reassure me about 7yr and 4yr age gaps!

[SophieBarringtonWard]

Pregnant with DC3 (planned) but suddenly panicking about it. My two DC will be just 7 and nearly 4 when the baby arrives, worried that I am not going to have enough time to give to them, especially DC1 who already suffers from a loud obnoxious preschooler sibling. Have I bitten off more than I can chew??

[bakingtins]

We have those gaps and 5m in it is working out fine. Ds1 was 7.5 and ds2 turned 4 a week before dd was born. Ds1 has been fab, a very proud big brother, ds2 had a bit of a strop but I think that's to do with being displaced as the baby of the family. Our gaps are bigger than we'd have liked due to recurrent miscarriages, but actually I think 3 closer together would have been madness, at least I get some peace with only the baby to contend with when they're in school!

[3pigsinblanketsandasausagerole]

Elder dc were 5.2 and 3.11 when dc3 was born

It has worked well for us. Dc2 not that interested in baby for a good while but Dc1 was keen to help out

They will both now play nicely with her although it's still Dc1 who Does the most

[SophieBarringtonWard]

have realised it's really dc1 that's bothering me and I think it is the unknown - I know having a baby with a 3/4 yr old but it's an unknown quantity with a 7yr old... I am sure it will be fine

(What cars do you drive? And what to do with bedrooms?)

[3pigsinblanketsandasausagerole]

My elder child adapted much easier than my nearest four years old

[sydenhamhiller]

Had 6 and 8 year old when dc3 arrived (also miscarriages), and it is fabulous. After 2 quite close, I worried about the gap -but while they still bicker like mad, two years on they adore, dote on, and love her to bits.
It has been easier having them at school too.
Dd1 (now middle child) has found not being the 'baby' hard, but think it is that rather than being middle child that has been hard. And I try to carve out some time for us to do things by ourselves to compensate...
It will be fabulous - tiring, but so worth it! Good luck