Best age gap recommendations?

[FTMinAmm]

This is far off (I'm only 26+2 with my first) but me and my husband have been thinking about when we'd ideally like to start trying for a second. In theory I'd like a smaller gap (but i may change my mind after she's born!)

I'm interested to hear what other people think the best age gap between kids is?

Mine are 4 years and its been perfect. I personally couldn't deal with a newborn and a toddler id go insane

I had 2 in 2 years (just short of 2 years exactly between them!)

It seems to be pretty common! They are now 3 and 5 and share a room, days out are easy as they are both happy with softplay/farm/park etc.

They do however fight like cat and dog!!!

Positive is that breastfeeding/nappies/pushchair stage was continuous as one sort of "stage".

Thought about having a third but realised when they were starting primary school, eldest would be starting secondary school and I just think that would be too big a gap for personally.

2 years 4 months. In my scientific pilot study on one set of siblings, this was perfect. We honestly live the dream. First year of second child is tough. But now they entertain each other entirely.

Mine are 2 years apart and whilst I think I was lucky in that my second was very chilled as a baby, I do love how close they are and how well they get on at the moment (ds and dd). It was mainly so close because ds had been so hard work and I couldn’t face getting back to normality and wanted to get the horrible baby stage out of the way - ironically dd was gorgeous as a baby and I really enjoyed it! Ds started childcare at 3 and lots had 2nd babies then…!

Exactly 2 years between mine. They have always fought like mad, but I still think it's a great age gap.

Just found out I'm expecting (unplanned, suprise) baby number 2. There'll be 2 years and 4 months between them roughly. I cried and panicked when I realised I'd have a newborn and a 'terrible 2'-er but suppose it'll be nice for them to be close in age when they're older

I have 54 weeks between mine. The first year of having a 1yo and a newborn was tough (I think! Can’t remember much of it!)
Once they were both toddlers walking etc it got easier. I’m not sure I’d recommend it but honestly wouldn’t change it. They are so close and play together even at nursery.

3 years. Been brilliant so far.

14 months between mine. Currently got a 1 year old and a 4 week old.
Obviously can't tell you what it's like long term, but so far it's not been too bad. It has its challenges but I don't think it's any harder than any other age gap. All I'd say is work out what you think will work best for you as a family. My BIL and SIL have decided they want a bigger age gap so they can enjoy each ones baby stage individually, whereas we decided smaller gap was best for us as we like to travel and wanted to get the baby years out of the way all at once so we can (post covid) go traveling again and not have to worry if an activity or place will be okay for 2 completely different age groups. It's personal choice 😁

I have 3 years and 1 month between my DC (boy and girl). What worked well with a three year age gap was having enough gap to pass big items from DC1 to DC2, but they are still close enough in age to have similar interests.

For example we never needed a double pushchair (nor buggy board), DC1 moved from the nursery room and cot bed into a regular bed in time for DC2 to go into the nursery and cot bed that had been converted back into newborn cot mode. We only ever had one child in nappies at a time too.

We live in France so not relevant to most here but our other bonus with a three year gap and short maternity leave was DC1 started school age 3 and DC2 took their liberated place with the childminder so we weren't paying for full time childcare for more than one child at a time.

They're older now and the age gap is small enough that they'll still play together and talk together when they're not fighting.