OT: Age difference between your children

[goofy4wdw2]

For those who don't mind sharing, what are the age differences between your children? Any pros or cons you'd like to share from your own experience? Things you've enjoyed or haven't enjoyed about those particular age differences? Thank you!

 

[mamaminnie]

Mine are 4 years apart. I think it's the perfect age difference, of course YMMV.

 

[beattyfamily]

Ours are two girls that are 3 years apart. I wanted them close in age but not too close so maybe between 2 and 4 years but it worked out to be 3 years apart.

I didn't want them too many years apart as I am with my sibblings. I felt like we weren't as close due the many years we had between us.

 

[HelenePA]

First 2 are 22 months apart and like twins... I waited (okay ds was unplanned) WAYYY too long to have #3 (almost 3 years between #2 and #3). If I knew then what I know now.. he would have been planned and tried for when dd#2 was a year old. I do want #4 down the road even tho it goes against everything I just said. But we can't afford another child right now as much as I would want one Hopefull by the time he's in school we'll be able to try try try again

 

[murcor]

11 months apart, and I would do it all over in a heartbeat. They are very close and I hope that they will always be close.

(mind you it was very hectic at times when they where babies)

 

[girlsx4]

I have 4 girls. The first 2 are 3 yrs 2 months apart. The next 2 are 2 yrs 3 weeks apart. The last 2 are 3 yrs 3weeks apart. I think the spacing is perfect! My girls were 8, 5, 3 when my youngest DD was born. They are now 11, 8, 6 and 3.

 

[abaldacci]

9 years apart. I said i would only have one child, I am so glad I have two.
9 years apart is not bad. I sorta don't get hit with everything at once and kids keep you young. I feel. A woman I know has a sister 9 years older and she say it the best she is having her kids 9 years apart

 

[1rockinmamato2]

DS and DD are 13 months apart. We adopted both of them at birth so the spacing of their age wasn't entirely in our control.

We've had some crazy moments around our house the last few months, but of course it's all worth it. I am looking forward to how close they will be (or not ) when they get older.

I love loving these little monsters of ours!

 

[Darcy03231]

Between DS #1 and DD #1 there are four years, between DD#1 and DD #2 there are three years and between DD#2 and DS#2 there are 2 years. They are now 22, 18, 15 and 13. The boys have never been close as there is a nine year age difference. DS #1 and DD# 1 are closer now that they are older than when they were younger. DS#1 was always very advanced and mature for his age while DD#1 was very immature for her age. This created more than a four year age gap. The girls have been close at some times in their lives but not at others. Let's face it, with girls during their teen years those three years can make them worlds apart. Right now they get along but aren't really close. Their interests are very different at this stage of their lives. DD#2 and DS #2 were close when they were little, but have little to do with each other at this point in their lives. Some of it has to do with the age difference, but most of is the different sex issue. What's appealing to 13 year old boys doesn't interest 15 year old girls. All four of the children get along and hopefully as they get older will be very close. We do a lot of family things together which helps to foster that.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

Mine are almost 5.5 years apart. I wanted them close together (I thought one year apart would be good, until I realized how hard it would be to have an infant and one year old at the same time!!!) but it ended up not working that way (had to trade husbands...).
So, the wonderful part was that I had my DS right after my DD began kindergarten. She was busy with school and I had lots of time with DS and I did not have to worry about her being jeaulous. At five years apart, she could be a big help with entertaining and diaper changing. They can play wonderfully together with their own made up games, and they rarely fight over the same toys, because they have different interests.
I guess the drawback is that they don't always play together, but maybe all kids are like that??? I still need to arrange play dates and their own activities, but I think that is to be expected, since even kids born close together can have very different interests.
Good luck!

 

[Andy B]

My two are DS 15 and DD 9. I di not want then 18-30 months apart as I feel this contributes to the 'terrible twos' for the first child but did not intend for such a big gap but you play the hand you are dealt.

I am one of four and my nearest sibling is 7 years older my eldest sibling was 15 years older than me and one in between.

 

[pigletforever]

My boys are 13 years apart. DH says we did that way so one will always think we are smart.

Seriously DS17 is mine biologically but my DH adopted him when DS was 10. DS4 was adopted at birth. They are very close. DS17 is awesome with DS4. They do things together all the time. DS4 is going to be lost next year. DS17 is going out of state for college.

 

[Pugrpooh]

There are 18 months between DD1 and DD2 and then 13 years between DD2 and DD3. They are now 19, 18 and 4. In the fall, DD18 will go off to college and DD4 will go to kindergarten.

I would've preferred not to have waited so long for DD #3 but I wouldn't have it any other way now.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

My DD's are 3 1/2 years apart. It has been great! DD7 has been a wonderful big sister and a great help, and she was in preschool 2 half-days per week when DD4 was very small. They play together very well (and fight sometimes) and love to be together! They are each other's favorite person, even more than Mom or Dad!

 

[tea4sanity]

#1(g) & #2(b) is 10 months.
#2 & #3(b) is 4yr 3m.
#3 & #4(g) 8yr 6m.

The first 2 were great friends when they were little but fight horribly now. I think a lot of it has to do with having the same friends. All 3 older ones dote on the youngest. Can you say spoiled by them?? lol

8.5 years is longer apart than we had thought of but then again she was not planned. Now I would not have it any other way. It is so much different with a preschooler now at 37 than it was when we started at 19. In september I will have 2 in college (oldest took a year off to get settled?), 1 in high school & 1 starting K. Should be interesting LOL!

 

[friendnc]

My boys are 13/11, 2.5 years apart almost to the day. I, and they, love them being that close in age. They're emotionally close, and there's not such a big age difference that they don't have much in common.

 

[Tosie]

Mine are 4.5 year apart and it's WONDERFUL!!! They get along great (ds is 10 and dd is 6) most of the time. It was great for me because ds was in school when dd came so I got lots of one on one time with her, just like I had with him!

 

[pha1226]

Mine are 21 months apart. I planned them close on purpose...wanted to get through the diapers and stuff one time and never go back.

They are typical sisters...best friends and worst enemies but they are really inseparable. They are 2 years apart in school so they each have their own social circle. I think the age difference is perfect but my only sister is 19 months younger so maybe I just like replicating my own childhood. My dh and his brother are 7 years apart and they get along but they were never really that close. My guess is it depends a lot of the family and the personality of the kids.

 

[1of6]

DS-22 months older than DD-3 years older than DS-2 1/2 years older than DD. The boys are just under 5 years apart and the girls are just over 5 years apart.

In school however, the first 2 are 2 grades apart and the last 2 will be 2 grades apart with a 4 year gap inbetween the big kids and little kids.

My kids "play" as a group a lot. Right now they have the music blasting in the other room and they are all dancing and jumping around. We do have the "I don't want to share!" and the "why does ___ always have to be included?" but not like 2 years ago. Now that DD3 is more of a participant it has really helped.

 

[Ariel8676]

I have 3 girls..my first two are 14 months apart, it is wonderful..they play great together and are the best of friends (they are 5 and 4)...we really wanted to have our third child close as well, but things don't always work out as planned..so my second and third daughter's are 3 years apart (almost to the day...November 24 is my 4 yo and November 25 is my 1 yo..lol)