push through and then on lucky days like today they are both now asleep. Woo!

Shopping - I do online sometimes but the delivery fee annoys me, so other options are taking just one of them, leaving the other with DH... Or all four of us go and it's an expedition! Or I go when they are down for the night and dH is here, or I leave them with the ILs... Or on some occasions I go on my own with the two of them. I tend to only do small shops when I have both of them - I have DS sitting in the trolley seat and DD in the trolley itself. She will stand/sit happily for a while, then when she wants out or if I get sick of her standing on my groceries then she gets out and "helps". She is much better these days at staying with me and not running off.

On the plus side - they are such gorgeous friends, DS is walking now and he's constantly walking to her and throwing his arms around her. She can make him laugh with the utmost ease... And they love being in the car together so I imagine we will be able to keep DS rear-facing for ages yet as he loves being able to see his big sister.

Good luck with your decision!