2.5 year olds

We have the opportunity to adopt a little girl who will be about 18 months when she comes home. She has some medical issues that will require therapy and probably surgery but we're ok with that and isn't really factoring into our decision. What we are concerned about is having a new child so close in age to our boys (11 months younger).

My boys are just under 2 right now and would be really close to 2.5 when we think she would come home. This is much sooner than we had anticipated when we started the adoption process. We thought they would be older so I'm wondering how much of a difference you have found between 2 year olds and 2.5 year olds! Right now they have limited speech but are understanding most everything. They are fairly well behaved I think and we are very consistent with them. I use a stroller exclusively unless I'm going into somewhere they can be down and play and then I can in a pinch make one stand by me and get the other one out in a parking lot but it makes me nervous. I didn't do that 6 months ago though so I can imagine there will be more positive changes in the next 6 months!

How about playing on their own? If they aren't locked (gated!) in the playroom they want us to play with them. I have heard that between 2-2.5 this increases and they will have a longer attention span.

Thanks for your help.
Dawn

 

I have no advice but wanted to say that you are doing an awesome thing!

 

:clapping: What an awesome thing you are doing!!!

My twins and our youngest Ethan are 13 months apart. Ethan will be one in 2 weeks and the twins just turned 2. So yours will be older then mine but it is very do able! I'm just now able to stick Ethan in the playroom with the twins and walk away. They are so good with him. And I'm sure yours will be better since they are older.
I'm sorry to hear she has some medical problems, I have 2 of mine in therapy and the good part of it is that we're able to spend one-on-one time with the others. I have special toys that I bring out when I only have one with me or just two.
Good luck!!

 

:give_rose: You are one awesome momma!

We only have the twins. So I can't give advice about siblings close in age. I just wanted to say (since mine are 2.5) that things are a bit easier. The communication, the understanding, them helping out with small tasks, etc.... DH and I have both noticed a difference from 6 months ago. They can follow instructions and commands much better just with in that six month window. AND...yes, I have noticed some improvement in their attention span as well.

Congratulations and Good Luck with the adoption process!

 

Thanks for the replies. We don't know exactly what is going to happen yet but good to know they will still grow up a bit! Really my concerns are bringing a toddler in as opposed to a baby which seems more difficult for the boys. All of them will grow up and change quickly so whatever it is will not be for long. Thanks again.

 

I found the development between 2 and 2.5 to be HUGE. At 2, mine were really babies, and they're both late to talk (one is still really behind), so there wasn't a whole lot of communicating going on.

But now, they follow directions very well (when they feel like it, of course, LOL), they answer questions appropriately for the most part, and they're less likely to run off in public (although we're still working on it).

And, if I explain something, they kind of get it. So, I think if you were to explain to your 2.5-year-olds that they're getting a new baby sister, but she won't be a tiny baby -- they'll likely understand. I think they'll probably be just great with her.

Of course, having three kids is always a challenge -- mine run circles around me even at 6 and 2.5 -- but you can totally do it! Think of how close their relationship will be as they get older.

Good luck!