12 or 18 month gap- whats your opinion/thoughts?

[Jamaica]

DH and I have been told by our ob/gyn that due to a problem I have that if we want another child after this one we should do it asap as I need a procedure that can only be done once our family is complete but needs to be done sooner rather than later.
Our rough plan we were thinking was to just take it as it comes once this bub is born, use no protection and let it happen naturally. Thing is we conceived this one first month trying and Im wondering if maybe waiting a few more months would be better?
We really wouldnt want a gap bigger than 18 months and I realise 12 months must be mayhem but we want another one after this so it has to be done this way.
What is your experience/opinion?

[Laksa]

18 months - i'd want to make sure the older one would be walking!

[amandaw]

Can't comment personally on the age gap (mine is 21 months and it's great) but just wanted to say that if you're breastfeeding you may not have a decision to make (as such) as AF might not return for a while

One of the benefits I do know of an 18m gap (one of the mum's in our birth thread has the 12 month gap) is that the elder bub should definitely be walking by then, so is a lot more self sufficient with a newborn around. Both cases will still need lots of love and attention though (obviously)

I'd say see what happens naturally because you'll elarn to cope no matter what hand you're dealt

[joshnchloesmummy]

I have an 18 month gap between my two, i think it's great as i found there was no jealousy (too young to understand) my son was walking and i was able to distract him while i was feeding the baby by reading to him etc. Now my son is two and a half and my daughter is nearly 1 and they play together, keep each other company etc.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I have a 14mth age gap.

It is a lot sometimes.

But if it means your last child, I would go for it ASAP. :yes:

[Amused]

I have a 15 month gap with a very high maintenance firstborn. Some days are really hard and I'm tired a lot, but it is great. DS started walking a week after DD was born. He has and still does get jealous at times but she is bringing him along in lots of ways. Its great though. I would love a small gap with our next one but time is running out :laughing: Need to get a move on :D

[Jamaica]

I wont be breastfeeding so AF will probably be back in no time :(
Guess we'll just take it as it comes and see what happens.
Thanks

[OJandMe]

We'll have a 13 month gap. G is walking already.. so that's great. Honestly though, I had twins first time, and it really doesn't matter if the other one isn't walking yet.

They will still be crawling, pulling to standing and able to eat finger food.... so a HUGE difference to a little bub.... and that's at 12 months.

[mama2jandh]

We have a 17mth gap between our two.

Go for it!:yelclap:

[pinkgingham]

i have a 17 month age gap...i wanted a smaller age gap but didnt happen that way. but 17 month is close enough i think. but if you need to do it asap, then if i was you i would :D

[cheezelz]

18 months - i'd want to make sure the older one would be walking!


I have an exact 18 month gap between mine. DD1 can walk and express her feelings to me better than when she was 12months so I think that gap is better. It will be hard either way but Im told that in the long run having babies close together is a great idea.

[BlessedWithBlue]

I have a 16 month age gap between my first two boys, then exactly 2 years between my second son and my twins and then exactly 12 months between my twins and our newest member of the family. tbh i find the smaller age gaps easier.

defainately go for it!! sometimes it seems a bit overwhelming but it is awesome and my boys are all so close.

[Pixilocks]

Well seeing as this is my first, I don't know from a Mama's point of view which is better, but my brother and I are 18 months apart, and we are absolute best friends...

Everyone else I know with a small gap between them and their siblings all get along really really well....

I think this makes it a little easier on the parents especially as your kids get older because they can confide in each other things they wouldn't confide in their parents and you know they're always going to look out for each other!

(Just a bit of foresight from the kiddie's point of view!)

Makes me worried though because our little one was quite the surprise, we thought maybe at the end of next year we'd start trying as we're both so young... and I wanted to have at most an 18 month gap between bubs!!!! what are we going to do now!?!?!:p

[melbryan]

I will have a 15mth and 17 mth gap they have all been walking by the time the next came which makes it alot easier.

I reckon these 2 age gaps are pretty close but it's hectic but I know it will get easier, ask yourself how YOU will cope and then you know you'll be fine.