Tell me about your 4-5 year age gaps, please

[HopefulButScared]

DH and I have been trying for our second for the past few months. I had an early miscarriage at the end of September and we haven't really put much effort in since. We have now decided to leave it until after Christmas as I think we both needed a break.

I'm not becoming very aware of quite a large age gap appearing. DS was 3 in August, so will be at least 4 if/when any future baby is born, and that is if it happens soon.

Can you tell me about your 4-5 year age gaps, please? I think I always imagined two smaller children together and need to adjust my expectations.

My eldest is 8 and youngest is nearly 4, they are thick as thieves. My middle child is 7 and argues a lot with my youngest. Every sibling relationship will be different.

Thank you, @areyouafraidofthedark
Do you think it was easier having slightly older children when you had your youngest compared to a toddler and a baby?

Don't stress about it. There are positives and negatives to both small and large age gaps. It will be wonderful whenever you have your second child - even if it ends up there's a 10 year age gap, or even more!

Definitely a lot easier as my older ones were in nursery/school so I had time on my own with my youngest. The older ones are more independent so in the morning madness it's only my youngest that needs help getting ready.

5 years between my boys. Also a miscarriage in-between them. They love each other to death! Youngest hero worships the eldest. Eldest loves looking after the youngest. They do fight sometimes, but that’s because the youngest is only 2 and still working out boundaries! They play really nicely together, until the youngest tries to get the eldest’s toys! But the eldest is getting better at dealing with this. Like any siblings with any age gap, they will always squabble. But mainly positive!

Maternity leave was great because the eldest was at school, so I could do the school run and then just spend time with baby. We never planned the age gap, but it’s worked perfectly for us. I had real reservations about it being so big, as everyone I know had 2 years or less between their children, but we’re perfectly happy now. Good luck!