Anyone had a 2 1/2 year old & a newborn?

What is that age gap like? I have heard that it is the "worst" in terms of tantrums and general behaviour of the toddler. What are your experiences? Would you recommend or suggest waiting??

Thanks EsmesMum. I have heard 2 is okay, and 3 is okay (but like you said pros and cons) but 2 1/2 is the hardest because they are in between stages?

That was me exactly, almost down to the day.

They have got on beautifully - DD1 is loving, caring and helpful with her little sister and they delight in eachother :)

(we do however have very well behaved children generally, right from birth)

My daughter was 2 years 4 months when I had my second and she was fine. She never really got jealous or anything and was very patient and careful with the baby. I think it really depends on the child.

I wrote that just after getting back from taking the two kids out to do some errands and Oliver spent the entire time having one enormous tantrum so that probably wasn't very fair of me to write that lol
Oliver does constantly have tantrums and trash his room like there is no tomorrow but I have become very good at paying him no attention when he is like that and he seems to be getting a bit better. He is very loving towards Emmett I must add. He just adores Emmett and same goes for Emmett towards Oliver. They have their moments but everyday without fail they will both do something that reinforces how much I love them and I instantly forget how horrible Oliver has been or how much Emmett has screamed and how little he has slept...

DD1 was 2 years 7 months. She has taken to it much better than i expected.

We got DD1 a new doll and gaveit to her for her first hospital visit to see me and DD2. She copied everything i did for DD1 with this new doll e.g. feeding/bathing/dressing.

The only real change was a positive one for us - DD1 was never very cuddly but now she sees DD2 having lots of cuddles with me and DH she always want to cuddle up and sit on our laps.

She does get bouts of jealously occasionally - if DD2 is having a bit of a melt down you can almost guarantee that DD1 will have some mini crisis that demands attention!

Jude turned two last month and far out I am glad I had Willem 7 months ago and don't have a newborn right now!

Seriously, is there a switch that flicks when they turn two? Jude just seems to have so much more energy at the moment. Lol. And by energy I mean tantrums and being naughty.

But they are still good (and I'm glad that Jude still has a nap during the day - sometimes I even manage to coordinate the two! How crazy is that!). Jude still loves his little brother, and still listens to me (.....eventually) and he is also much happier being entertained by the TV and iPod these days which he would have a bar of 7 months ago (I know, I know, bad parenting right [;p]). So I imagine having another baby right now or in a few months time wouldn't be too bad and would have it's pro's (like being a little more independent) as well as cons.

Funny that you have heard that 18months is the worst gap JessDub. There was 17months between J and W and I love it. Different people, different babies, different experiences I guess.

Edited by Delli

DS has just turned 3 but was 2yrs 7mths when DD was born. DD suffered from reflux so was very high maintenance for the first 8 weeks. Hubby had to go back to work after 2 weeks. He is a baker and works evenings (2pm-midnight). DS handled having a new baby in the house amazingly well! Although some of his usual routines were a bit more rushed than usual, he adjusted to the extra person without too much fuss. He did make a couple of comments about sending his sister to Nan nans house but he loves her to pieces and she hangs on every bit of attention he gives.
Now that DD is older and into a routine DS now gets his one on one bath,story and bed time back. My mum always reminds me that he is still so little himself. It's easy to expect so much from them when you know they can understand you. My advise would be - be patient and calm. I love the age gap and wouldn't change it.

We have that age gap, DD1 was 2.5yrs when I had DD2. She was so excited to be getting a baby sister, but when bubs arrived and DD1 saw that a lot of my attention was taken away from her it caused a bit of jealousy. Now they are older it is so sweet to see how much they love each other and can play together. I also think it depends on the child because I have friends who have the same age gap and never had any problems.

We had a 2.5 year age gap and love it.
It works really well in our family. My two boys love each other so much.