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Parenting

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Original poster

Can children be close with a 3 year age gap?

35 replies

Oooiwantthat · 18/12/2019 14:03

There will be a 15 month age gap between DC1 and DC2. Then we won’t be trying again until DC2 is just under a year old.

That will make a 3 year age gap between DC1 and DC3. This feels like a really big age gap.

There’s just under 3 years between me and DB and we have a good relationship.DH and BiL have 3 years between them but I wouldn’t say they were close (although they do get on).

I know age isn’t the only factor and personality has a lot to do with it but I want a nice big close family (unlike my up bringing).

OP posts:

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TenThousandSpoons · 18/12/2019 14:05

Yes, a 3 year age gap is quite normal. Mine are 3 years apart and get on well. I am very close to my sister who is ten years younger then me too!

PotteringAlong · 18/12/2019 14:11

A 3 year gap between 1 and 2 would be usual - 3 in 3 years is fast!

There’s almost exactly 5 years between my dc1 and dc3. They get along just fine.

How close you are born to each other is absolutely no indication of a quality of relationship.

Bol87 · 18/12/2019 19:17

You are seriously overthinking this! A 3 year age gap between kid one & kid two is probably the most common gap! 3 kids in 3 years is a lot & certainly wouldn’t be for me! I couldn’t afford two lots of childcare & toddlers are terrors! My 2.5 year old is hard work at the mo.. I’m hoping she calms down by 3 when baby two is due!

You cannot predict how siblings will get on.. you might find your eldest & youngest get on the best. You might find they all have a fractious relationship or you might find they all get on great!

I look at my other half’s siblings, one is 36, another 34 & my OH 31. They all get on really well & are close. Age has no factor. Relationships are way more to do with personality!

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Waiting1987 · 18/12/2019 19:21

Do you not have friends more than 3 years older than you?

Ffsnosexallowed · 18/12/2019 19:24

There are 6 years between my two, they generally get on pretty well

NeedAnExpert · 18/12/2019 19:26

DH is 18 months older than his next brother, and is closest to the brother 8 years younger.

3 in 3 years is mental.

Lindtnotlint · 18/12/2019 19:33

I have a three year gap between big and little with middle in between. This has been the speediest of anyone I know...And an absolute nightmare at times. I am not sure I get what you are asking/ whether you should go faster???!!!!!!?!!

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 18/12/2019 19:58

A 3yr gap isn’t even big between a 1st and 2nd child pls get a grip

NeedAnExpert · 18/12/2019 20:14

Maybe IVF triplets would be a better option for you?

MrsIronfoundersson · 18/12/2019 20:16

My two are 3.5 yrs apart and are fab together. Me and eldest sibling 17 yrs apart, fab too, plus all the ones between. Age gap disappears when you're older anyway.

museumum · 18/12/2019 20:23

Three children in three years is NOT a big gap!!!

itchybitzy · 18/12/2019 20:28

Jesus I thought you meant between number 1 and 2 then re-read and saw you have another in between. 3 years is normal for between 1 and 2 but is actually really small age gaps if you have 3 kids! I really think people overthink age gaps - it's often more about personalities than age and you can't control their personalities!

micromoomin · 18/12/2019 20:37

3 kids in 3 years.. you can't do any better than that can you?

charlotteodonnellxoxo · 18/12/2019 21:49

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CoffeeRunner · 18/12/2019 21:53

I am one of 4 (the youngest). My closest sibling by far is my DB who is the eldest & 10 years older than me.

I also have DCs aged 18 & 8 who are incredibly close.

It’s much more about personality than age.

umberellaonesie · 18/12/2019 21:54

I am close with my sibling who is 13 years older and not the one who is 4 years older.
My 3 are close and there is 4 years between them all best 9 between youngest and oldest

BikeRunSki · 18/12/2019 21:56

My favourite person in the works is my DBro who is nearly 6 years older than me. Always had been.

Figgygal · 18/12/2019 21:57

There's 15 months between my brother and I we have no relationship really

There's 5 years between my 2 kids they love the bones of each other

Gap is not an indication of anything

askmeagainin5 · 18/12/2019 21:57

I think the majority of the families I know have 3 year age gaps. It’ll be fine OP

NataliaOsipova · 18/12/2019 22:01

The people I know who’ve had the most trouble with siblings not getting on have a 13 month gap. Their kids are very different personalities- and the younger one has always bitterly resented being one of “the girls” and has spent her tween/teen years trying to distance herself from her sister. Age gaps mean nothing....

Shreksearcandle · 18/12/2019 22:09

My 2 are 3 years apart and love each other (mostly). It's a pretty normal gap for 2 kids, how could you really make the gap between 3 any less anyway? You'll be in the thick of everything for a good few years at least if it all works out as planned, never mind trying to make the gap between DC1 and 3 less! You're overthinking it.

Bigbopboo · 18/12/2019 22:11

Yes. 2 years and 10 months between DD1 and 2. They share a room and play together all day long.

AJPTaylor · 18/12/2019 22:28

Huh? 3 kids in 3 years. How much more quickly do you want to knock them out?

Boobiliboobiliboo · 18/12/2019 22:46

Yes. 2 years and 10 months between DD1 and 2. They share a room and play together all day long.

Same gap as my sister and me. We hate each other.

KipperTheFrog · 18/12/2019 22:49

2 years 9 months between my 2, they are inseparable (aged 2 and 5).
Surely its personality rather than age gap that determines the sibling relationship?

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