Is a 6 year age gap a silly idea?

There is 5 years between me and little sis and we get on so much better than i do with big sis (two years older than me).

There was no rivalry and we just adored her as a baby - go for it :)

There is a 7yr gap between my 2 DD's and it's a perfect one for us. DD1 is old enough to understand how to play nicely and help mummy at the same time

If it's a silly idea it's too late for me! DS1 is nearly 9, DS2 is nearly 7 and DC3 is due in December.

I haven't read all the posts but i can say from experience it has been very hard. Dd1 was 6yrs 1 day when dd2 was born all was good to begin with dd1 helped out loads but as the years have gone on (dd1 now 14 yrs dd2 8 yrs) they really don't get on at all. They have the odd time when they can tollerate each other but generally they are never in the same room together as they will literally kill each other. I also have ds1 who is 3yrs and he gets along with both dd's but i would never leave them alone together even to go upstairs as it always ends in a fight and a couple of time a hospital visit.
This might not be the case for you of course but i wish i had had all my babies closer together now as it is so disheartening as i know they do love each other loads

Hi OP, my brother is 7 years older than me. Sometimes growing up it was great as he was brilliant at entertaining me and getting me to eat when mum couldn't. The bad points were that I wanted to play with him and he wanted to be a grumpy teenager and I was probably embarrassing, also he managed to complete frustrate me sometimes as he was that bit older and more clever!

Now I'm 27 we get on really well :) I think it has taken my brother a long time to accept my opinions and see me as an adult, but this may well be a brother/sister thing rather than an age gap thing!

Anyways, go for it, as you said yourself it would be a regret if you didn't try.

Quite an interesting article here

Not silly at all theres 12 years between me and my sister and although growing up our relationship wash't typical sisters due to age gap, now we're both adults with children of our own the age gap is less significant. 6 years is even less an issue...theres hardly much of a difference between a 20 year old and a 26 year old. Good luck.

I have DD aged 14, DS aged 7 and little DD aged 3. Funnily enough I only thought this week how mad it is that as our eldest begins her GCSE's our youngest is just beginning her education.

I have 2 boys aged 8 and 2. It's a bit noisy and the toddler has some bad habits. But they have a great time around, playing football, swimming, watching Fireman Sam (who knew you could be nostalgic at 8).The older one was a great help when he was a baby too.

That is exactly the age gaps for me and my brothers. It was lovely. My little brother and I get on brilliantly (he is 6 years younger than me) and when growing up he often referred to me as his second mum. It seemed to work very well for my family as I was growing up.

Hi OP... my dc's are 9, 5 and 1 and it workds great... although i can only comment on my own experiences, so much of their relationships seems to stem from family life in general and their lovely personalities... has really helped with cc costs too couldnt have afforded them otherwise am v v happy with my lot!!

I'm in a very similar position. I'm 35, DD is 10 and DS 6 we have just started ttc number 3.
Some days I'm unsure and wonder if its actually a really bad idea and other days I can't wait to see if it actually happens! We'll just have to see

I've 4 DS's. 32 weeks pregnant with DS5. Age gap between my eldest DS and youngest when he's born in Sept will be 13 years!! My 2 older boys have only 3 years between them and are totally fantastic with their 2 younger brothers as im certain they will be with new baby too. DS3 is 3yo and idolises his 2 older siblings....the eldest one in particular. Its lovely to watch them together. Dont get me wrong we're not the Waltons or anything, like any family with kids of any age we have our moments, but it's not a bad thing to have a big age difference by any means!!

My youngest sibling and I are 6 years apart and we are very close. My other siblings are 2 and 4 years apart and are nowhere near as close.

I think whatever the age gap there is the potential to love and loathe.

My DS is 6 1/2 years older than DD. She idolises him! He has not been jealous but obviously they enjoy very different things. DS was very ill so that's why we have a big gap. It wasn't what I originally hoped for but I can't imagine coping with 2 or more under 5.
I have also felt much more relaxed this time round and have enjoyed every stage as I know she's the last one.

I have 2 younger siblings. Age gap between me and them is 7 and 9 years. They were very close when they were little. Now we're adults we are all incredibly close. I wouldn't let a 'big' gap put you off.

I have a 5 year 8 month age gap between my two.

Pros

They adore each other.

Ds1 looks after ds2, he is surprisingly tender and is like a little parent.

It doesn't go by in the flash that a shorter age gap would.

Cons

You imagine that you will be able to give no2 undivided attention like you did with your firstborn. This doesn't happen you just don't have the time. You then feel guilty.

Attending school events and taxiing your first born to out of school activities is really hard with a toddler in tow.

You feel you are neglecting the older child because you don't give them much help with their homework and are torn between finding activities that suit both of them.

My 8 yr gap two got on better than the 2 year gap.

I have ds1 (16), dd (8) and ds2 (3). The only weird thing is having one who's finished school and starts collage in September and one who starts preschool nursery in September.

Oh and teenagers and threenagers in the house is hard if they throw a tantrum at the same time but it doesn't happen often.

We have a 13 year age gap between DSD and DS and she couldn't be a better big sister. Huge practical help too (she lives with us). Considering TTC again but took 4 years to fall pg with DS so could be looking at a 16year+ age gap if we have difficulties again.

There's roughly the same age gap between my (soon to be) 3; DD1 was 5 when DD2 was born, and now DD2 will be nearly 6 when DC3 is born this year.

there is no formula for age gap:closeness!
not at all! I know 2 different sets of siblings with over 10 yrs between them and they are amongst the closest siblings I know!
I know people with more commonly considered "ideal" gaps like 2 yrs who are not even slightly close

it depends on your family and individual personalities and all sorts

Well i want a third and i am 37, dd1 is 9 and dd2 is 6.

I don't think six years is too big a gap, i am hoping dds will be great if they get a brother or sister.

creamtea I've 3 dc, ds1 12y, ds2 4y and dd 8m eldest is fantastic with younger 2 siblings. Ds2 taken long time to accept dd but definitely getting there and I think they'll be close. Ds2 has HFA so it's taken him longer to adjust. I'm 37 very soon and would like another but prob won't