How to be Prepared for Having Babies 14 Months Apart
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If you are reading this, you may be like I was…panicking because you will soon have two babies at home. Yes, I know how babies are made, blah blah blah. But I still became overwhelmed with anxiety when I thought about managing a one-year-old and an infant.
I remember being so excited when I had a five-month-old at home and realized we were pregnant again, but honestly I was also TERRIFIED! Staying up late nights googling “babies 14 months apart” to see if there were moms like me out there in the same boat. I needed to hear that it was doable, and I wasn’t going to sink.
Much to my surprise, there weren’t a lot of blogs or sites with the encouragement I was desperate to hear. Why; probably because those moms are crazy busy. Wink.
Well fast forward, and I am the proud mom of two preschool boys that are built-in best friends. It sounds so cliché but time has flown by too fast.
One of my goals was to write YOU that post I stayed up so many nights searching for, and let you know that you can do it! It will be crazy at times, but beautiful all the same.
I survived, and actually, I didn’t just survive…I loved almost every single minute of it! Was it hard? Of course but the reward was far greater. It is still hard today. Just get all of your ducks in a row, create some routines through each season and you will be a pro before you know it!
Tips to Get Prepared for Having Babies 14 Months Apart
- I recommend that you be as organized as possible. You will be a chaos manager for a few years so keeping organized will help tremendously. Organize as much as possible, routines, rooms, processes…everything. The overall goal is for things to run as smoothly as possible for the first year or two and organization is your friend. Before your baby arrives take some time to organize spaces in your home and stock up all the items you will need to have handy in the right spots.
- Be flexible. You seasons of motherhood and your babies stages will seem like they are ever changing. Be flexible and ready to make adjustments to those routines and processes to keep things flowing as best as you can. Knowing that things will be changing often will keep you from having unrealistic expectations.
- Enjoy it. Yeah yeah I know. When people say enjoy every minute of it you think they have never had two toddlers screaming and crying at the same time demanding things from you. They don’t know how tired you are and how your brain is fuzzy for weeks. Or they have never had to choose between which crying child to pick up when you can only physically grab one at a time. But yes try and soak up the good moments as much as you can. When you have those sweet special moments, it will remind you to enjoy it even if for just a minute to catch your breath before the next meltdown.
I also have a handful of items I don’t think I could have managed everything without. I am sharing them here with you too.
The following items were beneficial in helping us have some sanity and making it through the 1st year of having two babies.
Some moms of twins may disagree but having two babies 14 months apart is in essence like having twins. I did and still do everything in doubles. It made life so much easier. If you have to change a diaper, do both. If its feeding time, feed both. You get the idea. But what it eventually graduates into is that both kiddos begin to expect to do all these activities at the same time and it is much easier on you and the flow of your day. On to my favorite five necessities to get you prepared!
My 5 Favorite Items to Get You Prepared for Having Babies 14 Months Apart
- Double Stroller – In the beginning, you will need one that your infant seat can hook into, for me both my boys could sit up by three months. This is the stroller we eventually settled on. I had a single BOB for the infant carrier, an inline double stroller (those can be hard to turn and navigate easily) and I didn’t want to spend $300-400 on the Double Bob, so we tried this one, and it does a sufficient job compared to the handling of a Bob.
Baby Trend Expedition Double Jogger, Centennial
2. Dual Baby Monitors – This one was HUGE for me! I am a little ocd, so having my eye on each baby at all times is KEY. This was an affordable option for every dual set I researched. The handheld monitor will toggle between both babies wherever you have them in the house which is great for that 1st year, they weren’t on the same nap or sleep schedule for a while, so this was wonderful for them napping in various spots around the house. It also had good reception up to 2800 sq ft from my experience.
VTech VM312-2 Safe & Sound Video Baby Monitor with Night Vision and Two Cameras
3. Amazon Prime – If I had listed these in order, THIS should be my #1! Amazon Prime saved me countless trips to the store, allowed groceries to show up at my door with Prime Now (you get Prime Now with Amazon Prime if available in your area). I bought my formula, diapers, and wipes all in bulk delivered to my door.
Yes, I bought EVERYTHING with my Amazon Prime membership, and I don’t think I ventured out shopping with the boys alone until the youngest was 7-8 months. So this was a lifesaver. Adjusting to 2 babies in the house might take a little longer to get the hang of than you expect.
Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial
4. Swaddles – My kids didn’t love having their arms wrapped down in the swaddle after the 1st few weeks of life, so this was a great alternative. I liked the cost compared to other swaddles, the weight was not too bulky or heavy, they are cotton and breathable, and they wash so well. I have a couple that has been washed and worn for over a year (hand me downs), and they still look new!
Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Lite Baby Sleeping Bag
5. Carrier – Once you have two babies, there is no way you can carry them both (unless you are that “super cool-how does she do it mom” with one on the front and one on the back, um yeah not me) I am also super paranoid that the baby will fall out! Yes, I know I told you I am weird. I could never wear a soft carry or “wrap” because of my paranoia that the baby wasn’t “buckled down” and in some strange unknown way I thought, the baby would fall or slide out! I am just not cool or hip like that.
After trying 2-3 name brand carriers, a friend turned me onto the Tula. Life changing. Then I was cool, and I baby carried EVERYWHERE! To the store, play dates, cooking, cleaning, you name it I was free-er. I loved this one because it felt safe, secure, it had hip patterns to choose from, Amazon delivered it with Prime for FREE, and the boys loved it. I could wear it for long periods of time with no discomfort at all too. Get one and you are welcome!
Tula Ergonomic Carrier – Arbol – Standard
I hope that this has given you some encouragement and puts your mind at ease a bit. Best of luck managing your new season of motherhood, and not only managing but thriving.
Thank you so much for this blood post!!! 😊
This was helpful, I have a 7 month old son and I’m currently a month or so pregnant. I’m a younger mom and I’m a bit petrified but this eased some of my worries. How did people react when you told them you were pregnant again so soon?
So glad you found it helpful. Yes, people were shocked but after that wore off most were happy. However, whenever I tell people my boys are 14 months apart they usually can’t hide the initial surprise. 😉 I got used to it pretty quickly. You will too, that sweet baby face is better than anything! Best of luck to you!
Thank you for this post. I have a 6 month baby & just found out I’m 4 weeks pregnant, I cried the last 3 days, & I’m so happy I came across your post. I’m glad I don’t feel alone. Thank you.
Oh my goodness, I felt the same way! So glad you found this and you are not alone! There are more of us out there than you think. 😉 Best of luck to you and congratulations!
This is so uplifting thanks for sharing !!!!
Thank you! I am so glad you think so.
I’m so glad I came across this post! So positive and helpful. I’ve just found out I’m expecting my second baby and my first baby has just turned 5 month so I’m pretty scared.
Hi Katie! That makes me so happy, I am glad you found encouragement here. Congratulations too, so exciting!
Thank you so much for sharing! Just found out I was pregnant yesterday and have a 6 month old at home. At this point I’m able to manage my schedule how I like with my daughter but cant imagine it will be easy once the 2nd baby comes but your post put my mind at ease
Oh congratulations! That is such exciting news. I am glad you found this post to put your mind at ease even if just a little bit. You got this momma. 😉
I am happy I found this post. I have a 6 month old and found out I am about 5 weeks pregnant. After spending hours on google, I’ve come across nothing but negative sites about having babies so close together and how much riskier of a pregnancy this will be. It has been giving me severe anxiety. It’s nice knowing I am not alone and other women have been in the same situation.
Congratulations Lauren! I felt the same way, pretty much terrified! That is exactly why I wanted to write this post and encourage others. Best of luck to you. You can do this!
I’m a mom of three my first was born 7 1/2 yrs ago then last year may of 21 I had my daughter big gap right?? Well my daughter was 5 months old and I found out I was pregnant again and It was a shock for me considering I just had a baby last year and She was not even one yet and Here it is I’m pregnant again Just giving birth July 17 22 and I must Say I’m glad to know I’m not alone and a there’s other mothers out there going they the same although I see that it is not all that bad more happy moments then anything they oldybjard part is waking middle of night to breastfeed every 2 hours
Yes, you are not alone! I am so glad you dropped by to share. And I agree, the happy moments outweigh the struggles. Congratulations to you and your family! – Courtney
Thank you so much, your post nearly had me in tears. Glad to hear it’s been done and done well. Looking forward to the next chapter ❤️
Oh my goodness Alyssa, that is so incredibly nice to hear! I am glad to hear that this resonates with you too.Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment to let me know. Made my day. ❤️
I’m 5.5mo pp and currently 6weeks pregnant. It was so great to read this article and the other comments- I’ve wanted to cry. I do feel overwhelmed. I worry about how my body is going to cope. Let alone how I will manage once the second baby arrives. It certainly does feel like a lot to take in. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Belinda! You have got this! And God created our bodies to be able to sustain these incredible changes. I am saying a prayer for you now right now! – Courtney