3Rd Baby - Johnson,VT

My two are 18 months apart and it's great! They are 3 & 4 and best friends, they play together all the time and have so much fun. It makes me so happy to watch them together. They share a room together and love it, it works well because they're on the exact same sleeping schedule. Maybe when they're older they'll want separate rooms but right now they'd be devastated if I separated them.

First things first: Congrats on the news! Having a new baby in the house is always exciting news!

I have no advice on the breastfeeding, I only BF'ed each of mine for 6mos-1year and then was done with that!

What if it's another girl? Having 3 daughters would be just wicked cool! Don't get me wrong boys totally rock, IMO...I am a Mom/Auntie to 6 boys and 1 girl, so I am totally partial to boys... but the thought of 3 girls would be just so very sweet!!

Having my 3rd was THE best decision my husband and I ever made-------> right after having our 1st and then our 2nd (besides choosing each other of course) Ha! We had 2 boys and then a lil' girl and she completes our lil' family! Girls are just so amazing! We really are so much more superior in so many ways :)

All 3 of my kids are each 2 years apart and I think it's the perfect spacing. They are close enough to share the same interests and to go to school together (which I think is important, it's nice to have someone to show you the ropes and most importantly to have your back, especially in HS) and *generally* speaking being this close in age, I think they have a better chance of actually getting along and liking each other b/c they grow up playing together and are essentially each other's very first 'best friends'.

~But I might be biased, I only have 1 older sister and we are 2 years and 1 day apart and are very best friends, always have been, always will be! We had a few minor disagreements along the way, in HS b/c I always wanted to borrow her clothes...usually without asking... but other than that, we talk almost every day, we are less than 3 months away from being 38 & 36! Yikes! and have never gone a whole day being mad at each other...which I think is pretty darn cool!

The only thing I would be (slightly) worried about is if the 5 1/2 year old is going to feel like the odd man out? If you have a boy though I bet that won't be an issue at all?! So as cool as 3 daughter's would be, I ( once again, if I were you) I would be having my fingers crossed for a lil' boy! But as long as he/she is healthy that really is all that matters...it will all work out just as it is supposed to in the end, that is totally my motto anyway!

Just my .02 cents. Didn't mean to let my worrier side come out and spill all over your good news! Sorry sister! <3

I have two that are 23 months apart. They played together and have some mutual friends. They shared experiences in school and I liked that they had each other. They're now 15 and 17 and are very different people - ones an introvert and the other is completely the opposite. It was very busy when they were young, but very nice having each other to play with.
It did make my son grow-up a little faster b/c he wasn't the "baby" anymore. My daughter wanted to keep up with her brother so she advanced through many stages faster bc of it.
It'll work out, but be different. Be aware that your oldest may feel left out sometimes b/c of the ages with your youngest, but just be aware. Many of us have and are doing it and it will be great!

My oldest and middle are 22 months apart and my middle and youngest are 23 months apart. So just shy of two years for each. I am one of 5 and we are all the same. I will say I found it to be a little more difficult when they were younger, but now that they are almost 10, almost 8, and just turned 6, I'm loving it. They are good friends (most of the time), they go to the same school and see each other, and they have the same friends/interests.

I also nursed my first until she was 15 months old, I was several months along with #2 by that point. Listen to your body.

I have not personally experienced it but I had a friend who was still nursing when she gog pregnant with her second. She was forced to stop nursing because her milk soured. So you might want to do it sooner rather than later. Congrats by the way!!!

Please don't worry so much! I have three children, the first two are just over 2 years apart and the second and third are just under 2 years apart. They are all very close, especially the second and third (boy and girl) because they've been together practically every moment of their whole existence. Yes, it is chaos for the first few months, with a young toddler and a newborn, but get as organized as you can before the birth (make meals to freeze, organize baby clothes etc) but truly, wasn't it chaos when you only had one newborn? It doesn't last forever! I can honestly say I savored every single moment, even the difficult ones, because I knew how fast the time flies. We are now at 7, 5, and 3 and it is wonderful. The older ones take care of the little one, the little one worships the older ones, they all play together and while of course we still have chaotic moments, we have so many more just perfect precious moments. I was only planning on two, number three was a spur of the moment decision, but I have never thought even for a second that I would choose an easier life over what I have now. So don't worry, just prepare and enjoy. :)

My first two were 22 months apart and I nursed my daughter all through my pregnancy with my son. They both nursed for a year together after that. Although it was hard to have them so close they are now best buds. Adding #3 will be much easier than adding #2 (we are due with #3 in August). We moved our daughters toddler bed into our room and started getting her to sleep in that so we wouldn't have to bed share with a toddler and a baby. It will work out for you and your family!

I got pregnant with my second when my oldest was only 10 months old, so I was still nursing as well. I found that I was so sick by 3 months along that I just could not eat enough to feed all 3 of us. My son was down to 1 feeding a day by then and was completely fine being weaned. You can keep nursing as long as you and your 2nd need, but if it becomes too draining for you, you need to stop for the sake of the new baby. It may also cause a problem for #2 if she is still nursing when the new baby comes - it might help her transition if she can play more of a "big girl" role by helping you with the baby rather than competing with the baby for mom's milk or feeling like she was kicked off and the baby took her place.

My first 2 kids are 19 months apart and for the most part they are best buds. Now that they are 5 and almost 4, they do fight, but they don't know life without the other. My son was so young that he doesn't remember not having a sister. He did have to grow up faster and my daughter is a year ahead of most milestones because she thinks she is the same age as her brother, which isn't a bad thing.

My 2 girls are 2 1/2 years apart and I am just starting to see a glimmer of them playing together now that the youngest is 18 mo. Both of the older kids doted on her when she was an infant, but we are now in the stage where she wants to play with them, but accidentally knocks down their tower, etc. They still love teaching her new things and watching what she can do. Our almost 4 year old has had more resentment issues with the baby than we saw with the first 2 kids, but I think that within the next 6 months to a year they will all play well together. We are considering a 4th but my 18mo. old is such a mama's girl that I'm not sure how she would handle a baby.

Your best bet is to try to involve both girls with the new baby. Let the younger one bring diapers, etc. and the older one can help fix snacks or play with #2 while you are nursing or tending to the baby. Kids love to be mama's helper!