Planning for Baby Number 2 / Best Age Gap

We opted for a gap with ours so we didn’t have to pay nursery childcare for 2 at the same time as it is so expensive. We do not have family to babysit so it costs £1200-£1500 for me to work 3 days a week (before free childcare is eligible) and then £450-550 with 30 hours childcare. My eldest is 5 and my youngest is nearly 3 months.
We have 2 boys so have most essential items and toys. We will also have to cut back on paid groups etc due to the current living costs.

It’s crazy the cost of childcare isn’t it!!

Whew this question is a big one!! so if you’re actually planning children and it’s feasible to stay at home, I feel like closer together is better for the sake of not having to pay for expensive childcare 2x. I have a four year old and I’m due in April so they will be completely separate with one in preschool, and the other at home with me eventually daycare after six months or so. So gapping them could be cheaper if you’re returning to work. If you’re not planning, and it just happens, then you figure it out with God on your side 😂🤷🏽‍♀️ because I truly don’t know how they do it. Work from home??

There is no perfect age gap, we had 2 under 2 now the oldest is 2 years old, in the UK he’s eligible for 15h free childcare from April, the baby will be one in July but I work from home so I’ll have him until the sept 15h free childcare for 9m old and up comes into effect, which does help a little bit but not much. By next sept the oldest will start preschool and the youngest will start year after so only have 1 year with double cost of nursery for both and then one just for the youngest. It isn’t ideal but we are lucky to be able to afford it, it is hard tho.