Anyone experienced having another baby when DC1 was 5-6

[Hai1988]

Thinking of having another DC soon, DS has just turned 5 last week.

What effect will another DC have on him and what have your experiences been with a age gap like this?

Is it easy/hard and do the siblings bond

not yet but hopefully in Feb will have this experience. DCs are 6 and 5.

Have a friend with 6-year age gap and the older child is affectionate but not really interested in new arrival. Easy because he's at school, hard because they can't play together/different needs and interests etc. etc.

Thats what I thought it will be easier for me, but siblings will obvoisly have very different interests

It's nice because each child can get a lot of your attention in early years.

DS3 arrived when DS1 was 7 and DS2 about to turn 5, he is loved and looked after and has a fantastic time playing with his brothers. He does have a bad habit of thinking he is the same age as his brothers but this has also had it's good points (he could swim before his third birthday because if they could he didn't see why he shouldn't!)

I would say the sibling bond is both easy and hard but I guess this doesn't help at all!

No this does help Lost thanks

My DD was 6.5 when I had DS.

It has been great for us. She didn't show any signs of jealousy. I was able to explain before he was born about how much time and attention babies need. We made sure she was as involved as she wanted to be throughout (although I drew the line at her being at the elective CS!).

They are now 5 and almost 12 and they have a lovely relationship. She loves to mother him and he loves to annoy the crap out of her!

The only slight issue is finding activities that they both enjoy (on holiday etc). It usually works out but we do sometimes end up with DH & DD doing one thing while DS and I do another.

our eldest was 6 when DC3 came along.
DC3 was born with heart problems & 10 weeks after having her I ended up in hospital with kidney faliure.

DC1 took on a very maternal role towards her little sister & even now 2yrs on I have to constantly remind her that I am mum not her!! - we sometimes call her super nanny because she will randomly say & do thinks like run a bath for DC3 because she looks like she needs it or take her off to change her nappy.

She is also very good at playing with her sister & enjoys teaching her to count & read etc & then showing her off to her friends!!

Things like swimming can be a nightmare because DC1 is a good swimmer but as I have to over see her, DC2 in armbands & the a 2y old we do tend to stay in the baby pool.

I love having 3 girls & even though it's very much harder than 2 I wouldn't change them or the age gap.

DS3 was born when my other kids were aged 7 and 4. It's been lovely and I'm so pleased that my older ones will have such clear memories of DS3's baby and toddler years. They are very good with him and we have had no jealousy (except competing with eachother for DS3's attention!) It's lovely how they are both so proud of each new achievement and that they are old enough to help a bit. The downside? - DS3 is very naughty in a mischievous way because he has two big brothers who think every naughty thing he does is hilarious. Dancing on the dinner table is his latest trick!