7 year age gap between children?

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I've just found out I'm unexpectedly pregnant with dc2. Dc1 is 7! We were happy with one so this is a bit of a shock

I'm so worried about the age gap

Any words of wisdom/ reassurance or general observations welcomed

Hi we have a 9 year age gap, would of liked it to be 7 but was trying for just under 2 years. I was also worried but it's been amazing. My eldest son loves his baby brother and he's been a massive help. He will help get things quickly if needed and will sit with him and entertain him. He also understood when we told him he was going to be a big brother and was super excited. It has been great for us.

I was the youngest of four, and my three brothers were 6, 7, and 9 years older than me. It was wonderful! When I was younger they played with me and entertained me often and generally were very sweet. Because we were farther apart in age we didn't argue quite as much as normal siblings because we had different interests, toys, etc. The only time when it gets tough is when the older one(s) go to uni and the younger is still at home, but then once I got to the age where we could drink together and hang out more as friends than just siblings it was even better. Definitely don't fret about the age gap- it can be a blessing!

We've got a 6 year age gap between DS1 and 2 ... will have a 7.5 year age gap between DS1 and this baby. To be honest it's been great! DS1 is old enough to help me like get me nappies or other things and get out the front door with a pushchair! He loves playing with his brother.

6 years between mine. It’s been utterly lovely so far actually (baby is 18mo). Easier than expected to find things they can both enjoy together (swimming has been a particularly easy option) - the big one is big enough to sometimes choose to play at the little one’s level, if that makes sense, so actually he really enjoys helping her out at soft play and similar. He’s also big enough to wait sometimes, be quiet sometimes, help sometimes, amuse himself sometimes - although equally sometimes he does just need me and like children of all ages he regressed in some ways and I humoured that to reassure him.

He was gutted at the news of my pregnancy - I think he was old enough to anticipate that it was going to be a hard adjustment for him, unlike many younger children who I think often are excited at the prospect and then when the reality is quite challenging it comes as a surprise. When she actually arrived, he’d already gone through all of that and he was pretty besotted. He was big enough to consciously appreciate the silver lining of me being on maternity leave.

They’re fab together, they adore each other. It’s also really easy being on mat leave with a second baby when the big one is at school all day! I spent loads of daytime lying in bed with the baby and the radio on, which is a luxury second time mums often miss out on.

Highly recommend the whole thing, really. All best wishes for the times ahead.

Thanks for the replies

I'm just struggling as looking at my 7 yo and thinking of all the stuff I won't be able to do with him when have a baby/ toddler and feeling guilty about how much his world will change

How do you cope?