What are the age difference between..

[Usandthe4kids]

I think that you can make anything work. We've had 4 kids in less than 5 years and it's awesome. I also know people whose kids are 5-8 years apart and have great relationships. I think personalities have a lot more to do with it than age. My oldest two are 1 year and 8 days apart and best friends. The second and third are 18 months apart and, while overall they are great, they also fight more than any other combination. The third and fourth are 23 months apart and she absolutely adores him. The oldest (he's 6 and the baby is almost 2) really could care less about the baby. The baby by far prefers my 5 year old. The 5 year old is closest to the 6 year old. The 3 year old(and only girl) really just wants to be all of their mom. All of this to say, as you can see, there is no consistency with ours between their ages and their relationships. I think you can nurture the bond between siblings regardless of age difference. The dynamics are different when there is a bigger gap but they still have that priceless sibling bond.

To sum it up...you wouldn't be making a mistake. Go for it!

 

[tlh0726]

12 years between DS and DD
18 months between DD and DS

It is like having 2 families. When we go somewhere the interests are not the same. Oldest DS takes off in one direction, while the rest of us goes another.

 

[Samar]

First 2 are 19 months apart. After dealing with Secondary IF / RPL, # 2 and #3 are 4 years 2 months apart. Further than I would have liked but the older 2 absolutely adore their baby sister I'm trying to talk DH into a 4th so the baby can have a playmate just like the older 2 have in each other but he's not biting. lol

 

[mousebymarriage]

My children are 4 years 9 months apart. Most times I think it's great however, my DD13 is the older one and she tends to try and act like DS8's mother and it drives him nuts! She can be a big help with him and there really wasn't any jealousy when he was born. she was old enough to understand that she could be a big helper and that mom's can love more than 1 child. Sometimes finding things to entertain him (like movies etc.) are too babyish for her and movies for her are too mature for him so that can be an issue.

 

[Amirah95]

My girls are 12 years apart...14 and 2 and they fight and love each others as sisters do. It's kind of crappy that I have to go through teenage stuff (some are quite bad) and through the terrible twos stuff at the same time, but it's all worth it. I love my babies and though I wish I had them back to back I wouldn't change anything. I think a 4 or 5 year gap is actually a good one. You've a mommy's helper to assist you with baby. Good luck!!!

 

[indimom]

Mine are only 2 years apart, but my sisters have children that are 5 and 9 years apart. They act like any other siblings. The 13yo plays with his 4yo brother all the time; of course, they bicker like siblings too. The 13yo niece has two brothers (8&6) and they are just as close as my two.

Honestly, if I could do it over, I'd probably space mine further apart. Those first couple years were not easy and NOW I'm stressed about putting two kids through college at the same time...

 

[formill]

My older two were 10 and just turned 7 when I had the twins- it has been great- the only trouble I had when they were younger was at the 10 and 7 age they are into activities and going to friends etc and my husband not home much (work) so it was a lot of bundling up little babies in car seats and taking the big kids where they needed to go......and having to entertain the twins while watching the soccer game etc....... when you have them closer together you are not at that drive them around thing so much so it is taking babies to school concerts and events too. I wouldn't have changed a thing though!!!

 

[JOLLYHOLLY]

My two boys are 12 months and 3 weeks apart. I got pregnant when my youngest was 4 months. We didn't plan it that way but we are now glad we did. They are best friends... they are only 3 and 4 now... I am sure when it comes to cars and college that will be another story.

 

[littlbugmom]

each of your children ? we are trying to get pregnant and our dd with be 4 1/2 almost 5 when we have the baby. I am starting to freak out that it might be too big of an age difference between 2 kids... can anyone share their experiences?

Don't freak out. It will be what it will be and all will be fine. It's not like you can go back in time and have them closer together, so why freak out about it, right? Unless you're thinking about not having another?


My kids are 3weeks shy of being exactly 4 years apart. Some days it seems like that is the absolute perfect spacing. Other days, I think we were crazy to wait that long or crazy not to have waited longer. I'm guessing it would be that way if they were 1yr apart or 6yrs apart.

 

[zarvgirl]

each of your children ? we are trying to get pregnant and our dd with be 4 1/2 almost 5 when we have the baby. I am starting to freak out that it might be too big of an age difference between 2 kids... can anyone share their experiences?

I haven't read the entire thread just the first page so this may have been said.....

FIVE YEAR GAP WAS THE BEST DECISION WE EVER MADE!!!!

We have three children 10, 8, 3!!!

I so think that the 5 year gap between our last children was a super idea, for a number of reasons:
A few of these are:
-the older children enjoyed learning about the baby growing in my belly, they came to the ultrasound.
--I actually remember this pregnancy and the first couple of years after, with my second child the first couple of years were lost, being so busy with a two year old and just getting by.
--I had time to enjoy our youngest just the two of us, since the older two were in school.
--Being older we were more settled as a family when #3 came along.
--The older children are helpful and not a tease to the youngest, like they are with eachother.
--Our youngest adapts well to many things because from a very young age she has been out and about going to the activities of the others.

Good luck.

 

[livie1205]

Mine are 13,12 and 4! Big age gap there but I think it was the best way...We have a mine,his and ours and when I was married to my ex I had NO plans on having more kids...I did not want to have more kids with that man,my dh thought the same with his first marriage.We knew when we got married we wanted to have one more with each other...we got married for the right reasons....and are still in love . I wish we had not got his the snip snip lol now though because we would love one more.The boys love their baby sister and are old enough to help out.I do not think I could have ever done more then one baby in diapers at a time....

 

[eeyoremum]

I am both a sibling with a large age difference and a parent with kids 5 1/4 years appart.

I was very close with my oldest sibling (10 years difference) but not my younger (7 years difference). I was the "baby". The middle sibling never wanted to give up the "baby" status so it was difficult. As adults we don't see each other at all. That is more due to family issue and not an age difference.

DH and I are raising two only children. 1 teen and 1 child. Currently they have nothing in common but do get along like most siblings. I really don't think they would have anything in common if they were closer in age. The oldest is military bound and the youngest is very dramatic and into performing arts. They are just WAY different kids.

I would not have wanted children close together even if it was possible (health issues). I feel like both our kids got time to be the "baby" and the "only child" so they didn't/don't really share parents that much.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I have 4 kids in 5 1/2 years. Yes, it was a bit crazy, but is was great too. Like the others have said, don't worry about the age difference, they will love each other if they are 9 months apart or 9 years apart.

 

[shaylahc1]

My children range in spacing from 21 months (closest) to 3.5 years. I thought 21 months was too close (having 2 babies at once) and 3.5 years was too far apart (nothing in common). 2.5 years was perfect!

 

[dizneychik]

I have 2 DD's. My oldest is 6(she'll be 7 April 24) and my youngest is 10 months today (She'll be one April 3).

I love having the age difference. My oldest helps out a lot by getting diapers and other things and she feels like she is a great big sister (which she is).

My youngest follows her everywhere! I have not had a problem with it.

 

[JUJU814]

each of your children ? we are trying to get pregnant and our dd with be 4 1/2 almost 5 when we have the baby. I am starting to freak out that it might be too big of an age difference between 2 kids... can anyone share their experiences?

There is a 10 year age difference between my first two

My kids are 6, 8 and 18

I don't believe there's ever too big of an age difference. Life happens. I have also learned that things don't always work out the way we planned.

When I was trying to get pregnant with number 2, I was down to trying to plan the time of year I'd get pregnant. Heck, it wasn't long before I was just hoping we would get pregnant. It took 4 years! The next one happened fairly soon and 2 and 3 were 23 months apart.

My husband has a brother 2 years younger and a sister 8 years younger.

I'd like to have a 4th, and if I do, there could end up being as much as 18-20 years between my first and last And that's OK

 

[Jen414]

20 seconds!!! Hee-hee! If I hadn't had twins, I would have aimed for aound 1 1/2-2 years in between them.

 

[waltskids]

My children are 2 1/2 years apart (31 months to be exact). DS was potty trained when DD came so I didn't have two in diapers which was great!

 

[mom2maggie]

My kids are 4 years apart and it is awesome. I wanted them much closer together in age, but it took us almost 2 years to get pregnant - so there we go!

 

[scrappingizlife]

Mine are 10, 2, and 1. My 10 yr old, loves his siblings so much. He waited so long to have a little brother, that he enjoys every moment of it. DD is becoming just one of the guys. She knows how to hold her own, and play fights with the big boys.