Larger age gap stories please?

[behappy1736]

DS is 5.5, we want to try for baby number 2 next month. DS will be at least 6 and a half even if we catch on the first cycle, or could be 7.
Can anyone who has this kind of age gap share their positive stories please? I'm an over thinker and worried we've left it too late.

Just had baby 3 after a 6&7 year gap (first two 18 months apart). It’s been absolutely joyous seeing them fall in love with their baby sibling and has brought untold happiness into our home. I think it’s a lovely gap.

One of my family had a 7 year age gap. It’s been great - older one old enough to understand when the baby needed attention, reasonably trustworthy making days out much easier (not hanging on to a toddler attempting to make a break for it!). And, 5 years on, they’re great friends. Really worked well for them.

I don’t have a positive story to share yet but I’m currently 19 weeks with baby no 2, DD will be 11 when he’s born. So far she is super excited at being a big sister and I’m not worried about the gap at all. One of DDs best friends is 7 years older than her little sister and from what I can see on the outside they get on great!

I know several lovely sibling relationships with 6/7 year age gaps. They're more relaxed, less competitive.

I am very close to my sibling (4 year gap) - always have been. Once you hit your 20s, the gap seems so small anyway.

I have a nine year/nearly ten gap and it’s wonderful. My DC think the world of each other.
Lots of my friends and family have a seven year gap and they are very happy families, very close and the siblings are loving and kind to each other.

Aw Congratulations to you this sounds lovely ☺️

Six year gap here and it’s all I and them know. They have their moments as all siblings do regardless of age gap, but generally they’re close.

You're going to have positives and negatives to it, as you will with any age gap. But I think the main thing is that 6/7 years is not that huge of an age gap when the children become adults. It's a gap but not like 10+ years.

DCs 1&3 have 7 years between them and they’re in love with each other 😍😍 so beautiful to see.

My twins were 12 when our son was born. 18 when our youngest was born. I kept getting asked oh did you get divorced and remarried. No i had miscarriages and we were eventually blessed. The older kids good with the younger 2

Congratulations 🥰 I hate how people assume the situation. We didn't feel ready to start trying until now and already I feel pressured into feeling we've left it too late in between children. My son would love a sibling so I hope a 6/7 year age gap would be ok for us. You just hear so many negatives it's nice to hear good stories. I think if anything bigger age gaps are becoming more Normal or at the very Leah's acceptable.

My eldest was nearly 7 years old when DS2 came along. Its nice as they're both have their own lives away from each other, but also hang out together as well 🙂

I'm the eldest of three. My second sister is 2 years younger and we do not get on at all and never have. My younger sister is 8 years younger than me and we have always been best friends and super close. So in our case the bigger age gap worked much better.

Honestly, I think you just have to hope for the best- there are positive and negative stories around all age gaps. Personal experiences will vary and everyone projects to an extent- for example my mum had me and DSIs really close together because her brother was 4 years older and she felt like she never really knew him, but then DD's bf has a sister 4 years older and they are super close.

Also, to an extent it reflects your preferences. I didn't want 30/40 years with dependent children at home so went small gap, whereas some people love that stage and want it to go on as long as possible- horses for courses.

However, at least you wont be like me and have 4 years straight where one of them is doing either GCSEs or Alevels

Not a 7 year gap.... my eldest daughter is 18, son is 10 months, I had a miscarriage in August and I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant with a girl. 18 years old helps out, her and her baby brother have an incredible bond despite the massive age gap. Built in babysitter too haha!

I have a 14 year old and an 8 year old. No problems whatsoever. They fight 5% of the time, love each other 95% of the time.

Only 4.5 years between mine but honestly it’s great and spacing out my children has quite frankly made me a much better mother than I would have been to two tiny ones. They’re 6.5 and nearly 2 now so it’s still fairly early days but they laugh at one another a lot and my little one says to my big, “I love you.” If I had a baby today (or more likely in 9 months’ time!) then I wouldn’t worry about my eldest being close to the baby. He’s caring and kind, and I don’t feel siblings necessarily need to play together or be into the same things to have a bond. As it happens, chase and hide and seek are pretty universally adored!

I have 13 yo and 7 yo kids and I have no problem with their connection

I have 3 DD very nearly 13, 3 and 10 weeks. The gaps are lovely. They all love each other and there’s no real competition. None of the same sibling rivalry I remember with my little brother who is just under 2 years younger than me 😂.

My DC were 12 and 9 when ds came along , no regrets they adore him and yes he does annoy them at times but we make up for it in other ways and I feel I was a much easier mother this time round , as in things went smoother , pregnancy was better , birth was so much easier too