You will be fine - babies close together are great company for each other.  I had three babies in three years and four in six years.  Organisation is really important and you just drop the things that really aren't important - you will learn what they are really quickly!!  I remember ringing my mother and asking her if I was mad and wondering how I would cope and she told me about her sister in law who had a 3 year old, and 18 month old and then brought home twins.... It was back when families didn't have such high expectations in lifestyle and her husband was home infrequently as he was with the armed forces.  Everytime he came home she became pregnant!!  She was alone, no electricity, no washing machine, no dryer, and a wood stove. Everything for the babies was made by hand and washed in a copper on the stove - that she chopped wood for - all food was home grown and prepared - after she told me about that I thanked God for my warm gas heated home, my electric washing machine and dryer and a supportive and nightly at home husband.  Remember that even though they are close in age your little one will be a little older and so able to do a little more and wait a little while for your attention.  There is nothing wrong with your first child learning to wait a little for attention sometimes and being first in line at other times because that is the way life is and it is a life lesson that even a small child can cope with.  Lots of mothers have done this - I know of mothers who have gone to their 6 week ante natal check up and found they were pregnant - and have coped.  You will be fine!

My girls have nearly exactly the same age gap!  It was a bit hard in the beginning, but my eldest was still having a nap during the day which made it easier.  And an 18 month old doesn't run around nearly as much as an older child does so that makes it easier too.

Now they're 4 and a half and 3 and are really good friends.  They're not too far apart developmentally so they can enjoy the same games and toys. 

The only real challenges I found was that my youngest outgrew her bassinette before her elder sister was really ready to leave the cot - and we didn't want to buy a second cot. But we just bit the bullet and moved her and she adjusted.  The other thing is that our youngest gets her sister's hand-me-downs, but as her sister only outgrew them the year before, they both complain that they're my eldest's clothes.  They're getting better though!

I think you'll find its a blessing rather than not.  Good luck with everything!

HI! First of all, Congratulations! That is very exciting news. My sons are exactly 18 months apart (my youngest is now 5 months.)  It is diffucult at first, but then things start to come together. It helped that my first son was on a good schedule and routine so when Maika (my younger) came, we made sure he stayed on his routines. Their naps didn't match up but eventually it got to the point where they were at least napping at the same time in the afternoon so that would give me a break.  The toughest part is nursing the baby while keeping my toddler busy. I try to plan ahead and get snacks, milk, and an activity ready for him so that when I need to nurse I can concentrate on the and my toddler will be happy and keep busy. I also would read books to my toddler while nursing Maika and that helped too.  Good luck and let me know if you have any questions. :)

Hi i have 10 children the first 5 are roughly 2yrs apart in age 18,16,14,12 then i have 6 under age of 7 and under. 7yr old and 6yr old are only 13mnths apart 6yr old and 5 yr old are 3 days of 12mnths apart so in fact they are both the same age for 3days this i did not expect. 5yr old and 4yr old are only 11mnths apart this was not planned but i coped as you will. then i have 4yr old and 3yr old whom are 15mths apart this was getting scary as was not intending to have that close in age. then last but not least there is 26mths between my 3 yr old and 13mth old.. i know it is scary and all the thoughts that are going through your head will i have time and enough love for both children?? how will i cope??will have time to spend one on one withmy daughter?? The answer to all these questions you are asking yourself as i di is YES you will be able to do all these things and be a wonderful loving mother to them both. I found that if i  allowed my children to be there not long after the birth they dealt with it alot better than if you go to hospital and come back with a strange baby.. Buy your daughter a doll with bath and doll nappies and allow her to participate in the baby things like nappy changing ask her to pass you certain things you may need when dealing with the baby like the nappy, or wipes etc... this way you and your daughter are still having that time together and you may find she may not get jealous of the baby being around. I myself did this and thank god none of my children got jealous and i had and still have time for each one individually during the day.. remember the baby will sleep and that will be time you can spend with your daughter. If you feel that you are not spending the time with her that yoou want then ask a friend or family member to look after the baby while you take your daughter out somewhere special even to the park.. Hope you find this helpfull regards and good luck

My older two were 16.5 months apart... I am sorry to say I didn't cope very well, basically because I hadn't planned it to be that way! I got pre and post natal depression. But that's just my story - I also got PND when the third/last one was born, and there's a nearly 3 year gap between her and her sister!

Now they are nearly 15 and 13.5 and vie constantly for top position in the household, but in a nice way. Tiring, yes but they are pretty well-rounded, happy kids and I wouldn't change it. Get your hands on the Michael Grose book (I think it's called "Why first borns want to rule the world, and why last borns want to change it" - I don't have it on hand as I lent it to a friend).

At first I found it difficult and soon switched from cloth to disposable (it was the environment or my sanity) and encouraged my son to be a little more independent so it could free me up for the new baby. They got on pretty well for many years, but I was not happy due to depression. I wish it could have been different and that I could have been alert and not lost in my own black cloud for that time because I feel like I missed out on alot.

I went to Tresillian (is it still around?!) in Sydney's west to help get my son into a routine. It helped alot when baby number 2 turned up.

Take time out for yourself and try not to do what I did (when people asked me how I was coping with two so close together I'd put a fake smile on my face and say it was wonderful, because it was better than me becoming a sobbing mess when I described the exhaustion). Be kind to yourself and appreciate that parenting may be over quicker for you than you expected :) GOOD LUCK.

First, congratulations on your little blessings.  And yes, it will be difficult and quite tiring, especially in the beginning.  You will learn to work out schedules and routines.

I have two sons 4-1/2 months apart in age...fast pregnancy, huh?...actually they are adopted.  But it still left me with a then 3-1/2 yo, and two babies, and all 3 with special behavioral and 2 with serious medical issues.  I slept no more than one hour at a time for an entire year.  I sometimes cried and stressed and thought I would just die.  The strength comes, for me from God and my love for my children.  You will find your strength.  Feel free to email me anytime.

Hugs.

congratulations!! i personally only have 2 children with a 3.5 year gap between.. my sister however has 4 boys ages 6 and below..6, 4, 22 months and 7 months.. life is certainly very hectic for her, but.. i would have to say she manages wonderfully..i sometimes look at her and wonderhow she does it when i seem to have trouble at times managing my 2 both of whom are at school! my advice  would be simply this.. dont sweat the small stuff... if the house is untidy.. don't stress over it.. it can always be cleaned up later.. etcetc... i think that you will handle it beautifully.. having them close together.. youre still kinda in baby mode ayway . Good Luck with it all!!! xoxo

You will manage beautifully,we are so great at multi tasking aren't we LOL and one of the brilliant things about our parental love is that it is limitless and can stretch but never overflow.CONGRATULATIONS keep us posted throughout your pregnancy mwah and hugs Merle

I have twins and it was hard ,, you might need help and even preparing things in advanced might be good but dosent always goes to plan ...it might be tough for awhile but as they get older it does get easyer .. if you can at times when the baby naps have your other one nap etc,, i know the older one wont be sleeping as much as the new born ,, but at some of the nap times it will give you a little time also to be able to do things for yourself ..

you will  work out what suits you all best it sort of all falls into place and routeen ,,

you will need maybe a friend support network  that can come over and help at times even do a load of washing and have a cup of tea and a chat ,,,,.. good luck with it all and congrads also

Some very good friends of mine are young parents who thought they couldn't cope.  Now they have 3 children aged 27 months, 13 months and 3 months.  Amazing since the mum is only 20 and the dad is only 22!  They learnt to cope with things, although the they cannot find time for things like their 27 month old is not starting to be toilet trained yet so they have 3 in nappies, they have 3 having bottles and they still give them all baby food to save time.  It's not a great situation to be in and I have tried to encourage them to make a big family meal and share it with the children, but that's their way of doing things.  Having said that though, the children are all very happy and healthy.  She doesn't get to leave the house much, but has set up a 'playgroup' type meeting at her house each week and can come to my house since it's baby-proof.  Mostly it's just easier for her to have people go to her place.  I think you need to work out things you can do to still stay in touch with the outside world having them that close together in age.  That's the one thing my friend keeps saying is the thing that saves her sanity, and she has planned it so well.  She also needs to ask a neighbour to watch the children, except the baby, while she goes out to do the groceries.  I think you'll find things that will work for your family.  As a baby present when she had the third one, her brother-in-law paid for their ironing to be done each week for 6 months to get her that bit more time too.  I think there are huge benefits to having them close in age.  The older 2 children are so close it's almost like she has twins and they are best friends already.  The key is to be organised though.  Do a meal planner and have their clothes set out for the week in advance that way you'll keep ahead.  I wish you all the best with the next stage of life

well congratulations first of all!  my firstborn (Olivia-Rose) was 1 on 31st Jan, and my second child will be born in around 4 weeks!  i feel exactly the same so will be watching with interest any advice you are given.  i am 27, work part time with children (out of hours childcare based at a local school), my partner doesnt work as he is on incapacity benefit so is the primary carer at the moment...  my partner has a 7 year old girl from a previous relationship who has issues about our little girl, and has already said that if i have a boy then she will push it back up there! (charming i thought)... not sure what i am having as on the scans the baby had it's legs crossed and would'nt move them...

anyway, i will write on here and let you know how i get on as soon as the baby is born.  maybe we could swap stories?!?!?

Good Luck x x x