Moms of 2 or more...

Was it more of an adjustment going from 0 to 1 kid, 1 kid to 2 kids, or 2 kids to 3/4/etc?

Why?

Pregnant with my second and just curious. Part of me feels like this will be a bigger adjustment then going from 0 to 1.

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i cant speak from personal experience (am pregnant with #2)...but i have been told 0-1 is huge and then 2-3 is big...but 1-2 is like nothing.
i hope that is right bc im freaking out

Moms of 2 or more...

0 to 1 was MUCH harder than going from 1 to 2!

Re: Moms of 2 or more...

Posted by jams92

i cant speak from personal experience (am pregnant with #2)...but i have been told 0-1 is huge and then 2-3 is big...but 1-2 is like nothing.
i hope that is right bc im freaking out

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I think Im nervous because everyone keeps telling me since my DD was such a GOOD baby, this one is going to be the opposite. Nice to say hahah...and I just keep thinking of all the sleepless nights spent nursing a newborn all night, and then having to run after a toddler all day.

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Re: Moms of 2 or more...

My boys are 3.5 years apart. It was so much easier going from 1 to 2 than I expected. It helped having a slightly older child who understood that I needed to tend to the baby's needs first at times. My second was also a much easier baby than my first, but he's now a much more difficult toddler than my older one. Going from 0 to 1 was a much harder adjustment.

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i only have one but i heard the second is easier. but having a third is hardest.

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I only have 2 but going from 1-2 was a much harder adjustment than going from 0-1! For sure. It might also have to do with the fact that my DS (#2) is a handful! DD, on the otherhand, was a VERY good baby. If DS wasn't such an animal, maybe it wouldn't feel as hard as it does sometimes

But you make it work. And wine helps

Moms of 2 or more...

I have 3 but I went from 0-2 and then 2-3. That being said 2-3 was harder.

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I have three. To be honest, I thought 0-1 was the hardest, and 2-3 has been the easiest.

Maybe because I had #3 when DS was 7 and DD was 5. They are very self-sufficient and actually helpful with the baby. Also DS#3 is such a good baby!

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A lot easier going from 1 to 2 than 0 to 1.
So much that I've considered having a 3rd.

My DH is lucky that I'm not 6 years younger because I'd probably want 4 kids.

Having 2 kids isn't a walk in the park. It's a lot of work, and a lot of juggling their needs. But I think you adapt quicker and more easily the second time around.

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I only have 2 but for me going from 1 to 2 was much harder than from 0-1.
My DD was 2 and half when DS was born.
I thought DD was an easy baby but I will tell you that DS to my surprise was an even easier baby. That being said, the reason I think its harder from 1-2 is because when you just have 1, all your attn can go to that little one. With two, you really have to split your time and the little ones dont always understand that. It's heartwrenching when your little one wants to play with you and you want to play with them but you need to feed the baby. There isnt enough time in the day to give each child all the attention that you want to.

Keep in mind that this is also coming from a FTWM.

Moms of 2 or more...

I think, it's totally dependent on the baby. 0-1 was easy for me, 1-2 was hard!!!!

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I think there are factors that make each situation different. I feel 1 to 2 was different, not necessarily harder. DS was 5 1/2 when DD was born so I didn't have to "do" as much with him, he was (and still is) very independent. I wanted to have a 3rd, but after much discussion, we decided two is good for us. Other mitigating factors to make it different, with DS, I was able to stay home with him for 15 mos, with DD I was back to work 8 weeks later. Now we live 75 miles from DH's job, while when DS was born, we lived 10 miles from his job. DH is away from home more now than before. I am alone more with 2 than I was with 1.

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The newborn stage is imo much easier. You already know the deal. Two toddlers, for me, is very difficult. Just so much harder logistically- running into a store, etc.

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I went from 1 to 3 and that was definitely harder than going from 0-1. I think I'd feel the same if I did go from 1-2. The adjustment of splitting my time has been the biggest challenge by far!

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Re: Moms of 2 or more...

I was terrified going from 1 to 2 but it truly wasn't that bad. DD1 was two when her baby sis was born and VERY communicative so that helped. Now at 3.5 and 1.5 they are so much "easier" to deal with. I also didn't find going from 0 to 1 that bad. Tiring, yes! But not hard, per se.

Good luck!

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Re: Moms of 2 or more...

That is a tough question. I think 0-1 was a shock. It was hard to lose our freedom and DD was/is a difficult baby/toddler. 1-2 has it's own set of problems but we're already used to it "not being about us anymore". DS is about equally as difficult as DD.

I've had about 4 full nights of sleep since he was born 9 months ago but since DD was the same way I expected that. The annoying thing now is having no break during the day when I'm home with both of them since DD hasn't really napped since she turned 2 (she's 2 1/2 now). She's also in a stage where she climbs and gets into everything so I literally need eyes in the back of my head. Using the bathroom is always a risk, I never know what I'll come out to her doing.

I guess if I had to pick one I'd say 0-1 was slightly worse. They're just such different transitions it's hard to compare. I'm apparently insane and do still sorta want to try for #3 eventually. I wonder if that will be worse or if it won't make much of a difference since it's already nuts around here.

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Re: Moms of 2 or more...

Having one.........piece of cake.

Going from one to two..........SO much harder IMO.

It's hard to split yourself between the two, especially in the beginning. I feel like I never get a second to myself, one of them always needs something. When it was only my DD it was so easy but juggling two, I feel like it's much more work and so much more tiring. I'm going a mile a minute ALLLLL day long.

ETA - If it makes you feel better DD was very easy and everyone warned me that #2 was going to be a nightmare. That hasn't been my experience so far almost 8 months in. My DS has been very much like my DD so far.........easy baby too. Don't let people scare you.

Message edited 10/30/2013 4:43:10 PM.

Re: Moms of 2 or more...

0-1 was pretty smooth for us. Not really that hard, but DS1 was a GREAT baby and is overall and easy kid.

1-2 was painful! Having 2 for us is like having 4! But DS2 is a handful, has been since the womb. Didnt sleep well, is a picky eater, had reflux as a baby, is stubborn, constantly throwing tantrums.

We keep debating having #3 but DS2 keeps us leaning towards 2 and DONE.

Having said that I have a friend with 4 and she said 2-3 was her hardest but again because of personaility of the child!