OT: Age difference between your children

[coneeny4]

My daughter 9 and son 5 are exactly 4 years apart their birthday's are 10/27/97 and 10/27/01.

I worked out well and they get along great most of the time.

 

[jillyjoey]

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

I think 4 years is a good age difference also. We had it planned this way but it was not to be. Our kids our 6 years 5 months apart. The little one loves her big brother though.

 

[kanga24roos]

my dss are 10, 7, 4 and 2 three year spread seems to be good and having the oldest and youngest only 8 years apart is great

 

[macmahony]

My three girls are 5, 4 and 2 1/2
The first two are under a year apart (the younger one came home from the hospital on my oldest 1 birthday)
The youngest two are almost 2 year apart, and we are pregnant with number 4, which will come a few weeks before the baby turns 3.
Honestly, what was easieset for us, and I love the spacing was the year apart. They are like peanut butter and jelly, and just adore each other. Believe me they have there moments, but then all siblings do. I wish we had the pushed to have the other ones closer in age as well.
Yes, with the first two, there were times it was hairy, but I think adding any sibling there will be those times. Mine all potty trained really early (18 months or so), but honestly two in diapers so what, you are already in the thick of it, why not add another one. I love the crazyness of our house, I love the noise, the activity, I love it.

 

[Perditamarie]

There are some very interesting answers here...and very different, yet everyone is pleased with how their families are. Just goes to show you how what works for you won't (and shouldn't) be everyone's choice.

Anyway, my kids are 3,4 & 5 ... that's what worked for us. Actually, I didn't realize what I was in for until #1 started crawling!! Then I became a schedule maniac. Actually, it has been wonderful because everyone is on the same learning curve...the younger 2 learn from the older one..very helpful during potty training. The best part about it is there has been no sibling jealousy when a new baby was brought home, because they were just used to babies. Each one is a blessing and you just say thank you, whenever they happen to come along.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Mine are about 3 1/2 years apart. That worked well for us (at least me). I don't do "happy pregnant women" so time off between pregnancies and feeling like I got to focus on my 1st while she still was a baby before I had a 2nd baby worked well for us.

They play together now and are close. They share a room and I don't think I could separate them if I wanted to at this point.

My youngest is starting to be potty trained, done breast feeding and getting more independent. hmmmmmmmmm It makes me think.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My "children" are 23, 5 and 3. There are 17 years between #1 and #2. The pediatrician said that #2 would actually be considered my oldest now and that #1 didn't count in the line-up. The 2.5 year gap between #2 and #3 is great. He was very, very protective of her as a baby and toddler. They are just now starting to not get along all of the time.

 

[sl_underwood]

My girls are 3.5 years apart and they are close, my ds is 6.5 years younger and he is often left out. We also had little control over how far apart our kids were since we adopted as well.

 

[Tink561]

Our boys are 17, 14 and 13. The first two are 3 years, 2 weeks apart. There is 10.5 months between the second and third. We adopted our daughter this past November and she just turned 1 in January so there is 12 years between the last boy and the baby girl.

When my three boys were young it was hard but they have always been close and had each other to play with. I'm a little sad that my daughter won't have a close sibling...but she won't. We're done.

 

[la79al]

DSS and DSD are almost 5 years apart. I feel that it has made DSS more immature as he spends most of his time playing with his little sister. Overall, I find the age gap difficult, probably in part to one being a boy and one being a girl. We find it hard to find things to do that are age appropriate and enjoyable for both. DSD will be at least 6 when she gets a younger sibling. After that I hope to space them out about every 18 months. While it may be difficult at times, I think it make them all closer.

 

[swillis]

This has probably already been said, but I didn't read every single post.

My kids are 18 mos apart. My daughter is the older one, my son is the younger. When they were very little, I felt like I had twins! They were both still in diapers, both on a bottle, my daughter was just learning to walk when my son was born, so I had a double stroller to go anywhere.

As they got older (like ages 5 and 6) they got along very well. I asked for them to be in separate rooms at daycare and preschool, so they could learn to play with other children, and spend some time apart.

Now as preteens, they have a love/hate relationship like any other set of siblings. One minute they are in cahoots, ganging up on mom, and the next minute it's world war three!

The only difference is that due to some health problems my son had when he was very little, they are 3 years apart in school. This has resulted in them not being in the same school together since they were in elementary school. And they won't be in school together again until my daughter is a Senior and my son a Freshman. We'll see how that goes!!

 

[kileybeth]

Hey Disney Mom of 7, a Mom I relate too!

Our babies, cause they are always your babies in your heart. . .

Oldest son just turned 25 years old this week And is happily married to our dear DIL and we have a beautiful 5 year old Grandson.

Our 19 year old college junior (another son) is on Internship with his school in Cambodia for the next 1.5 years (so far away. . .how did parents do it before cell phones, Internet, etc.?)

Son #3 is 14 years old and the best baby I ever had, due me after a spitter, a cryer and 9 months of generally awful pregnancy! hehe

and then came my baby girl, wow! I never knew! she is just so female! she understands me! She is currently 11 years old and got to enjoy her reign as princess of the family for a full 7 years before uh-oh!

Son #4! Our most rotten spoiled up child is currently residing in the body of a 4 year old altho he believes he should have all rights and priveleges of his older sibs! and since his vocabulary often emulates them . . .

His baby sister may just be the first 21 month old to learn to speak in pure Poohisms. . ."well, actually I do not believe that is necessary"

and that is my clan, only 6 but since it took 23 years to get them all here. . .

I'm pretty sure we are really done this time:_) My body says I'm really done too! but to never nurse another little one, and to watch my 6'1", 260+ pound baby move half way around the world, well, I guess any age or age span is just perfect. I'm just a bit more tired with the last 2.

so some 5 year spans (1 college education at a time was the thought there)
some 10 year spans (those at home are currently 14 and 4 (boys) and almost 12 and 2(girls) and my boys will all be turning multiples of 5 this year (5,15,20and 25!)!

The girls were the ones in a hurry and messed with my 5 year spacing!

will admit the 2-3 year spans were harder for me. I liked doing one at a time! however I've given up on the empty nest syndrome I am afraid!

and that's all folks!

 

[kileybeth]

Oh! wanted to say, sibling rivalry never an issue at all with ones 5 years apart, they each had their own stuff and interest but with the 2 sets who are only 2-3 years apart? ugh. driving me nuts!

older ones do love those babies to pieces tho!

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Mine are 3 1/2 years apart (oldest is almost 5 and youngest is 1). I love the age difference. They are both girls and my oldest adores her little sister. She acts like the little mother. We can already see the bond between them. They like to play laughing games in the car and many times they ride silently and I will look in the mirror and see them just riding along holding hands. So cute!

The only downfall is having to take the little one to everything; preschool, ballet, soccer. I feel like she is spending her first two years in a carseat and I feel bad about it. I guess that is what happens to younger siblings. I just try my best to give her floor time as much as possible.

 

[Deesknee]

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

I never thought of that!

mine are ahh, ..... first 3 are a total of 3 minutes apart (does that count?).

then the 4th is 12years 5mnths apart. The triplets were 12 when we had DD. But going with pigletforevers theory we should have had DD#2 when the triplets were about......7. lol

pro's of 12years between, youngest has wonderful role models. I can usually get a babysitter if absolutely neccessary. The teenagers have no desire to have children - hence abstenance(hehehe) Got to go baby shopping again.

con's I am much older and don't have the energy I did with the other kids. Fulltime work is put on hold. Had to get all new baby equipment that I will never use again.

I love all my years with children, no matter how many years between or how old or stupid they make me feel

 

[mericletwins]

I have twins that are 28 minutes apart and then #3 is 14 months behind them. Having them close is fabulous. They get along great, "learning" to share was never an issue because they had to right from the beginning, they can play on the same sports teams every other year, and when we go on vacation they are all interested in the same thing. No splitting up because someone needs older rides/younger rides!

 

[resprout]

My oldest is 3 1/2 years older (and after a long wait for number 2) than #2
and #2 is < 1 min older than #3 and #3 is <1 min older than #4 and #4 is <1 min older than #5.

Our oldest child is an IVF baby and we tried for #2 when he was 10 months old with IVF again. After 3 miscarriages, we had quadruplets. I wanted my kids close together since one of my brothers and I are 15 months apart and have always been extremely close. It didn't work out that way between #1 and #2 but the last 4 are certainly close!!

We are leaving in 17 days for our first trip for my husband and kids! I think that I may be more excited than the kids are!!! Of course to get out of the negative degrees would make me excited anyway!

 

[NYCDVClover2000]

My girl's are 13 years apart . My older daughter will be 15 this month and my little one will be 2 in May. And yes with the same husband and we were never separted either

Stacy

 

[goofy4wdw2]

Thank you everyone for sharing this...it is really wonderful to hear all about all of your children and families! We recently had a miscarriage and are thinking things through before trying again, and it's nice to hear how things have worked out for all of you with your children's spacing. A lot of beautiful families here on the DIS Thanks again

 

[MOCHAGIRL2]

I have two boys that are 16 and 10, I thought a larger age difference would be o.k.?? the youngest wants to be a teenager, and the teenager cant stand the little one, because he doesnt act older? go figure, They fight from the time they get up till they go to bed. I love them both but augggg!!!