So, I know I’m far from the first person to lose interest in a pet once having kids. I even know a handful of people who, like me, express anywhere from mild annoyance to serious dislike of their pet during this stage in parenting…however, I do not personally know anyone who has taken the next step and rehomed a pet, and not due to dangerous behavior, but simply because the pet is annoying, a hassle, and unwanted once kids are in the picture.
My kids are 26 months and 6 months. Dog (hound/german shepherd/husky/pit mix) is 5 years old, my husband and I adopted him from an online rescue site when he was 6 months old, no meet and greet before we took him home- we found him online and as he was out of state, the rescue arranged a transport van to drop him off at a truck stop where we met and brought him home. He’s never been an easy dog: 75 lbs, high energy, and responded pretty poorly to all of our training efforts to curtail his jumping up, barking out the window, lack of recall, and ridiculous pulling on walks, however he’s never snarled or growled at a human (child or adult), even when they pull his whiskers, step on his tail, and steal his food bowl away while eating (all of which my toddler does). I don’t blame him, but ever since our kids were born we just don’t have the same ability to take him on daily runs, weekly hikes, trips to the dog park, etc. this results in him being extra annoying, barking, whining, pulling, jumping, pawing, all of which fuels a negative cycle of wanting less and less to have anything to do with him. I’m aware that 6 months without decent sleep is messing with my emotional response and judgments, but my skin crawls when I touch his greasy fur, or sit down on a couch with his hair that’s shedded, or see muddy paw prints on the floor, or hear him bark…I fantasize multiple times a day about what our lives would be like without planning around his walks, or finding dog sitters when we travel, or constantly living in a dog hair infested dirt box. My husband, who also gets annoyed (and was, btw, the one who tried to talk me out of us adopting a dog over 4 years ago!) is rigidly against re-homing him: says that it’s unfair for the dog (which I disagree with as our dog is extremely social with new people and not at all attached to us in any way), is worried that our dog-loving neighbors and friends will judge us super unfavorably and potentially ostracize us, and also thinks that we will miss him and regret the decision.

Would love to hear others’ experiences in this conundrum!!!

Me and my husband really want 3 kids CLOSE in age. We're in a privileged country (scandinavia) and I simply refuse to go through the diaper stage for 2-3 years, just to start over :')

Anyway, due date is the day before my first ones 1st birthday. This will be INTERESTING to say the least. Any recommendations? 😮‍💨

So, I was in another subreddit about a tv show i watched where a girl announced baby #2. Her kids will be 17m apart. I’m pregnant with #2 as well and mine will be 17.5 months apart. All of the comments are so negative. Mostly everyone is like “her poor body” I had an emergency c section (was put to sleep and all) with my first and I feel like when I got pregnant when he was 9 months old my body was fully recovered. I’ve always been active and started c section recovery as soon I could. My body felt back to normal. I also breast fed until I got pregnant and my milk dried up. Why her poor body??? To be honest if anything is still suffering it’s mental all for me. Anyone else triggered by that statement?

I have a 24 month old and a 2 month old. My mom helped me for 2 months but she left for work last week so we hired a nanny. We have a cook who also does all the housework except laundry since we had the baby.

My babysitter came for 4 days and all she does all day is to complain how boring it is to work here since there's no work for her.

We hired her to take care of the kids but she will not touch our 2 month old since she cries if anyone other than me holds her.

My 2 year old sleeps from 11 - 2 pm and she's bored during that time So she decided to stop working here.

A new nanny will replace her on Monday and I'm scared, I want a nanny for atleast 3 more months what if this new person hates it here. What should I do??

I’m curious. Do you have a close age gap with your siblings (under ~1-2 years) & did you enjoy it as the child?

So I’m actually the oldest sibling of 3 under 3!

My sisters & I are currently 28, 27, 26 & I can honestly say that I did not enjoy this close of an age gap between us for my childhood because:

1 - Life felt chaotic. The environment was loud & I felt like I constantly had to fight for my parents’ attention. My parents were stressed/overwhelmed which took a toll on their marriage & made it hard for them to address our emotional needs as kids.

2 - Hard time feeling like an individual. Being 3 girls, we were always ‘grouped’ together for activities & sports out of convenience rather than our own personal interests. For example, we were all put into dance (even though I didn’t like it & wanted to do a different sport) because the time/location was convenient for my mom.

3 - A close age gap does NOT guarantee a best friend.’ I cannot preach this enough, dude! My sister who is 11 months younger than me could not be more different than me. We are complete polar opposites. Our clashing personalities & temperaments made it hard for us to ever feel close growing up & to this day we mostly just tolerate each other.

4 - Feeling forgotten. When I ask questions about my childhood to my mom, she usually says she can’t remember because “it was all a blur.” As a mother myself now, that really hurts me! I feel like my childhood didn’t really matter & that I can’t even turn to my own mother for motherly advice because she doesn’t remember much of my childhood :(

These are just some of the reasons I disliked a close age gap with my siblings! Sure we have good memories together, but overall there were more cons than pros.

It’s made me want to space out my own children to ensure that I have the energy to provide them with the love & attention that I desperately craved from my own parents growing up.

I feel like ‘2 under 2’ and ‘3 under 3’ is such a trend right now, but do you think it benefits the children or the parents more?

Recently found out I’m pregnant with a boy his due date is 2 weeks after my daughters first birthday. I love my daughter and have the most special bond with her.Don’t get me wrong I am so excited to have a boy but will my bond be as strong with him as it is my daughter? Has anyone else had these thoughts or positive experiences with having a boy 2nd?

I come here in tears, ashamed to say I am feeling a lot of feelings about being pregnant with a baby girl. I have a 13 month old boy who I adore and finally feel like I have a grip on this whole parenthood thing with. I cannot conjure up in my imagination our experience but replaced with a baby girl. I’m so worried for her, I’m so worried for the example I set as someone who electively got breast implants in my 20s. I’m mourning not having the experience of another boy, I wanted so badly to see how he looked vs my first born. I don’t feel bonded with this baby and this pregnancy has been kicking my ass. My husband has a brother and was looking forward to seeing that bond for our son. My whole nursery is blue. Did anyone else feel this way? How do you feel now?

I gave birth to our daughter this past September and she is now 6 weeks old. My spouse is currently 12 weeks pregnant and due in late May of next year. This was planned since we wanted babies as close as possible.

I’m stumped on what their sleeping arrangements should look like. Our bedroom isn’t the biggest so we are limited in space and can’t opt in for the super large cribs. To be honest our king sized bed takes up most of the free space in our bedroom. We were gifted a bassinet during my baby shower and figured they could share the bassinet but now I am reading that it may not be safe to do that even if there isn’t a large age gap.

Has anyone been in a similarish situation? Is there a sleeping arrangement that could work for us? Any advice is welcome!

So I had a c section 8 weeks ago yesterday, and about a week or two ago (I can’t remember exactly when, my brain is so foggy) I noticed my discharge was different. Ovulation-like discharge. I didn’t think much of it, and husband and I haven’t been using condoms and have been using the pill out method for now, which has worked for us for years (I know, looking back I feel really stupid. It must’ve been the hormones that made us so stupid to do that not knowing when I could be ovulating.) Well, two days ago, I suddenly became ravenous (I haven’t had much of an appetite since giving birth), and I’ve become extremely exhausted. Last night, I was on a walk and felt something wet in my underwear, and sure enough it was a little bit of blood. Naturally, I thought it was my period returning, but it’s the next day now and there’s no more blood. I’m worried it was implantation bleeding and that I might be pregnant. I’ve read that most women experience a heavy flow period as their first pp period. Did anyone else experience something like this and it ended up being your period?

Husband lightly slapped our 1.5 year old..

So me (22 F) and my husband (27 M) are having 2 under 2..

So the night yesterday, he came from his activities I gave babies to him to handle them until I finish the kitchen work..

The lil one 6 month old started crying hysterical as she does like always only I can soothe her then so he tried to soothe her but didn't work and in all that scenario toddler also started to ask her dad for attention as he was busy in soothing the lil one so he didn't payed attention to her so I that case he hit her dad with phone (like thrown the phone at his face) so he slapped a lil on her face.. as per my thoughts it was due to heat of the moment cuz he loves her so much..

But I'm so guilty towards her, there can numerous factors to him being like this either he's frustrated in his work cuz he works hard and also lost some of his profits yesterday. So I'm making that excuse in my mind to satisfy myself..

I talked to him about that and he said I can't be like your father(all lovey dovey and caring) I can be my father(his father used to beat them on mistakes but love them also, it was his father parenting style). But I said, the generation changed we can't hit them now or beat them cuz she's is very lil now and we have to be friend with them, he said you would be their friend and I would be the strict parent to make them disciplined.. I told him that I still didn't got your point..

What should I do?? How should I cope up with it?? Cuz I don't wannna make himself a bad parent infront of our daughters..

We bought the Vista assuming we can configure it with the smaller seat at the top and big seat at the bottom. Of course you would want the small infant at the top facing mom and your toddler at the bottom. NOT the other way around.

Well, as many of you already know, you can’t. So I fixed it. I made video showing you how I did it in case time wants to do the same.

I can’t attach the video in this community so I made both a TikTok and a Reel.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA-hkEMx5_u/?igsh=MTA3am9uaHVpYzNxZQ==

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8852NsS/

For reference: my husband and I live in a 1300 sq ft home 2 bdrm 2full bath with our 2 girls (2y.o. & 5 months). We really want a 3rd kid but realistically won’t ever be able to upgrade our house. Our plan with the 2 girls is to put loft beds in their shared room when they’re older so they each have their space. If we had a 3rd we’d add another loft to the room.

Does anyone have experience with 3 kids in 1 room? Is it horrible or could it be a great bonding experience?

Worst case scenario we build a little room in the garage for the kid who can’t stand living in the room but I’d like to avoid that.

Hey there fellow parents!

My wife and I are about to dive headfirst into the 2 under 2 club and could really use some advice. We’re a lesbian couple, and right now we have our incredible, adored 6-month-old boy. My wife is currently 8 months pregnant with our girl (same donor for both!), meaning they'll be just 8 months apart- even closer than "Irish Twins"! We're thrilled but definitely feeling the reality sink in.

Logistics-wise: We need to move our 6-month-old into his nursery and get that sleep training started ASAP. We've been room-sharing because of SIDS risk, but I think now is the time.

We've prepped the main gear: the Uppababy Vista Rumble Seat, a second high chair and nannycam, and some new clothes for our girl. We’re reusing everything else.

I'm currently reading ‘Siblings Without Rivalry’, but I'm looking for real-life experience. Honestly, am I missing any must-have, game-changing gear for this super-close age gap? What does daily life actually look like when you have two babies who are so close in age? I only had sisters in my extended family, so I’m completely unsure what the dynamic will be like with an older boy and younger girl at this close age. Give me your tips, war stories, and advice on surviving this. TYIA!

My son is 13 months and my husband and I are thinking of having another soon. Aiming for a 23-26 month age gap when the second is born. My pregnancy was awful, my labor was even worse, and early postpartum wasn’t great.
Originally we were planning for a 3 year age gap, but I really love the idea of them being close in age.

I sound like masochist wanting another baby so soon, how was your pregnancy with your second? And if you could go back in time and have a larger age gap between your children, would you?

I don't know why this topic makes me so uncomfortable. I had my son last June and an expecting a baby girl in February. I have a sister who is dead set on throwing me a sprinkle, which I guess I'm not opposed to, but also feel extremely awkward about it? It makes me feel a little better where it's opposite genders but like ... hey you guys just bought me stuff now buy me more!!! I would never judge someone for inviting me to a sprinkle so I don't know why I feel so differently when it comes to me but I'm just curious on everyone's thoughts!

My 6 week old decided she wants to be wide awake for 3 hours from 12-3am and I’m losing my mind and my husband says “unfortunately I have to work so I need sleep”

You think taking care of a newborn and a 1 year old is t working 😵‍💫🤯🤬

Quick rant because I’m so irritated. By some stroke of luck my two kids have a 2 hour window midday where their naps overlap. It’s glorious. Generally I spend it either frantically cleaning or stuck to the couch brainrotting and then feeling awful for “wasting” the time. Well today I said eff it I’m putting myself and my health first today.

I kid you not, 5 minutes into what was supposed to be some restorative yoga my husband decides to come out of his office. Did he see that I was doing something and decide to just go about his business quietly? Of course not! Right then was the PERFECT time for his to start talking about what our toddler ate for lunch, what we’re having for dinner, does the meat need to come out of the freezer or should he just go to the store for something else, etc, etc, etc.

At first it wasn’t bothering me but eventually I was just so clogged up mentally I couldn’t deal. My brain is trying to focus on stretches and breathing but now I also need to simultaneously hold a conversation with this guy. We have a small house so we have to talk quietly so it doesn’t wake up my son but the fan is on because it’s 9-fucking-5 degrees out today and he’s in the kitchen but I’m on the floor in the living room so he can’t hear me but is trying to talk to me anyways?! I’m trying to figure out which dinner we’re making tonight and which one we have the ingredients for but also if he’s going to the store anyways what else have I noticed we need from the store. Trying to tell him no don’t go to the store I don’t was gonna go later anyways but he’s still in the other room and can’t hear me even though he started this conversation and then left the room.

Not to mention I’m feeling kind of vulnerable anyways in a sports bra and shorts with my postpartum tummy and rolls out like

Finally I just snap that does this have to happen right now?? I’m clearly in the middle of something why are you doing this right now???

Queue the “oh sorry I didn’t realize it was a big deal”. As if I’m just being super high maintenance about it or something. Ugh

By the time all this had happened and he had gone back into his office and I just got so frustrated I turned off my watch and 8 minutes had elapsed btw. So relaxed and rejuvenated!

Any parents with 3 under the age of 2 and I’m not talking about twins 😳 my newborn is 7 weeks my son is 13 months and my 6 week check up I popped a positive pregnancy test .

How is it going for you?

Many people complained that I didn't take advice and actually I did take a lot of advice from here that actually worked for my situation.

First of all I don't worry too much about solids and sometimes skip meals if she doesn't seem interested in wanting to sit and eat. I also don't fight her with bottles I let her eat at her pace. Takes awhile but I'll do what I must.

I limited her toys in her big pen and she plays better now! She has space to play and space to nap and it works. I can sit and work on my project while she plays and it's so nice.

I've worked on sitting and trying to stay calm when my baby gets frustrated. It has really helped me regulate my own emotions.

I think most of my issues were just being too overwhelmed to know what my baby needed. I don't know what I need sometimes. As seen from my multitude of posts I'm confused and want help but not THAT help. I'm getting better by the day thanks to the patient comments from the parents that care.

Dumb question 😂 if my 6 month old is sleeping upright on my belly & im 11 weeks pregnant, is that hurting the baby?? I get so worried with rocking / holding her!

I am due with my second baby on 2/15; my first born will be 2 on 2/20. Do I have 2 under 2 or not lol

For the record I have not had a period since I got pregnant in August 2024. I wasn’t planning on getting pregnant anytime soon not at least until the twins were between a year to a year and year and a half. Give the good, the bad, the ugly, just everything. I also want to know how anyone has handled being pregnant while still postpartum with 3 kids under 3 😭

I'm currently 9 weeks with my third, first kid is 5 years old and our second only 9 months! I’m still breastfeeding and currently I have some anxiety about my third birth.

I had two spontaneous, beautiful and fast births.

First: 3 hours 6 days after due date
Second: 8 days after due date 1 hour, and I did only push 3 times for 8 minutes and she was there. No tearing!

I’m 27 and I’m afraid that the third birth will go even faster!!! How are your experiences with previous fast births, was every birth faster?

So call me crazy but I’ve enjoyed my 15 month age gap between my two babies.
With my oldest, I pumped for a few months then stopped. So this wasn’t an issues when we had our surprise baby.
Well now we want to activity try but I am breast feeding this baby.

Do I need to stop BF completely or how much do I need to reduce?
I’ve been considering stopping due to my job but now this gives me even more of a reason.
But I also feed bad because I want to make it to one age of BF. I don’t think I am ovulating though.

How quickly would I possibly start ovulating if I weaned?

EDIT TO ADD: if your going to downvote me, at least tell me why 😒

I have been tracking my cycle and testing with LH strips and haven’t had a “positive” test associated with ovulation.

Okay…. Kind of dumb but really curious what others thoughts are.

Have a 23 month old and 3 month. About to go back to work. I have to drop toddler off at daycare before dropping baby off at my moms. Do I have to (or should I) bring baby in with me for the 3 minute drop off of toddler? A part of me screams if course but the other part is like “why bother a sleeping baby”.

We live in a very safe area and the daycare has its own private parking lots with like 20 spots