Only for 7 years and then a sibling.. impact on older child

[hohuminy]

It's likely that we will have a 6.5/7 year gap between our children which is not ideal. I am worried about the impact on my dc who is used to being an only for so long

Did any of you experience this as children or have you been through it with your own children

My kids age gaps are 5 years and 7 years, babies were fully accepted and loved. I think it’s easier with slightly older kids to be honest

I was 7.5 when my parents gave me the best gift ever. My sister. Loved her since

Almost 6 years here - 8 years on and d's still says he preferred being an only child, sorry!

That is the age gap between my children. My older child has been wonderful with the younger (who adores the elder). They are now 9 and 16 and very close. It was difficult from my perspective though because very few activities suit both. They do play together because the elder child very kindly plays the youngers choice of game.
The benefits seem to all be in the younger child's favour though, except the elder really, really wanted a sibling and stayed thrilled about it even after they arrived.

There are 6 years in mine, they have just turned 8 and 2. It was an adjustment for ds after 6 years as an only child but he really loves dd and gets a lot out of being a big brother and having a sibling.

My big brother was 6 years old when i was born. I adored him, he grudgingly (for a little boy) looked out for me even as I systematically trashed all his stuff, as adults we are best friends.
IMO, it's down to personalities not age gaps and no one knows how that will go until they're here.

There was 6 years between my sister and me....we're both grandmothers now and she still isn't over it.

6 years between my two DD's. Actually planned that way, I didn't want two smallies together. Eldest helped look after youngest from the start and was great at devising interesting games. Youngest didn't walk for ages as eldest was a willing slave, and there sat the youngest on her play mat, like some kind of Buddha, pointing at required items, and demanding attention, which she got in spades. Later, although eldest complained, I think she secretly liked the excuse of a younger sister in order to continue playing with kitchens and Sylvanians etc In fact eldest school friends often used to come round to play clandestine games with youngest and have a wail of a time. So for us it really worked. Now 21 and 15, eldest is coaching youngest through the difficult years, and they really support each other.

My siblings were born when I was 7. I absolutely adored them and they me.

I will have a 7 year age gap when this baby arrives.

I have no concerns at all.

Can't really say much from an older child's pov but there's 8 years between me and my older brother and we were never really close until we were both adults.
Growing up was a bit like being an only child but with the occasional argument and looaads of 'that's not fair! how come he gets/ why's she allowed to..."

One of my closest friends has a 7 year gap between her and her brother and has much the same experience except they're still not close as adults.

On the other hand, we get along brilliantly now as adults and I know a few people with similar age gaps between them and their sibling and they've always got along brilliantly and the older dotes on their younger sibling.

7 years between me and my sibling. its basically like being an only child until you are older and interested in the same things

DS1 was an only for 6.5 years (I was a lone parent for 4 years). He coped incredibly well, especially with 2 new babies in 11 months!

They get on ok now, him and DS2 (4) are the best of pals, and he and DD kind of wind each other up but the age difference means they’re into different stuff and both are headstrong which isn’t a great combo. But equally because they’re into different stuff they’re not in competition with each other if that makes any sense?

I have an 8 year old and an 8 month old. They adore each other and my older one tells me on a daily basis how much she loves her little brother.

Almost six years between mine. Youngest is still only six months so obviously I don't have the long run experience yet! So far it's been pretty wonderful tbh - DS was gutted about the whole thing when I told him I was pregnant; ambivalent as my pregnancy progressed (occasional bouts of excitement interspersed with much longer periods of disappointment, opposition, insecurity, anger...); and then pretty much besotted when DD arrived. Turned out he hadn't really anticipated how cute she'd be. There have been tears on the odd occasion since, because he did love being an only and misses aspects of that (watching the Boss Baby set him off quite recently...), but he's adapted really well and the growing bond between them is wonderful to watch. She adores him - nobody else makes her laugh like he does - and looks for him all day while he's at school. He enjoys the opportunity to be a bit of a baby again, the ego boost of being adored, and me being on maternity leave. I've always talked really honestly and openly and calmly with him about it which probably helps, and when he's regressed and wanted to be babied again I've rolled with that. (That's not meant to sound so smug btw as I have fucked up so many times as a mum, but this is one thing I'm happy with my handling of!)

Nearly ten years between my younger sister and I. It's not always been easy (and I desperately wanted a baby sister!), partly because we've always been at totally different life stages, but with every year that passes it gets better and we get more 'equal'. I didn't want a gap quite that big; but I also wanted to handle it differently (in particular, I don't want to expect as much help and almost co-parenting from my eldest as was expected of me). We have a very 'responsible eldest / indulged youngest' dynamic and while perhaps the age gap exacerbated that I don't think it's really an inevitability.

Exactly 7 years between my DDs (fertility issues)

Dd1 wasn't remotely interested in her, until she was at least 5 I would say. She just pretty much ignored her (not in a nasty way)
She was just one of those children who wasn't a bit interested in babies.
She didn't like, nor dislike her, there was no jealousy.

They are 7 & 14 now (so dd2 is now the same age as dd1 was when she was born) and they're very, very close, despite the age gap. Dd2 worships her, and pretends (or genuinely is) to be interested in everything dd1 is into, clothes (primark), music, sport etc.

DD2 was 2 when DS arrived, and the only difference is that they are/were playmates. DDs missed out on that together.
But the bigger age gap was much, much easier for me, and is narrowing all the time as they get older.

In summary: I'd say it depends on your child's personality, and how they feel about babies, or being an only ((dd was very happy to be an only child)

6.5 age gap here. My first has taken to his baby sister very well. He adores her. And she him. He was desperate for a sibling for a long time though.

I'm one of 5, and my youngest sibling is 10 years younger than me. We get on really well. Much better than me and my sister that is 2 years older.

Thanks for all the responses

Only a few negative experiences which is good!