My husband and I started dating as freshmen in high school. We were young and in love and although we may have been a little idealistic, we were convinced we’d marry one day and ride off into the sunset together. We married two years after graduation and eight months later the first set of double lines appeared on that little pink stick. We were surprised, anxious, and excited all in the same moment.
Having children was not a priority early in our marriage. In fact, we were content to wait at least five years before even considering adding children to our family. Even at that, we certainly didn’t want more than two little people running around our home. Fast forward a handful of years (throw in a reality check and a lot of maturing and some significant work on our hearts) and we’ll tell you, our high school selves would never believe where we are now.
Our two children limit has been doubled, in five years no less. We have a five year old, three year old, two year old, and six month old. We have been blessed with four children in five years. In the seven years we have been married, I have spent a total of 41 months pregnant. It’s pretty safe to say we have been in a season of babies and toddlers for quite some time now.
Running errands, taking trips, and going out for play dates is always an adventure with four young children in tow. The looks and comments we get from time to time are absolutely astounding. “Wow, you must be busy!” “Are you trying to be the Duggars?” “You do know what causes that, right?” “Are you going to have any more?” and “Aren’t you exhausted?” are just a few of the [sometimes inconsiderate] things people feel the need to ask while we’re out and about.
Yes, it is always busy. No we are not trying to be like the Duggars, although they are pretty great. Yes, we know what causes it. I don’t know if we’ll have more. And yes, of course I am exhausted from time to time. But that is not what this post is about.
Today I want to share some benefits of having babies back-to-back. Although it is a lot of work, there are some pretty fantastic things that come with having children close in age. So here goes:
The adjustment period after bringing home a new baby is short lived, your oldest after all is practically a baby themselves. I have found with each new child we’ve brought home, our “older” children welcome with joy and have very little negative behavior as they adjust. The “possessive older child” I’ve been warned about has never made an appearance in our home. Sure, our older children want to snuggle a little more but they have never acted out of jealousy over bringing home a new baby.
When one child potty trains, chances are pretty high the next in line will do it with them. Children tend to learn by example. When one toddler sees another learning a new task, they usually want a part of it. Our girls have been working together to learn proper bathroom skills which is fantastic for me. Two less children in diapers is always a win!
Hand-me-downs don’t go out of style as quickly with back-to-back children. Fashion is really null and void when it comes to babies. I mean, come on, they are pretty cute all on their own. But one perk to having children close in age is that they can share each other’s clothes and they’ll still be relatively fashionable.
When you have children close in age, you also get to move through the same seasons of life together. Baby food, diapers, potty-training, elementary school, high school, graduation, etc. all take place within the same short time span. I would prefer this much more than transitioning out of a stage only to be thrown back into it five years later.
Your children have built-in friends. While having multiple children close in age can be a lot of work at times, you never have to worry about someone being left out. No matter the pairing, our children always have someone to play with who is developmentally in the same boat. They are always entertained and are learning to work and play together.
Family trips can be more easily planned. Your toddler wants to go to the zoo but your tween wants to go to the amusement park? When you have children close in age, family trips can be catered to fit the age group. It’s easier to plan around a group of toddlers and young children than make one sit out or bore an older child.
When you have children close in age, you don’t have to become a pack rat. Once your babies are no longer babies, you can move out all the baby clothes and equipment.
Toys and gifts can be shared among siblings. I can’t tell you how many “family gifts” we have been able to purchase and share among our young children. Toys, games, puzzles, books, and even bedroom decor have been given as joint gifts. When your children are learning the same things and reaching milestones together, it is much easier to share these things.
For working moms out there, bunching babies can also allow for a shorter period outside of the work force. By having babies back to back, you are able to dive back into a career without having to take time off again in the future. For business-minded mamas, this can be helpful.
I won’t paint an unrealistic picture and say having multiple children back-to-back is a walk in the park. The infant and toddler stages are filled with sacrifice and constant guidance. Having a handful of toddlers requires a lot of energy and many days I feel as if I am a broken record, repeating myself over and over again. But the joys and blessings of watching your children experience life and learn together is something I sincerely cherish.
How far apart are your children? What do you enjoy most about having children close in age?
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Post contributed by Stephanie of Abundant Living
My babies are 8 years apart and 18 months apart. I was a single mom for a lot of years before I met and married my husband. We had our daughter very soon after getting married then we had our youngest son 18 months later. I never planned on having children at all so to have three is still so crazy to me. Their enormous age gap is difficult to navigate. People often think “Oh wow, it must be nice to have the help of the teenager!” Um, no. It’s not nice all the time. Not even most of the time. First of all, he’s a boy. He’s a SWEET boy, but he’s a boy. He does a good job playing with his siblings but he doesn’t always want to do it when I NEED him to do it, and he certainly doesn’t always do it with a happy heart. The two youngest have a love/hate relationship and I vacillate between being so proud of them for playing well and yelling at them to stop fighting and ripping each other’s hair out. Having kids is just hard all the way around, but I know they are all here for a reason. I physically shouldn’t have been able to have the second two, yet here they are, against all odds!
We have two children who are sixteen months apart {23 months and 7 months}. People were surprised when I was pregnant again when my son was 7 months old, but we wanted our children close in age, and we love it. It’s unlikely we will have any more, so we’re thankful to God that our two will be partners in crime in virtually all aspects of life {barring gender differences}. I’m definitely a fan even though it has it’s challenges.
The smallest age gap between any of my children is about 21 months. Some people might call me crazy, but sometimes I wish I could have my kids even closer in age (for some reason the Lord has spaced all of ours out to about every 2 years).
Our goal was to space our children about 2 years apart. God thought we could handle them 20 months apart.
Hi, just wanted to give you a shout out of encouragement to say you are right about the pros and it does get easier… I am a mom of seven ages 8 and under (no twins). We had our fifth child when our oldest was 4 1/2. The cycle of diapers, meals, correcting, cleaning and napping feels like it’s never going to end and then all of a sudden (i guess actually after a lot of blood, sweat, and tears:) you have 10 little hands helping wipe tables, switch laundry, doing dishes, sweeping, etc. You realize what a joy it is to have their helpful hands and smiling faces and how much quicker you can do chores so you can move on to more exciting adventures. Persevere! …and teach them to help when they are capable, it’s worth the effort.
We also had four kids in five years! They’re currently 5 yrs, 4 yrs, 2 yrs, and 1 yr; the biggest gap is 18 months. It wasn’t how we planned it either but we love it, even in the midst of the crazy :). God’s plans are definitely always better than ours!
Agree wholeheartedly! My first two are 27 months apart. I love their closeness, the built in friends, the fact they can do school together, there are so many benefits. However, my boy came along when the girls were 4 and 6, and hasn’t had that relationship with them. THey love him! But, his built in playmate isn’t there. Plus, we were thrown back into diapers, bottles, and all that. I wanted one between him and his sisters, or him a few years earlier but it didn’t pan out that way. It is still good! But, different 🙂
I have 5 kids all about 2 years apart and though it would always seem like I was just pregnant I was always able to get back in shape and am so thankful my kids are such great buddies. I always tell people, yes my hands are full but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I would much rather my hands be full than empty! Thanks for the great reminder!!!
Love this!!! Especially the part about built-in playmates…so, so true! I have 5 children…anywhere between 18 months apart to 2 years apart. It’s most definitely been challenging at times, but so worth it! I don’t think I ever see any of my children w/o a playmate.
What I love most is that all my children appreciate babies, even my 10 yr old boy. I love that they’re learning from an early age to appreciate babies & children younger than themselves. Thanks for this! 🙂
My LO is 14 months and I can’t imagine having 2! lol Cudos to all you moms with multiples!!
If I had to do it over again, I would space my kids a little tighter. I started really young, so I just figured I had time to spread them out and enjoy each baby a little longer and make things less crazy, but now I have a highschooler, a baby and everything in between. It causes a craziness all its own! Visiting via Mom2Mom link-up.
Mine are all about 2 to 2 1/2 years apart… I would have loved them closer but I breastfeed and for the life of me never get my period back until they are over a year and a half!
Though having them close is nice I would NEVER sacrifice the heath of one child so I can selfishly have another.
Whaaaaa?? My dear, mine are 21 months apart and I still nurse them both, haven’t stopped. Just because someone’s body is ready to get pregnant doesn’t mean they’ve done something selfish. Also, choosing to stop nursing may or may not be selfish. You don’t know everyone’s situation.
Just because your period didn’t come back for some time, doesn’t mean everyone else’s body reacts the same. I’m pregnant with #3, got my period when both babies were 2-3 months old, and got pregnant a few months later, even though I was exclusively breastfeeding (and continued to do so for long afterward). There are 15 months between 1 & 2, and there will be 15 months between 2 & 3. I nursed 1 until she weaned herself right before 2 was born, and I’m still nursing 2. Breastfeeding does not equal birth control.
I came to your blog via pintrest to look at your HS room, which is no more I saw, I’m sorry. This post caught my eye, since I’m currently expecting our 4th child, 5yo and under. Its been a very tough pregnancy, so I’ve been basically on semi bed rest since last November. Then we started getting sick every single time we went to church starting the Sat before Christmas, ending with strep and flu the last week. Needless to say I’m always looking for encouraging articles, thanks for sharing. My favorite thing about having children close together (and all the same gender!) is how comparitively cheap it is due to hand me downs. We are still using #1’s baby stuff for #4.
Jamie – Congrats on baby #5! Is this baby the same gender as the first 4? I’m sorry to hear that this has been a rough pregnancy for you and that everyone has been dealing with sickness. It’s tough being sick when you are a mom and then add in pregnancy with bed rest no less. I’ll be praying that you all stay healthy and that the rest of your pregnancy goes well, resulting in a healthy mom and baby. I’m glad you found your way here and were encouraged by the post.
Nooooo breastfeeding is not at all like birth control! I got pregnant without even having a period when I was exclusively breastfeeding my 4month old. I continued to breastfeed throughout my pregnancy
My hubby and I don’t plan on having children anytime soon…What about giving your body time to recover? I feel like it would be harder to bounce back after having that many children so close in age. I’m guessing breastfeeding isn’t an option either? Breastfeeding is like being on birth control
Breastfeeding is not like birth control! I was nursing my 5 month old when I got pregnant with my second one. They are 13 1/2 months apart. I had 4 kids in 5 years took an almost 3 year break and had another 4 in 5 years and at 42 am expecting my 9th. I breastfed all of them for the first 6 montbs only because I don’t do teething. My body handled each pregnancy rather well and actually my current OB is amazed at how well I am doing this time also. My vote is that if you plan on having children space them about 20 months apart. That gives you enogh time to heal and nurse and still keeps the kids close enough to be good friends. Just my opinion but believe me I have ALOT of experience. Good luck andGod bless.
I have kids further spaced apart & also close in age. I have to say, while I wouldn’t change my two who are closer together (not that I could change their age gap, but YKWIM.. lol), I do find I personally prefer an age gap of 3+ years than 2 years by far. Maybe I am too tired from being in the trenches right now w/my two very young boys, but I find it MUCH easier to have them spaced further apart. I also totally agree that allowing one’s body time to recover between babies is far more ideal both for mama’s health but also for baby’s health.
I am firm in my belief that while it may be harder to find activities that older kids & babies may enjoy together, we take time to enjoy all kinds of activities for all ages… & it doesn’t hurt the older kiddos to engage w/the younger ones during activities geared toward younger kiddos as it helps them bond & they thoroughly enjoy looking at the world through the eyes of their younger siblings.
I also think gender definitely plays a role in closeness, even more than age when kids are younger. Parents definitely have a role in fostering a close relationship between siblings. Two of my kids are 8 years apart, yet best buddies.
An an adult, I am very close to all of my siblings even though there is a 9-14 year age span between them & me. In fact I am much closer to them all than they all are to one another, even though I am older & they are all VERY close in age (4 kids in 5 years).
Breastfeeding is ONLY a natural birth spacer when done correctly if that is the intent, as in, if you want to use BF to space your babies, you need to do some specific things to make it the most effective. 1. Nursing AS NEEDED, 24/7… meaning at any hour of the day/night, as needed, 2. Sleeping w/baby… the skin to skin is essential to suppress the hormones… no skin to skin & sharing sleep space w/baby is a huge no-no to space kiddos further apart, & 3. delayed solids… which is actually better to do anyway until BABY is ready for them (sitting upright UNASSISTED, doesn’t thrust the food out of his/her mouth, doesn’t gag & choke, and BABY is able to feed THEMSELVES… which means NOT using baby cereal & purees… give them tiny cubes of soft boiled foods like sweet potato, carrots, etc.) & helps reduce allergy issues, as well as obesity by skipping the baby cereals that are just carbs anyway.. plus any liquids/purees can promote weaning from the breast, especially for a baby who is having any nursing issues whether known or unknown (I never knew my children were all tongue & lip tied, until I have my youngest’s lip & tongue tie corrected by laser… I thought they all nursed “normally” because they all nursed very similarly… had I started w/baby purees & cereals, my babies may have prematurely weaned since nursing was harder for them).
Even if nursing on demand & sharing sleeping space, once solids are introduced, the baby spacing factor is greatly diminished because once baby is eating solids, he/she is nursing less. I find my babies tend to start solids around 8-10 months, and by 12 months they are usually having a “meal” or two per day with some snacks, depending upon the day’s events, sleeping, etc.. At that age they usually miss a “meal” because of napping, but again they get snacks and are also nursing, so they certainly don’t go hungry ;).
This is by no means a sure form of birth control- EVEN doing it the way you describe. Ask me how I know ?
I have 3 children- daughter is 13 mths older than her brother (less a day) and the youngest is 11 /12 mths younger than his brother. The boys are the same age for 10 days every year…one was born Jan 1, 2010 and the other the same year on Dec 21, 2010. So I had 3 babies in 25 mths.
I love that most of the programs I put them in, they are able to be together because the programs usually offer participants within 2-3 yr age groups. My kids are currently 6,5 and 4. 🙂
I have a 6 year old, 4 year old, 2.5 year old, and an 8 month old. When my youngest was born, my oldest was just a little over 5. They are all girls and we love our life! I am thrilled at the LONG life of friendship they will share. It’s a crazy life, but we feel so blessed! (We were only going to have 2, as well.) My body has been through so much in such a short amount of time, but the reward far outweighs the cost in this regard. Like you, my husband and I had been married for a very short time (6 months to the day!) when a surprise pregnancy started all the fun! It comes with its challenges, but staying organized makes life easier! Thanks for posting- I love finding others who can relate!
We have 5 (in 5 years, youngest are twins). They’re between the ages of 4-9 years old and while the baby toddler stage was really hard as they’re getting older its easier. I am loving that we dont have to hold onto things too long especially when it comes to clothes and homeschool text books. Plus they all love each other and play well together. It’s very sweet.
We are blessed with two boys who are only 14 month apart by age. My elder one was 5 month when i was pregnant with the little one. And yes both were planned pregnancy. We always wanted very little age gap for our kids. During my second pregnancy people thought i am mad, crazy woman. Now my boys are four and three years old and they are best friend. i’m not saying they are angel. they do fight a lot but gets upset when the other is sleeping. Raising them is very hard job. but i love it.
I had 3 kids in 21 months and while it was once insanely busy it’s much easier now. I’m so happy my kids are close in age. I got out of the baby stage fast and they are all into the same things. I wasn’t close to my siblings since we were far apart in age so I wanted my kids close together.
I agree with all of this. My kids are 6,5 and 3. I had three within three and a half years. It was chaos, crazy, too much, and wonderful when they were babies. Now that they are older I adore them so close. I have a girl and then two boys. They are a tight crew of littles. They play together, read together, draw together, and sometimes fight. They move through out the house as one unit. It is so nice that they all like the same TV shows, bedtime stories, movies, family activities. I don’t know what I would do if I had a older one. We will move through the phases as one group. I do not that this is a pot more possible being a SAHM. The cost of childcare for soany kids would be really expensive. The laundry, chaos and all of that would feel impossible if I was not home to get it done. I lovey close in age kids so much. Our family is fun, chaotic, loud, giggly, and wonderful!
I have a 7 1/2 year old and a 17 month old. Now pregnant with number 3. When number 3 is born, my 2nd will be 2. I wish I could have all my kids be close in age but my husband wanted the 2nd one five years from the first but I had a misscarge and then we got preg with the 2nd and we didn’t plan the 3rd it just happen wile I was on birth control pills. t is very hard to have kids so far from each other. You try to give both the same mont if time together but it is hard. B/c you need to spend a lot of time with the younger one, so the older one feels left out and not wanted at times. But the good thing is to have them so far from each other is that the older one can help you watch the younger one.
Stephanie,
I did almost exactly the same as you-4 kids in less than 5 years and then another 4 in less than 5 plus 3 years after that I am expecting number 9. I totally agree with you on all of the benefits except for the one about moving out of one stage all together, but then again I have an age range from 16 down to 3 plus a soon to be newborn.
One thing that I strongly agree with is all of the comments people feel they need to make when we are out in public. I have seen people counting our children and then comment about our insanity. My philosophy is if we don’t ask you to care for our children, if they are well behaved and not disruptive then you have nothing to say about it.
I have been married almost 19 years and I have been pregnant for 7 , of hem and nursing for another almost 5 years. I wouldn’t change a thing.When God blesses you with children, even 5 more than you and your spouse planned, they are still a blessing.
The average age between my kids is about 20 months. My easiest transitionage is about 18 months apart. Yes, it is hard work and lots of sacrifice but they all get along for the most part and always have someone to do things witb.
Back-to-back or years apart there is a benifit to either option. Which ever your preference or circumstance may be just find the good and go with It.
Children are a blessing no matter when they come along!
I love this so much. I just turned 35 last month. I have 9 ‘babies’. 5 girls (16, 13, 10, 5, and 2) and 4 boys (8, 6, 3, and 9 months). I have to pretty much agree with you on your whole post.
…and yes, we too know how this happens.
My daughter has 4 children back-to-back also, the youngest was born when the oldest was 4 1/2 years old. All 4 born by Caesarian section. I must admit I asked her then-husband if he was trying to kill her, as I was terrified that her uterus would rupture with so little recuperation time between them. There are 19 months, 17 months and 18 months between them. #2 and #4 are both diagnosed with severe autism, at which point their father left, looking for “someone who can give me normal children”. All now teenagers, they are ALL blessings to their mother’s life and mine. They are devoted siblings, and the 2 without “THE” diagnosis are amazing advocates for the others. Last year # 3 said ” I have been asking my mother for a new father for over 10 years, now I realise I already have one, and His Name is GOD.” I am so very proud of the wonderful mother my daughter has proven herself to be, and of the amazing individuals each of her children are becoming. Yes it’s been VERY hard work, but the long-term benefits are abundant.
Mary – thank you so much for sharing! I got chills when I read the part about #3 saying God was her Father!! Beautiful!! Keep up the good work (both you and your daughter)!
We have 4 children. The siblings range from 19-21m apart. They are 6, 4, 3, and 1. I was pregnant and/or nursing the entire first 7 years of our marriage. I appreciate your post-it’s an encouraging reminder and i found what your wrote to be our experience as well. I love how they are close enough to play together and enjoy watching the same things. There is a huge gap btwn my siblings and me, so I’m excited for my kids to have bonds and memeries with each other that I never had 🙂
Great post. There are many benefits. My 4 kids are between 16mo and a bit over 2years apart. 4 under 6 – so not so close as many have stated but I wanted to expand your list…. because the benefits still happen even as they grow older. They are all in the ‘same’ season of life therefore a great support to each other through the teen and young adult years. They know each other as teens and young adults before they leave home, which I hope will be the beginnings of friends through the adult years as well. I left home when my brother was still a kid and I missed being a part of his later teen years growing up. Be encouraged – that though there are tiring days that it is a joy to see your young family growing up together.
We also had four babies!! Three boys and a little girl!! (They are all little lol) ages 6,4,2,1 🙂
I loved this post! I have six kids ages 7, almost 6, 4.5, 3, 2, and 7 months (closest gap is 14 months, furthest gap is 18 months). I wouldn’t trade the craziness for anything! 🙂 We have been married for 8 years, so I have pretty much been either pregnant or nursing the whole time, too. 🙂
We are right on. I have a 5 yo, 3yo, 2yo and 5mo.
My husband and I have 3 boys aged 8,6, 4mo … The older two are about to be 9&7 & they are 25 months apart. I like their age difference but was thinking about having #’s 3&4 be even closer than my first two. My only sibling is my younger brother who is only 15 mo younger than myself. We were super close. We would need a bigger car & house though so really debating this decision. & there’s the risk of it being a 4th boy too…. Just kidding…2we would love it unconditionally no matter the sex. But I sure would love a little girlie!!!!
The women in my tribe are taught to carefully guard our pregnancies and always have a freshening period of 2-3 years. Our women are the backbone of our tribe and weakening their bodies with back to back pregnancy is seen as taboo. My children are 3 years apart and still remain the best of friends. Now that they are all adults, I have had time to reflect and see how others have done it. I still believe our way is best, but I enjoyed your article.
Such a timely post for me to read! We have also been married 7 years and I am getting ready to have #4 in 2ish weeks and my other kids are the same ages of yours 🙂
I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. My husband will be deploying this fall and I am homeschooling my oldest. It feels like a lot. It is so nice to hear a positive outlook on so many kids so close in age since not a whole lot of people take this route. I definitely didn’t envision it for myself. But God is in charge and God is good so here we are 🙂
Thank you for your post. It is encouraging for me to read this morning!
Our kids are definitely close together…we had our first 4 in 2.5 years. We now have 5 boys and that’s good for us! Our boys are age 7 (twins), 6, 5 and a 16 month old. It is fun, in that they all play together and always have someone to play with, but it’s also very hectic, as in getting homework done when they all need help, taking them out by myself, etc. It was CRAZY when we had #4 (the only one we didn’t plan) and had 4 kids in diapers.
My kids are 22 months apart with another on the way (26 months from the youngest). I love having babies close together in age and that they can play with one another and at times even share clothes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stripped my older daughter’s pants off (that she always wears with a dress/skirt) in an emergency situation when my younger son has had an accident. Sure, he might look silly with pink polka-dotted leggings for a few minutes, but it sure is a blessing 🙂
Just want to say thank you for this article. I’m a SAHM who’s 36 weeks with my 3rd child. My eldest is 2-1/2 and youngest 13 months. There are days when I feel like I am going to lose my mind. Thank you for helping me gain some perspective.
I’m a SAHM who’s 36 weeks with my 3rd child. My eldest is 2-1/2 and youngest 13 months. There are days when I feel like I am going to lose my mind. Thank you for helping me gain some perspective.
I think it is great you embrace your LO & are enjoying the benefits among the chaos ;). There are benefits to having babies close & benefits to having them further apart. I personally prefer further spacing, but wouldn’t change God’s timing as to when each of my gifts has arrived. For me, I think it is easier to recognize the benefits sooner of spacing babies further apart as life w/babies very close in age is more chaotic.. lol.
This is very inspiring. After hearing nothing but negative things from people, it was very nice to read this article. My husband and I have a five year old, a soon to be five year old, a two year old, a seven month old and just saw two pink lines last week. It is very tough most days but I feel so blessed and I can’t imagine my life without those sweet babies.
Congratulations on your newest blessing!!
It’s always encouraging to see like-minded mamas. Our oldest is 4 and we have an almost 3 year old and a 12 month old. I also just learned that I’m pregnant again! I never planned to have a lot of children…never gave it much thought. But when my husband and I got married (just 5 years ago), we both decided to leave the amount of kids in God’s hands. I was surprised by how quickly I got pregnant since my parents were married for 8 years before conceiving. Our children are all 18 months to 21 months apart from the next. It is definitely a challenge and we do get criticism (from family members even) and I often get comments too but I couldn’t ask for a more joyful and rewarding job. Thank you for highlighting some of the wonderful things about having children back-to-back.
Hi, I found your blog via Pinterest.
I am currently expecting baby #2. My first born is 1 year 9 months old now. I am due in March 2016. I have been somewhat depressed about being pregnant again as I didn’t want it to happen until my son was at least 3 years old. Reading this has made me feel a lot better.
God definitely knows just how much we are able to bear.
xx
My kids are 11 months apart. At the moment they are freshly a big one and two year old. I love that they are already best friends and they share everything! We didn’t get so lucky as to share clothes because we have a boy and girl, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!!
It’s so fun to read about moms with similar families! =) I’m pregnant for my fourth, and currently have a 4 year old, 3 year old & 1 year old…I’m actually kind of dreading telling people because of all the negative comments I know I’ll get. :p But we’re excited…even though it is/will continue to be crazy. =) God has a way of using the crazy to teach us more about Himself. Thanks for your post.
I have a 7 month old son and am 12 weeks pregnant with #2. We love the back to back idea and will plan to keep going until we are done. Right now we want 5 🙂 Definitely nervous, it’s not going to be easy but the rewards will be so worth it!
I am a mother of 3. I have only been married 2 years in May, but with my husband for 8. My eldest is 7 and she’s a handful most days. My two youngest are little girl at 4 months and my son at 14 months. I get a lot of harshness about having my last two so close together. Many remarks in stores and outings of “am I done” as if I am harming others by having children. I work full time along with my husband we own our small but lovely home. I want more and would rather have another just as close as before, but at the same time I feel as if I would be ashamed of having another so close. Why is it that people have to shame women for having multiples in this day and age – I call it “baby shaming” honestly. My doctor’s have never said anything to me about having them so close since both were healthy natural pregnancies, except my youngest who just couldn’t wait and had to come three weeks early. I have always wanted a large family coming from a single parent single child home. I have attempted breast feeding with both my youngest and have failed from lack of producing which lead to formula feeding – which they are both robust and healthy, and I also do not believe in contraceptives. Reading this article and seeing others respond made me feel confident that my children are not a so called “issue” or that I am not a “baby making machine” and that there are other women out there with multiple children loving every minute as I am. Thank you!
My babies are 12 months and 4 days apart. I wouldn’t change it for the world!!!
our oldest 2 are 14 months apart Our furthest apart are 2 years and 7 months due to 2 miscarriages in between. Most of ours average 24 months apart. We are expecting number 11 next month and our oldest is twenty. I have been preganant and or nursing for all but about 6 months of our 21 year marriage. We are so blessed! All of our children cheer when they find out we are expecting again. It is very busy, but very fun at our house ❤
Oh wow! I just loved reading this! All of ours are about 2 years apart too; we just had #8 and between 7 and 8 is our biggest age gap of almost 4 years. My oldest is 14 and I love seeing how all the kids are so in love with the new baby.
We leave our spacing and number of children up to God. 🙂 In His infinite wisdom he has blesses us with 6 wonderful children so far! Our kiddos are 27 months apart, 24 months apart, 25 month apart, 15 months apart, and 12 months apart. Our oldest is 9 and our current baby is 10 months. We are very blessed with close relationships amongst our kiddos. All are received as blessings and we can’t wait to see what God has in store for our family. 🙂
Beautiful! We’ve pretty much done the same. The only one we ‘tried’ for was #2; the other ones just ‘happened.’ And they are all roughly two years apart except for our last one which is 3.5 years younger than her brother.