Hi - I really would ignore people. I had the same and continue to do so! I am due with my second on Xmas Day (found out is a boy) and my daughter will be just 14 months old when he is born! I have had a really hard pregnancy but I am convinced having two close together will be a good thing (my husband is 14 months apart from his sister and she in turn is 14 months apart from his brother) Also my nephew and neice are 14 months apart. Yes it will be hard in the first year but its no different to having a newborn and a 2 year old who is more likely to have adjustment issues than a younger child. Your children will grow up togther, be very close I am sure and you will look back and go what was all the fuss! Good luck and enjoy. x

I've got an 18 month age gap and am delighted with it. Having 2 is hard and the juggling act frightening at times but that would be so at any stage you had the second. Soon my two will benefit so much from eachother, they wont ever know life without eachother and they can do sport, play and be great company to eachother. Also the benefit of having a toddler at home with a new born is that you have no stress of school runs or added issues with older childrens homework to tackle while feeding! Finally my toddler was getting very demanding and head strong and I was giving into her and giving her too much attention - now with the second baby she has had to learn to be a bit more tolerant and patient which was important for her to learn. x

My sister has an 18 month age gap between her 2 girls. She found the first few months difficult because as a previous poster mentioned she couldn't just have a lie down when the baby was sleeping as there was the toddler to chase after! She was exhausted! But the youngest is now 6 months so there's lots of interaction and giggling between the 2 girls which is lovely to see. They're obviously going to be very close. I think no matter what the age gap having a 2nd baby is always going to be a little difficult until you get into the swing of things and get a routine going because you're time has only been taken up by the one child and now it's a case of dividing it between the 2! People can be so judgemental, just turn a blind eye to it all. Good luck and congratulations on the pregnancy!

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I have 16 months between my first two girls and echo what lots of people have said above. Although it's hard going in the early days (but having two children is harder going than having just one whatever the gap) you will soon reap the rewards. My girls have kept each other entertained from a very young age and are a real self sufficient little unit. They've never known life without each other and are incredibly close and affectionate with one another. You will soon see the benefits of having such a small gap so close your ears to the negative comments and just be excited!

Best of luck.

I thought an 18 mth age gap was the norm till i read u had some funny comments. Alot of my friends, colleagues, bosses had 18mth ish gaos between children . If you plan on having more than one its probably essential it is this way . Although it is quite hard work 2 under 2's but as they grow it will be lovely they can really play and share without too much variation in what you provide them due to one being too young to do the same thing the other enjoys etc .

Congratulations

Same as previous posters, it is nobody else business...
I have 19 months between my 2 girls, yes the first year is hard especially with no help BUT they love being with each other. Now that my youngest is 15 months they play together much more and I can see the time they spent entertaining each other increases everyday. No quite hours yet but we'll get there eventually

Anyway, your oldest will never remember having ever been on his own and your youngest would have never known otherwise. They will always have each other to play with, fight with and gang up "against" the parents. I think it is great!

Enjoy and dont forget, having a sense of humor is absolutely necessary

A friend of a friend had 1, then 18 months No. 2, then 18 months triplets, and I believe all boys!

I don't think it matters what age gap you have between your children, they are yours at the end of the day, and I am sure that they will be loved just as much no matter what age gap is between them.

My 2 are 15months apart... unplanned... but it is a blessing. The first year was hard but to be honest, I think the adjustment from 1 to 2 children is hard no matter the age gap. And the first year for any baby is a bit harder because of sleep deprivation (I think anyway).

My two are now pre-school age and play together and can entertain themselves for hours. Of course they fight too, but it is all part of having a siblings...

Enjoy your pregnancy.

My two kids are 17 months apart. I LOVE the fact that they are so close. Personally I think that with your second kid the first few months are a little bit tougher anyway so the age gap does not really make much of a difference (with your first baby you can have a little rest every time they sleep ... with number 2 you are too busy running after number 1 to sleep !!!). I would not worry about what other people say - you will have two gorgeous kiddies at the end of it.

I was at home for 13 months on my second maternity leave and it was one of the happiest time of my life - I would do it all over again if I could !!!

HM x

Quite, it's nobody else's business.

There are 20 months between my two. We had a son, and when pregnant with second we found out the sex so we could explain to Number1. It also helped with deciding whether or not to keep the boy stuff we'd been saving.

We do have two boys, and yep, it's hard work, but probably no more so than two girls or one of each.

Lots of people say, 'ooh, you're brave' or 'must be hard work'. I just smile and say 'yep'.

No, not at all! I have a friend whose little boys are only 14 months apart. But if the baby no. 2 is planned, don't let other people's comments or looks bother you. It's nobody's business....

I have an 11 month old boy and am pregnant with number 2 ... there will be an 18 month age gap. The baby was definitely planned but the amount of comments and looks I get is worrying! Am I mad?!!! At my scan the receptionist laughed when I said what the age gap would be and wished me good luck!!!

We're definitely going to find out what we're having this time ... if it's another boy I'm going to have to try to get in as much rest as I can before the baby arrives, as knowing my little boy who is manic, 2 little boys will be exhausting!