What are you doing... With all the ellipsis... That's not an acceptable way... To talk on the internet... Or anywhere else... So STAHP!

he's just playing. for an 18 month old, he's incredibly well mannered. he says please and thank you, and when someone sneezes he'll say bless you. if he was hitting me hard it would be one thing, but it's more of a hello pat. my husband and mom do the same thing, so he probably gets it from them.

you shouldn't have said "smack", because now everyone thinks your kid is hurting you.

oh it hurts on occasion when he gets excited.

the body has a way of protecting the baby in the belly too so I'm sure it's fine if it is just play hitting. OP you could show your lil one how to do other things with the unborn sibling such as putting a flashlight on the belly and placing a hand on it, the baby will move towards or away from the light depending on their mood/energy level. the same thing can work for music! give the little one an ear bud and press the other on the belly and feel what the baby will do in the belly.. it's wonderful the three of you are bonding together! keep it up, OP!

probably the new baby to be!

Actually saying 18 months is way easier than 1 and a half years old.. Anytime after 24 months is when months is just too much. If she had a 3-4 years old and was saying oh he's 36 or 48 months than yes that would be outrageous but 18 months is still acceptable.

Though putting it in terms of years helps out people who don't count things in months. I honestly thought the kid was being bad until I did the math. Now I realize he's just being a 1.5 year old.

People often refer to smaller children/babies by months because that's usually what you use when you buy their clothes or toys (at least it is where I'm from). Baby/toddler things usually say things like "for 6-8 months" or "For 18+ months". A lot of mums might get used to referring to little ones by months instead of years.

most professionals dealing with children (doctors, daycare, nurses) refer to months up until 2years as there can be a very huge difference in a child when he is say, 13 months compared to when he is 15 months as they grow and learn so much in the 1st two years n certain montha indicate sensitive periods for certain learning/behaviours etc and we learn them in months generally. so its a lot easier to use months than "one year and 3 months" and guardians just get used to it.

Because the child is halfway to 2. There's nothing wrong with saying 18 months old. As I mentioned in a previous comment anything past 24 months is ridiculous.

actually, I'm normally the same way. but I don't feel like hearing the oh wow you move quick bull shit that people say when I say I have a one year old and a second baby sure in two months. I've found that by saying 18 mos I don't hear that near as much.

My son is 13.5 months and I'm 13 weeks 5 days pregnant with my second child. Everyone I have told is surprisingly supportive. I don't see an issue with having children close together as long as the parents involved are comfortable physically and financially.

I agree! some people are so judgemental over kids age differences. I'd rather they be close in age! my sister and I were sixteen months apart. we fought a lot (and still do!) but we've always been close.

I don't understand why people would judge. A lot of those people typically have siblings only a year apart. It's ridiculous. Not to mention women are extremely fertile after birth so it's a lot more likely we'll get pregnant.

I thought breast feeding was supposed to act like a sort of natural birth control. Or are you all talking about like 6+ months later (or just not breast feeding?)

My mom felt the same way and had my siblings in sets of two separated by two years apiece. I was born, then two years later she had my brother. Three years after that my second brother was born following him after two years was the third. Then she waited seven or eight years and had the fourth boy followed by baby brother number five, two years after that by which time I'd moved out.

82... huh? I didn't breastfeed, but otherwise don't understand what you're asking.

@ #82: Breastfeeding helps suppress fertility hormones and ovulation, but you have to breastfeed frequently -maybe around every 2 to 3 hours daily or as often as the baby needs. Fertility hormones are especially high at night, so nursing at night is also very important to continue suppressing ovulation. Exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months then followed by complimentary feeding (breast feeding+diet appropriate for infant age) for up to 2 years (if you wish to do so). However, like all family planning methods (natural or artificial), it is not 100% effective and conception can still occur. Of course it is also best to consult with your own physician and what not for such things and stuff. I'm merely sharing what my professors in Nursing taught during our lectures.

Because there is a difference between 18 months and 12 months. When children are so young. So it's not specific enough to say he's a year old

82, I am still breastfeeding my almost 14 months old toddler. I got pregnant around my sons 10-11 months (periods came back irregular and baby is measuring younger than we thought). So while it can suppress ovulation it is not 100% like all methods of birth control and should always be used with a back up unless the parents want kids close.

I was talking about the comment that women are extremely fertile right after giving birth. I was told that exclusive breast feeding acted as a natural birth control, so it is rather unlikely for a woman to get pregnant right after giving birth (if they breast feed for the first 6 months anyways.) Of course there are always exceptions though. My personal knowledge on the subject was just in conflict with the comment, so I was confused/questioning it. I don't have any first hand experience or formal education on the subject, so I brought it up. I should have been more clear.