That’s what it feels like my body thinks is happening when taking care of 2u2 alone lol. Tell me this goes away. My cortisol levels have got to be at an all time high. During nap time I literally just lay horizontal and deep breathe to try to feel normal ☠️

Not complaining or anything, I find it so endearing and I want to know if anyone has experienced this phase.

Toddler (22m) wakes up an hour before baby sis (6m), little sis wakes up for a little bit. They’re both happy to see each other and hang out for an hour or two, baby prefers floor because it’s more fun because she gets to watch toddler play. Baby sis gets sleepy again and goes to nap. Toddler is bored again and wants to see baby. After playing and eating, toddler gets sleepy so it’s nap time. Toddler goes to nap and baby wakes up. Baby fussy because it’s lonely, it’s just her and me. Not settling at all when being held or put down on floor to play. At the end of her wake window, toddler wakes up and says hi to baby but it’s time for baby to sleep. Toddler bored again and wants more people around her. Finally 2 hours before bedtime baby wakes up and they play maybe an hour before bedtime routine.

They love being around each other but their nap times are not overlapped at all and they keep missing each other. They spent maybe a total of 2-3 hours together and that’s when it’s the most calm for both of them.

Again I find this more endearing than annoying so I don’t mind it too much, just feel bad for them because they want to see each other more. Has anyone else gone through this??

I will be having a baby in August. My son will then be 23 months old. I think a double stroller would be a good thing BUT I’m not sure what’s best.. the kind where the baby is facing you and the toddler is facing outwards like a normal stroller OR when they’re both facing outwards. Anybody have experience with one and/or both and could help me decide which is best? I want to be able to see the baby but I also know they’ll only be that little for so long. Then I also think about how long my oldest will even need a stroller.

I live in Los Angeles and childcare could be up to $5k a month for baby-care for two. Regardless of where you live, what has been the best saving grace or set up that makes the most sense for your family? My babies will be 14.5 months apart and my biggest stressor about the age gap is childcare I am comfortable with and the price of it. We currently do a nanny share with my 8 month old with a neighbor baby and it's so much more affordable than if we just had a nanny alone - it's the perfect setup and I'm so devastated that we likely won't be able to add a newborn to the mix when I go back to work at 4-5 months. Any advice from working or stay at home moms is helpful, added plus if it's in an expensive city with a creative solution - I don't know how I'll make these next few years work at these prices :(

Anyone else feel like the haze/fog of postpartum PLUS coming home with a tiny worm of a human robbed you of some of the last baby months with your older half of the 2u2? I have my phone on the rotating wallpaper of my kids/husband/cats lol and I’m getting pics from when my second was NB~3mos and my oldest was like 15-18mos and at the time she felt soooo big and I was so overwhelmed and idk I just felt like she was a giant ass toddler. But now she’s approaching 2years old and I’m not in the thick of it as much with the little one and I’m seeing these pics and I feel like I completely missed those months with her. I was with her but I didn’t SEE her and I’m so sad about it 😭 she was just a tiny baby and I made her grow up so fast

Been out with the stroller a few times now, 2yo forward facing and new born up top rear facing. Like everything about it so far, not here for you to sell me on another system or to tell me I’m doing it wrong.
I’m looking for a snack try for the forward facing 2yo. The one pictured works but all he wants to do is unscrew the holder and if you flip the holder around it’s at an obscure angle.
Let me know if you’ve found something that works

Hi! As the title suggests.. I am pregnant again. My babies will be 11 months apart. I don't really know what I'm looking for or if this is the right place to post this. I just wanted to talk to someone who had close age gap children and listen to some stories.

I am very lucky I have a doting husband, we both adore our little girl, and his family are very excited for him to finally have children. My family love our little girl, but were always cautious about me being pregnant and asked me to ab*rt originally. I'm really dreading telling them again, but would love to hear some advice & experience. Both positive and negative.

Thank you

EDIT: Thank you SO much for the response. This sub really is lovely & the community here has already helped me and it's only been a day. I am feeling a bit better after reading your comments & I wish you & your little ones all the best. Parenthood is such a wild ride, but it has been so beautiful already!

Kind of at a loss for what could be keeping my 7 month old up at night.

Because of where we are renting, our 2u2 share a room. They nap perfectly together during the day and have even slept full nights together without waking each other. The younger one outgrew the bassinet in our room and we decided it was time for the crib, and I would sleep better if I wasn’t nursing all night. Also had almost fully daytime weaned baby until recently it seems like a regression and lots of biting while nursing. Now, he’s up 3x a night just screaming, won’t take a bottle at daycare or home, and really to me his screaming sounds like overtired or maybe pain. He was a really decent sleeper until now. For context, my older one didn’t sleep through the night until like 14 months old, when I had just given birth the second time.

I’m not sure if it’s teething, tummy aches from formula now that he was almost weaned, or something else I’m missing. Tried gas drops and Tylenol but he still screams like he’s uncomfortable. Thinking about buying a new formula. I was even okay to let him safely sleep with me if it would calm him down but he doesn’t want that either. My partner and I take turns so we’re not totally sleep deprived. What am I missing? Or it is just baby being baby?

We have 20 month age gap with 3 year old and 16 month old two toddlers have been more difficult than baby and toddler. 3 year old is full on “Threenager” phase and 16 month old’s favorite word is “na” or no. Food pickiness has started for 16 month old and literally everything is a battle with 3 year old.

I’m trying to study for interviews but it seems impossible. When does it get better?

I have two amazing girls that are 17 months apart. I thankfully had a great first 6 weeks with them together postpartum but since then everything has fallen apart. My five month old is teething, wakes up 3-4 times at night, won’t take more than a 30 minute nap and then inconsolably cries until. The toddler is throwing tantrums, won’t let me feed the baby despite trying to use screen time and toys. She’s getting defiant and frustrated. My patience that I once had is gone, I’ve screamed at my toddler twice today and scared the baby and I feel like a monster. My marriage is failing, my husband and I are both depressed and our dreams are crumbling before our eyes. I’m in counseling, we’re in counseling, I’m on SSRI, I work out for at least an hour and a half a day, i’m eating healthy, I have supportive friends and family nearby, we have fun stuff planned, and my husband and I are both dividing the sleep. Long before all of this I wanted a third kid but now I just want to be able to survive these two. Please tell me it gets better. I just need encouragement.

Im in the 3rd trimester (34 wks) fighting for my LIFE. This has been a great pregnancy as far as me &baby’s health and my toddler has been so kind about me slowing down & not being as active…..but WOW am I exhausted. I basically spent the DAY dozing off (toddler is safe. Cannot reach any doors/unsafe items & actually knows not to go after certain things already thank GOD) I just need this fatigue to improve …my God..!

For naps during the day.

I have a 6mo and a 2yo. 2yo constantly comes into the room while I’m trying to put the baby to sleep. Doesn’t matter if I put tv on for him, give him toys, give him food, he still wants to be with us in the room. If I let him in the room, he just shouts and stomps around - he won’t sit still or be quiet. And if I shut him outside of the room, he’ll repeatedly kick and slam into the door and scream, which naturally stops the baby from sleeping. It’s very frustrating!

My wife and I just had our second our first is exactly 13 months old the best ball of joy a bit dramatic but never dull 😂 what I’m wondering is how do you manage I know we’re planning on focusing on our oldest because he knows things he’s not a bump on a log like the new born but is there any advice? Also I have eight weeks of paternity leave (I’m dad) my wife is sahm any advice for these eight weeks of what I should focus on?

I’m feeling stressed and it’s manifesting as irritation toward my wife, kid, and coworkers.

Husband lightly slapped our 1.5 year old..

So me (22 F) and my husband (27 M) are having 2 under 2..

So the night yesterday, he came from his activities I gave babies to him to handle them until I finish the kitchen work..

The lil one 6 month old started crying hysterical as she does like always only I can soothe her then so he tried to soothe her but didn't work and in all that scenario toddler also started to ask her dad for attention as he was busy in soothing the lil one so he didn't payed attention to her so I that case he hit her dad with phone (like thrown the phone at his face) so he slapped a lil on her face.. as per my thoughts it was due to heat of the moment cuz he loves her so much..

But I'm so guilty towards her, there can numerous factors to him being like this either he's frustrated in his work cuz he works hard and also lost some of his profits yesterday. So I'm making that excuse in my mind to satisfy myself..

I talked to him about that and he said I can't be like your father(all lovey dovey and caring) I can be my father(his father used to beat them on mistakes but love them also, it was his father parenting style). But I said, the generation changed we can't hit them now or beat them cuz she's is very lil now and we have to be friend with them, he said you would be their friend and I would be the strict parent to make them disciplined.. I told him that I still didn't got your point..

What should I do?? How should I cope up with it?? Cuz I don't wannna make himself a bad parent infront of our daughters..

Can you please suggest ways you work with your baby to stop the screaming. Please I am mentally struggling with hearing him scream all the time. It makes me beyond frustrated and way over stimulated. I can’t help but to respond with “stop screaming!!” Because gentle singing doesn’t work. I have to be louder than him to get him to stop but it doesn’t feel productive. It’s literally ear piercing screams and makes me want grind my teeth everytime I hear it.

Hey!

Just wondering what sort of transportation everyone used to move their young children around!

I've had a lot of "just wrap baby and put toddler in buggy" but I'm not sure exactly how feasible that is long term? And how easy that's going to be for getting in and out of the car.

I've also had some double buggy recommendations but I'm unsure what the best would be to go for, and what sizing is like? Alternatively a buggy board on the buggy? But I'm not sure my 21 month old (or at least he will be at the time) will play ball with that.

Is a wagon an option? Does anyone have any tried and true suggestions?

Having my 2nd baby in August. My god it’s June now and I am anticipating and thinking and anxious about this new beginning. Any advice, product suggestions, thoughts to share ? My son is 10 months old so he will be 1 year once my baby girl is born.

I’m not really sure what I’m looking for by posting this. Advice or words of encouragement? Someone telling me it gets better?

I’m 9 months into 2 under 2 (15 month age gap and my older child just turned 2). I guess that means I’ve graduated from 2 under 2 but it sure doesn’t feel like it. We have absolutely no village. None. We have siblings that live close by but they each have two little kids of their own. My husband and I both work full-time. Our schedules are often opposites and odd hours. We can only afford child care for the days we absolutely need it. I’m just feeling so burnt out and sad lately. The only person I have to “relieve” me is my husband and he is equally as burnt out as I am. I love my kids more than anything in this world but I feel like I can’t even enjoy them because I am just doing what I need to do to survive. That just makes me so sad that one day I’m going to think back to this time when my children were this young and just remembering it being a dark time. It’s also taken a huge toll on my marriage. I feel like I’m just staying afloat at this point..

Did any other parent go through a phase of feeling this way? Just looking for solidarity and any words of encouragement…

Husband went back to work today so it’s day 1 solo parenting my 2 week old and 15 month old. I’m already ashamed at how stressed I’ve been and impatient with my 15 month old.

Tried to baby wear so I could have my hands free and newborn can’t stop spitting up this morning.

I just don’t want my toddler to think I’m absent or not nice anymore. I’m sure it will get easier but I’m 3 hours in and kind of terrified.

I had an unplanned c section 2 weeks ago and honestly the absolute hardest part of this is not being about to pick up my 1.5 year old. I’m watching her changer her preference to dad over me in real time and this is the hardest part of postpartum for me right now.

I don’t know if this is the right place to post this, but I need to know if anyone else has felt this way.

I’m (33) currently pregnant with an unplanned second baby. My first is only 14 months old. We were using birth control, but it failed.

Ever since I found out, I’ve been struggling. Instead of feeling excited, I’ve been feeling depressed, overwhelmed, and terrified for 2under2. I already feel stretched thin with one baby, and the thought of starting over so soon makes me want to crawl out of my own skin.

The hardest part to admit is that I’ve caught myself wishing I would miscarry. Writing that makes me feel horrible. I feel guilty, ashamed, and like a terrible mother. I pray for forgiveness because I know how awful it sounds. I will love the baby when he/she comes, but right now I really hate being pregnant.

Abortion isn’t really accessible where I live, and my husband doesn’t want that option anyway. So I feel trapped between what is happening and what I wish wasn’t happening.

I just want to know: has anyone else experienced these feelings during an unplanned pregnancy? Did they get better? How did you cope with the guilt, fear, and resentment?

As the title says, I hate being left alone with our newborn who is four weeks old at this point. We have a 16 month old and I would much rather spend time with him and take care of his needs. The newborn phase has always been extremely difficult for me and I find myself getting really annoyed having to try to figure out and soothe him. While our toddler requires a bit more energy and is not going to sleep as much, he has a similar routine to us and interacts with us so it is far more enjoyable. I also find that I don’t feel as isolated with him than I do with a newborn where I feel like I have to sit inside all day just feeding him or attending to him sleeping. I’m just exhausted from the constant wake ups and I feel like it’s taken away from spending time with our eldest. It’s pretty brutal because I’d rather be with him anyway, but the newborn just requires so much so I feel more resentful than I typically would. I wish I didn’t feel like a shell of myself, tethered to a newborn, but here we are. Hoping there is some relief at some point (which, let’s be honest will probably be years away).