Baby no.2

I’m literally in the same boat as you! 🥹 I found out a few weeks ago that I’m pregnant with baby no2 and my little one is currently 18 months too.
Financially, I actually feel a lot more prepared this time because we still have so many things from our first baby and now we know what we actually need and what was a waste of money the first time around.
Emotionally though I don’t know if I feel completely ready yet 😂 I have such mixed emotions. Part of me is scared about having two little ones and wondering how I’m going to manage but at the same time we really wanted to give our son a sibling close in age, someone he can grow up with, play with and hopefully have as a little bestie for life. 🥹❤️
I think I’m probably going through all the pregnancy hormones at the moment too 😂 but I keep reminding myself that I was scared the first time as well and somehow you just figure it out as you go ❤️

Ahh congratulations!!🥹 definitely!! I feel like you never feel ready! And there’s always something but a sibling bond is the most magical thing 🥰 xx

So I am 18 months into baby number 2. Much like you I didn't have much money to spare. I have a 2y4m gap between my 2 and started trying for number 2 when our first was 18mo. We have made it work and we had a girl then a boy. We had friends that gave us their boy things, we used vinted and market place, and used anything we could from our daughter. I had kept all her clothes and baby toys so kept all the toys and then sorted through the clothes for anything unisex or not too girly. Had a lot more baby stuff than I thought. I havent brought him many clothes or toys at all so far.

Our biggest cost is activities that we do as both kids do swimming and some activities but if needed we would cancel them.

For us the cost of a second has been a lot lower than we thought it would be. We weren't financially stable, but we went for it anyway as I dont think many people are, but we figured we had enough wiggle room. We have very little savings and dont put money away for the kids currently as we dont have the room.

You make it work though. We have. Its a hard decision but I couldn't imagine my daughter not having a sibling and we wouldn't be putting ourselves into debt to have a second.

The only bit of advice I can give from a point of view of having an 18month old and being 7months pregnant right now is leave yourself a good gap so you have less time of doubling nursery fees and so you can use all your current stuff again.

We bought our first items well so they would have a second use but now it’s likely that both babies will need the cot at the same time we’ll need a double buggy and need another newborn car seat.

We had our reasons for going again early but just thought I’d share my experience so far. It might help make baby number 2 feel more financially comfortable xx

I also have a 2025 boy and am due my next boy in about 5 weeks time, so will have around a 19 month gap. We also bought our house before little one turned 1 and I returned to work after a year off but was then made redundant after a few months.

I would say things are tight but as others have said you don't need as much if you have mostly everything from the first time, also I have made a specific list if people want to give us things. And then just try to buy everything you can in the sale etc. you can definitely make it work though and I don't think you will ever feel financially stable enough 🤗

There's 8 years between my too, there's no rush. Yes, we'll never be financially stable. But if you wanted until 3 to try then bub would be staring school and costs cheaper?
I packed everything away and kept it and most of it was reusable 💜 just to offer reassurance and a different perspective x