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Conception

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Original poster

what is 2 and a quarter years age gap like?

18 replies

smk84 · 08/04/2010 20:53

DS is 12 months now, thinking of trying again once he reaches 18 months. Not sure what I can expect of a 2.3 year old. Is it possible to reason with them? I always thought I would wait for DS to be at school before trying again, but am incredibly broody now and want to know the disadvantages of having a 2 and a quarter age gap !

OP posts:

soph24 · 08/04/2010 20:59

The age gap between my two is 19 months which is fine. I assume 2.3 years is fine as lots and lots of families go for that sort of age gap. In fact that is the exact gap between my brother and I.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 08/04/2010 21:03

This is our age gap, and DC are now 12 and 10 and it continues to be really good. It's 2 academic years apart and that has been tops too.

morejuiceplease · 08/04/2010 21:05

I have a 2 year gap btwn my dds, they are 18 m and 3.6, they get on really well although dd2 loves to torture dd1 by stealing her toys and running away with them. I think it's a great gap as they play together well and are really close.

lucybarnes · 08/04/2010 21:11

Message withdrawn

Original poster

smk84 · 08/04/2010 21:14

Thank you everyone

OP posts:

Fel1x · 08/04/2010 21:18

its lovely, my 2 are 4.5 and 2.2 now and are the best of friends. they love each other to bits and have so much fun together. they can also be a tag team of mischief, but thats another story!!

HeadFairy · 08/04/2010 21:22

There's 2 and a quarter years between my two, ds is 2 and a half and dd is three months old. It's been... interesting. Actually not as horrific as I thought it would be, especially considering it's been a dreadful winter. I keep thinking it would have been easier in the middle of summer. I've sat in the park giving ds a run while freezing my nipples off feeding dd too many times this winter!

I think the first 8 weeks were the hardest, but now we're through that and in a nice routine it's actually really nice. Ds has watched a lot of Cbeebies while I've been feeding, but when dd was really tiny and slept loads I was able to give him loads of attention in between feeds. Now she's older she's fascinated by him and will watch him from her bouncy chair or baby gym. She loves having a bath with him and he's really sweet with her, giving her loads of cuddles, and holding her hand if she's crying.

MamaMtundu · 09/04/2010 13:20

2 years and 3 weeks between my two. I've got to say that I found it very demanding the first year, especially physically, but maybe lower energy levels due to being 'older' mum?!!

Juggling all that potty training, two year old tantrums, major attention seeking/sibling rivalry etc with a new born/nightfeeds and no chance for me to nap in the day this time round was exhausting.

Second year was better, especially as eldest DS started his early years 2.5hrs a day nursery, but was still exhausting as the boys share a room and seemed to disturb each other a lot at night.

But here I am 3 years on and they have just turned 3 and 5. I love how close they are. It is brilliant as they get on so well and play together. Of course there is bickering now and then, but overall the plan of having them close together so they would be playmates has come together nicely They love sharing a room and sleep really well now (omg I hope I haven't jinxed it by saying that!)

runnybottom · 09/04/2010 13:22

2 years between my ds2 and ds3, which I have to say is much harder than the 3 years between ds1 and ds2.

Clary · 09/04/2010 13:26

I have a 2yr age gap and 22 mo. Totally fine.

The DC don't remember being alone; I never ditched nappies and pram, only to have to start again (aarrgh).

Lots of people I know have 2 yr gap - loads of DC in my DCs' classes have a sibling in another DC's class (IYSWIM).

mustrunmore · 09/04/2010 13:29

2 and 1/4 between mine, and it was good actually! ds1 v grown up so he was great whwn ds2 came. Only downside was ds1 dropping his daytime nap when I was 8.5 months pg

They fight, but they're the best of friends too.

GibberingGinger · 09/04/2010 13:45

My sister has 23 months between her two and she says it was really hard initially. However she is finding it a lot easier now they are 2 and 4.

I went for a slightly longer gap (going to be 2 years 5 months between) but found out at the 12 week scan its twins (due in June). Had I known that I would have had a longer gap! Am fretting about how much my 2 year old will cope with such a decrease in attention, and cope with potty training etc as well. But I'm sure it will be fine, there are advantages and disadvantages to any age gap!

fillybuster · 09/04/2010 13:52

There's 2 yrs and 5 months between my ds and dd and they get on brilliantly. Any longer and I think the gap would have been too big for them to play together until dd was a bit older, but too much less wouldn't have been great for my sanity. tbh, anything over about 22mo is fine imo

FWIW, I'm about to have (fingers crossed) exactly the same 2yr 5mo gap again...hopefully it will work as well the next time around! DD turned 2 at the end of Jan and the difference in her behaviour over the past 2-3 months has been huge....she is now a 'proper' person, is toilet trained, very independent, speaking properly and I can reason/discuss things with her, even in the middle of a temper tantrum

No disadvantages, as far as I can tell....

bruffin · 09/04/2010 13:53

I have 2 years 5 days between my two. First 3 months the worst part and DS was a jealous for a few weeks.
But as they got older it's got better and better. They are good companions for each other, even if they pretend to hate each other most of the time

Things like nappies it was just a continuation as DS was not potty trained when DD was born.

They have lots of the same interests now and do relate to each other well.

Original poster

smk84 · 11/04/2010 22:06

I am really bowled over by how helpful these messages are . All sounds fab to me !

OP posts:

MsSparkle · 11/04/2010 22:20

2.3 years between mine.

DD went through the terrible 2s last year but luckily ds was a lovely quiet, content baby.

She is 3 and a half now and ds is 15 months and tbh it's really lovely! They play together and are best friends and it's the best feeling in the world when i hear them laughing way at eachother

anonMum2 · 12/04/2010 11:23

I'm completely opposed to having a second due to bad pregnancy (hospitalised 5 times) and bad birth which ended up with c-section and very slow recovery, not to mention ill health after that. I only started to feel like my old self again 18 months after giving birth.

However, DH is desperate for second.. third.. sigh! I will compromise and have two. Reading this thread has encouraged me a little.

hellymelly · 12/04/2010 11:32

I started trying for baby 2 when dd1 was 18m old,got pregnant right away so I have the gap you could have and it has been great,my girls are close and play together well and DD1 was lovely when dd2 was a new baby,changing her nappies with me etc.I do think though that personality is as much of a factor as the age gap,some siblings do clash more than others.Mine fight of course,but they get on better than I thought they would!

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