This blog post is all about the best and worst things about having 2 under 2!
The FIRST thing I want to say is 2 under 2 is not that scary!!
Hard? Yeah.
Draining? Ooooooh Yeah.
Worth it? SOOOO WORTH IT!!
And OOOOOOh soo fun!
Whether you’re planning on having 2 under 2 or you are already pregnant with a surprise 2 under 2 here are a few pros and cons to having 2 babies very close together! I promise you it will be worth it!
Somedays you will be questioning where the blessings are and why everyone decided to wake up on the wrong side of the bed and other days your heart will be so full you might start inquiring a 3 under 3!! đ
2 Under 2 Pros and Cons
2 Under 2 Pros:
The Divison of Attention
The division of attention has pros and Cons. The pros are that while you have to divide the attention between both, when you are able to step back and experience them entertaining, making each other giggle, or being silly by Godâs grace, you can provide them with something you canât.
Possibility of Skipping Out on the Jealousy Phase
Skipping out on the jealousy phase depends on how close you have your babies. In my experience, having babies barely 14 months apart, my toddler didnât really know what was going on. She paid some attention to her little sister, but then she would go and explore an area of the house.
When the babies start bonding
When the babies start bonding, it is THE SWEETEST moment of life!! Especially when your toddler starts waiting for their sibling to wake up or doing silly things to get them to laugh. It fills your body with so much love and joy that you canât explain it!!Â
Your toddler will be a great help
Toddlers LOVE to help and mimic everything you do! You can ask them to bring you a diaper or get a toy for the baby; they will gladly help you! You might even catch your toddler âreadingâ to their sibling!
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Similar Stages of Development
Having your two under 2 means they are in the sameish stages of development, which is great!! This means you can go do an activity, and they will both be interested in it instead of having a large age gap that either bores your older kid or takes your baby to an environment that isnât baby-friendly!
2 Under 2 Cons:
The Divison of Attention
The division of attention is both a Pro & Con. On the con side, it always feels like youâre not paying enough attention to either your toddler or baby and sometimes both. There are nights when I go to bed and feel like I couldâve done better. The dishes couldâve waited, or I couldâve just enjoyed sitting with them for a little longer.
You’ll Be Referring For a Little or From now on…
This is the hardest part, but it will be part of life from now on, lol. Showing or telling your toddler âgentle handsâ with your brand-new LO can be draining!!
Can’t leave the baby alone
I know what youâre thinking. Well, no, duh!!
Hear me out; itâs not like youâll leave your baby for hours on end. But there will be a time when you need to run to the restroom or make breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and you want to put your new little one on the swing. Well, it might not be the safest place.Â
Not because the swing is unsafe but because your toddler might yank your LO or âtry to playâ with LO by throwing them toys or giving them unsafe toys!!
Toddler May Regress
Your toddler MAY regress in her sleep or potty training. I have yet to meet a mom whose toddler did not regress in one or the other. For me, during the first few weeks (2-3 weeks), my toddlerâs sleep regressed. She was sleeping through the night 80% of the time, and we could lay her down in her bed, and she would put herself to sleep. When we brought LO home, she wanted me (not Dad) to lay with her until she fell asleep, and she also would wake up multiple times a night.
Eventually, since I was solo parenting through the days and nights, I ended up just putting her in our bed and calling it a night. As time passed and we got into a routine again, we could lay her down, and she would go to sleep.
No Downtime
Unless you really try to line up one nap, you will have no downtime or what many moms call âmeâ time. Either your toddler or your Little one will be up. On rare occasions, their naps might align, and it is incredible! When this happens, just lay down or take time for yourself seriously! Donât clean; relax!!
Sleep Deprivation
Your sleep tank will be less than empty if your toddler is one to get up at night. Sleep deprivation makes it so hard to parent, especially when you also have a baby to tend to. Sometimes, they are both up simultaneously, which is a stressful situation. On other days, itâs either one or the other!
Weâve experienced both, but there are some nights when they sleep so well, and it is LIFE GIVING!! The nights where they sleep well might be the nights you canât fall asleep. You canât win any, hahaha, at least in my experience.
2 Under 2 is it worth it?
So, is 2 under 2 worth it? YES!!!
I donât think there is a âperfectâ age gap!
You will figure it out! You are the Mama your little ones need, equipped with love, grace, and resilience to navigate this season.
There will be trying seasons, but they will soon pass. Sometimes, it takes a little longer than soon, haha, but you will feel the blessings God has bestowed on you every evening!Â
So take a deep breath, lean on God, and ask for his holy spirit to guide you through your unique journey!Â
Youâve got this, Mama!!Â
