When to have a 2nd??...What's it like to have a toddler and newborn??

[Trillian]

There is 20mths between my first three and I think it was the best gap to have and worked wonderfully for us for the same reasons Tanya and Julie have said. But in saying that, there is just over 3yrs between #3 and #4, and that also works great too as I had that break from babies kwim? Paige has been fully TT since she was 2.5yo and is a good helper most of the time LOL. She doesn't have a regular day sleep, but if I really needed her to sleep, she would, so from my perspective I have had a really good run with having a close gap and also a bigger gap.

[Deejoy17]

I have 15 months between my two boys, in the early days it was very full on and I had a few Mummy moments when I thought I`m just absolutely crazy, now the boys are 2.5 years and 15 months and get on beautifully, off course they still have argruments but this is going to continue for years and it wouldn`t matter if I had a 10 year break between children there will still be argruments.

Matthew loves helping out where Adrian is concerned and loves his little playmate, they will sit down together to read books, play with their cars, they love being outside and Matthew will ride around the place on his bike with Adrian in the little trailer conected to the bike, it`s beautiful to watch, oh I could go on and on, go for it you`ll love it.

Oh I still can have Mummy moments like the other night where I only got 2 hours sleep and the boys were very tired and cranky the next day (Adrian is a dreadful sleeper and I`m often very tired) but it`s all worth it.

Oh another thing I put Matthew into 2 year old kindy so I could have some one on one time with Adrian.

[Charlyfrog]

My girls are 2 years & 7 months apart and I don't think I'd have wanted the gap any bigger DD#1 is still having an arvy nap so even though she takes it when DD#2 is up, it allows for a moment of brain relax just having the baby to attend to for an hour or so. (occasionally I get 10mins to have a cuppa between putting bubby to bed and getting #1 up! ) The only thing I wish was different was that DD#1 (just turned 3) would catch onto the toilet training thing a bit quicker as two lots of nappies when DD#2 was a real new born was quite a bit hectic - bouncing from one poo to another Its so much more relaxed now all round but I did have a moment or two in the beginning when I thought what have I done?!?! But take into account the immense sleep debt and brain freeze that comes with having a new born who thinks straight anyways?!?! LOL!!

Up until very recently, I was adamant that we were so not having any more!! (even though when I first got married I wanted 4!!) But have found my brain (and heart) feeling all warm and mushy at the thought of adding number 3....BUT!! If that was to ever happen, DD#2 HAS TO be taking herself to the loo all on her own!