Can children be close with a 3 year age gap?

[Oooiwantthat]

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).

Two of my dc are 18 months apart and don’t get on at all. They are teenagers now. I think it’s ridiculous that you’re assuming the quality of their relationships based upon age gap. My younger dc are 5 years apart and although they have different interests and hobbies they get on really well and are the closest of any of my dc.

I have not met yet a pair of siblings with that age difference that are not at each other’s throats all the (bloody) time.

Ps. My mum also says we get along beautifully (fuck no!), so does the mum of my BF’s children, my aunt A, my aunt C, my friend I, and the list goes on...

Oh and SIL and exH too, mind you, she almost killed him when he was 4.

Age gap has very little bearing on how well siblings will get on. Personality plays much more of a part, as does how they are parented.

My eldest is 3.5 years older than the next one. There is then a year gap for the third one. So they are now 23, 19, 18. They got on great growing up (although the 19/18 year old were really close until about age 12/13 and then not quite as close) and get on great now. Don't worry about it.

I didn't realise people put so much thought into age gaps until I started reading MN. There's six and a half years between my eldest sister and me, we get on fine. I've also had friends and boyfriends 3+ years older or younger than me too, I don't understand why it matters.

My sister and I are 8 years apart and get on great, 3 years is nothing

Also as adults we are really close to BIL and SIL who are 15 and 18 years younger than us.

I didn't realise people put so much thought into age gaps until I started reading MN

I think people think about it from a parenting perspective, small age gaps can be tricky when they're both young but get easier when they're older and into the same stuff, maybe vice versa for larger gaps, but it definitely doesn't have a bearing on how siblings get on. Also, things change anyway, I know many siblings who hated each other growing up but who are very close as adults!

Two and a half years between dc1 and dc2 and dc2 and dc3, but 3 school years. They all get on brilliantly. Close enough to have fun, far enough apart not to compete. And no year when we have 2 kids doing important exams at the same time. Also, only one person to support atbuni at any one time.