Coping with big age gap between dcs

[frerfy]

I've only got 1 dc who will be 7 by the time dc2 arrives. I'm stressing about logistics of when they are older and I have a toddler and a 9/10 year old at completely different stages

I watched a mum at swimming the other week and she seemed to have it sorted. I hope I will just wondering about your experiences and tips

Hi, sorry I have no advice but I have been wondering the same, I will have a 5.5 year age gap so will be in different schools, have different interests etc

I have 3 kids and there’s 6 years between the oldest and the youngest (oldest is 6, then a 3yo then 5 months). At the moment baby just gets dragged round to big kid stuff but I do wonder what will happen when I want to take them to a country park on a play trail or to an activity farm when my son’s 12 and my daughter’s 6. I think there are a lot of things that fit all ages though (bowling, beach, bike rides etc), and if they’re too old for stuff they’re probably old enough to stay home.

I have seven years between mine. One is a teen and the other is in primary school. They are very close, love each other and get along well. The eldest friends all think the small one is really cute and fun to play with so I get an endless line of teenagers wanting to come to our house to play with toys that they have supposedly grown out of, but it’s ok to play them with small children. They haven’t shared school’s exactly but it hasn’t mattered - the youngest was doing the school run to the primary school from birth and toddled round the playground, and grew up knowing about the teachers and the way things were done, so when the youngest went to the same primary it was all very fresh, and oldest talks a lot about what they used to do at that school with youngest talking in present tense. It all feels very natural. I haven’t had a problem with taking them to different things, ninety percent of things it’s fine for them both to go, and when there are age-relevant things I just take one or the other. Because they are different in age they understand and do not mind when I say X is for bigger children or X is really for the little ones, you wouldn’t like it. They aren’t in competition with each other. They can recognise that one gets bedtime stories and snuggles and one gets to lounge with me on the sofa and watch something interesting after the little one has gone to bed, and both can see that that is suitable for their ages.

All oldests friends have got big siblings or annoying close in age younger siblings, so my little one is totally doted on, and has been since babyhood. Because the elder one could be trusted to do things like change the baby, rock the baby, sing to or read to the baby. And then of course be trusted to see to things for themselves whilst I wrangled a toddler and so on. I wouldn’t change my seven year gap for the world.

my boys were were 15 and 13 when their little sister came along and its been wonderful, they boys loved having a little sister, she absolutely adores her big brothers and still does they are now 12, 25 and 27 (and of course being the baby she has the boy wrapped round her little finger) lol

My DD and SS have 8 years between them and it’s been much easier than I thought it would be. He’s excellent with her and like another mini parent who can keep an eye and help take care of her. And she adores him.

My boys we’re 9.5 and 6 when I had DD. They adore her.DS1 in particular is amazing with her and always has been. No jealousy from either of them. I imagine DS1 will do less with us as a family as she gets older though.

Hi I’m 8 months pregnant with my second son. My first son is almost 7 and I seem to have gotten rid of a lot of stuff I now need. I am keen to rent an electric breast pump but the cheapest I can find is £47/month which seems quite expensive. Any advice or suggestions? TIA x