Age gap

[Georgia0808]

I was just wondering if anyone has about a one year age gap between their children and if you think it’s good or if you’d rather have had a bigger gap, we’re wanting to start trying for another and our son is 3 months because we want a close age gap but wondering what other peoples experiences are with such a close age gap. TIA

Closest gap here is less than 14 months. Then a ds 29 months later. The 2 youngest are much closer (18 and 20) and always have been.
Dd's 15 month gap generally get along but 2 girls is awful right now (15+16)..
Loved having 2 close and managed more than fine. Had 3 under 3 twice...

We had 3 under 3, no twins/triplets, and planned.

There are advantages and disadvantages to every situation, and no matter how perfectly you try to organise this, life will throw many a curveball your way.

How old are you? I’m asking because one of the few things we didn’t give enough consideration was my probable menopause intersecting with their puberty (older mother).

Still, just had a beautiful day with the six of us, eating, helping, playing games, and loads of laughter with great interaction amongst the four children (I also have a stepson).

I’m there is no correct answer.

I have a 16 month gap between my 2 boys, now 2.8 and 15 months old.

First 3 months were hard because baby would only sleep in a sling during the day and that made looking after the older child hard. I would say it depends on the nature of your first child, like whether they sleep well etc. I would do it over in a heartbeat and have loved the small gap.

There are advantages and disadvantages to every situation, and no matter how perfectly you try to organise this, life will throw many a curveball your way.

Exactly what I was going to say.

I have an 18 month age gap between my first 2 and really like it. There was no jealousy as Ds1 was just too little to understand and accepted him straight away. They are 3 and 4 now and very close, completely inseparable and have great fun together. They have fights over toys but for the most part they play very well together and are into the same things making days out easier and share all each other’s toys.

I found the first year quite tiring. I have no family nearby which I think would have helped but I do have a very supportive and hands on husband which has made it easier. Definitely consider how much support you have as it is very intense at first.

Overall I really like this age gap. I am pregnant with my third and will have a 3.5 year age gap and am much more nervous about this gap!

I have a 16 month gap between my first two. They have grown up very close and are still best mates. It was tough at the beginning, very hard work, but can't have been too bad as I ended up with three under four.

13 months here. Wasn't planned but best thing ever. The pros are, syncing their naps, still being sleep deprived so I was already used to lack of sleep, them being in to the same thing (probably helps same gender) also going to a theme park and staying in one direction, rather than having a 3 year gap and kids being at different heights for the rides.

It wasn't easy at the beginning but I'm enjoying it. People always think they're twins!

14 months is the closest gap. Not great on your body tbh. Older one wasn't walking when baby born. Sleep deprivation whilst feel rough with pregnancy isn't a great combo either 🤣

Overall I liked such a small gap but there were challenges.

Realistically it depends on how long it takes you to get pregnant.

20 months. Wouldn't have it any other way. Best mates. Very different but great bond

12 month gap between Dc1 & Dc2. Loved their age gap and I have 2 other dc with 20 months between Dc2 & dc3 and 20 months between dc3 & Dc4. They are best friends, play together, developed in a lot of ways together. I didn’t find it too hard when Dc2 came along (Dc1 was a horror sleeper, chronic reflux, permanently crying) it might of been that she was the opposite of her brother though and I realised I wasn’t doing anything wrong.

It was my younger one that had undiagnosed acid reflux not fun.

2 under 2 nearly drove me to madness. The tiredness was out of this world and I've never worked so hard before or since.

Now they're older the gap is great and I love how shared their experiences of life are.

Would I do it again? No!

I had 16 months between DD and DS1 , and 15 months between DS1 and DS2 . The best thing was there was no jealousy from older siblings to the new baby they were too young and still babies themselves . The worst thing was the amount of nappies needed . I had two in nappies at a time for nearly 2 and a half years. DD was only just potty trained when DS2 was born

I have 12 1/2 months between DC1 & DC2. Both planned pregnancies. Really recommend it, not much more work than having one.

Then have a 12/13 year gap to DC3, again planned. This is much harder as its similar to having an only child.

Wouldn't change a thing abiyt having 3DC but if I could do it again I'd prefer to have had DC3 12 months after DC2 and have 3 under 3.

It would have been much easier!!

I have an 18 month gap, it was unplanned. For the children I think we have been fortunate and it has worked out well, they get on well and are generally close, share quite a few interests. The older one doesn't remember a time when the younger one wasn't around.
For me - maybe not so great, the first 6 months of 2 were very very busy and hard work (and that was with an extremely hands-on DH) we have no family nearby so it was all on us, we had some horrible stupid arguments as we were both so tired/busy. I bounced back from the pregnancies at the time but my children are pre-teen and teen now and I think my body is suffering more from the effects of two close-together pregnancies & vaginal deliveries.

My four were born in quick succession although not as close together as others on this thread. I think it's good. It was hard work when they were all little but I think they are much closer because they were close in age.