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Pregnancy

Talk to me about 3.5 age gap

15 replies

milkyman · 29/03/2016 19:25

Have a 3.5 ds, dd due in two weeks and I am panicking! Can't imagine dealing with two, although ds currently lovely and more patient. He is in nursery for 2.5 days. Anyone give me reassurance?!

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Bejeena · 29/03/2016 19:30

Sorry can't offer reassurance as in similar boat am due in a couple of weeks and my boy is 2 1/2 years old.

I am just hoping that newborn and toddler is better than pregnancy and toddler

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RoseDeWittBukater · 29/03/2016 19:32

3.5 is my favourite gap! Grin We also have a 2 year gap and 3.5 was so much easier. They're 8 and 4 now and an absolute joy, best friends and play together beautifully.

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milkyman · 29/03/2016 19:33

Aaah thank you!

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ThornyBird · 29/03/2016 19:35

I'm with Rose - we have gaps of 21mths, 3.5yrs and 2.5yrs.

3.5yrs was the easiest when dc3 was born as dc1 and 2 were fairly independent (they could feed themselves, walk, were out of nappies etc) and were at school/nursery for part of the day so I could rest while the baby slept in her pram.

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carrietwick · 29/03/2016 19:38

Got a 9 week old and 3.5 year old and its so much better than I expected, I find the newborn stage difficult and having a toddler to entertain him and nursery & playgroups to go to makes the day go much quicker so less time getting stressed over the crying as we're always out and about, also I've found I worry a lot less about a second child and he's just fitted in to our family.

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loosechange · 29/03/2016 19:44

Great age gap. Young enough you haven't moved on from pre school stage and have to go back, but old enough they aren't too dependent on you. Can fetch things for you and feel important, baby will watch toddler like he/she is their own live entertainment, and when a little older they play together. And conspire, but we'll gloss over that part. Beware silences and furtive giggles in two years time!

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YerTiz · 29/03/2016 20:00

It's great! DS1 is 5.5 and DS2 is 2 soon (waah!).

They squabble occasionally but are also best buddies. DS1 has always adored and help look after his little brother.

It'll take some adjustment but I felt going to two children was much easier than just having my first was.

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Annabrooke90 · 29/03/2016 20:10

I have 2 year gaps and abit less between all of mine and it's not too bad, I can imagine 3.5 years would be even better, ds 1 was 2.4 when ds2 came along, ds2 was 2.3 (and ds1 4.7) when ds3 was born and when ds4 was born ds1 was 6 ds2 was just about to turn 4 and ds3 was 21 months. They had the terrible two stage during but in all honesty it has been better than I'd ever imagined as it was a scary thought when pregnant. I found it easier having 2 children and so on than having a child/children and being pregnant :)

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Sheddie · 29/03/2016 20:37

I have a DD who is 3.5 and an 8 week old DD2. I think it's a great age gap. DD1 is at nursery 3 days a week so I have plenty of time with just me and the new baby. DD1 is also pretty independent now so it's not too stressful when I have both of them. There also isn't the jealousy that you might get with a 2 year old...DD1 adores her little sister.
It'll be great, don't worry!

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rosieposey · 29/03/2016 20:45

I have two DS's with a 3.8 year gap and they get on great. DS2 does irritate his big brother but in the main they play together and love each other very much ( have separate beds but prefer to share ).

I was worried that the gap would be too big as we had planned for only two years between them but its all worked out really well. Good luck!

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MOB247 · 29/03/2016 20:49

I also have a 3.5 year age gap between my DC's.

It does work well with nursery and for the most part no jealousy. I did find that my eldests sleep regressed as he was jealous of us having a baby in our room.

If I did have a DC3 would definitely leave a similar gap!

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NotSpartacus · 29/03/2016 20:50

I have that gap between my girls. They are now 6 and 9, and while the younger one irks her sister sometimes, they are best mates too. It's a brilliant gap - gives the oldest time to be your baby before the whole world changes, and DD1 was old enough to really want her sister by the time she came along. It is not what
I had planned, but I am glad it turned out that way.

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Welshcake77 · 29/03/2016 21:07

It's really interesting reading this thread, I am due in 5 weeks and DD is 3.5
it's a bigger gap than we had originally 'planned' but I'm feeling very positive about it now! DD is v excited about becoming a big sister but I've been worried that will change once baby is here. So it's nice to hear such positive stories.

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BastardGoDarkly · 29/03/2016 21:12

I thought the gap maybe too big at first. Mine is 3.5 and oh my god, I'm soooo glad about it now.

The eldest was out of nappies, in nursery, happy to help and totally in love with his little sister 😊

she drives him mad now at 4.5 & 8

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LucilleLeSueur · 29/03/2016 22:03

We struggled a bit with that gap actually - my big girl really struggled. She was a very mature 3.5 year old and was very happy with her life as it was - DD2 was a terrible disruption for her and she still even now remembers her pre-sister life very fondly 😂
They're great pals now (6 and 2.5) and DD3 is on the way so it didn't put us off entirely.

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