Age gap for a 3rd child …

[Eldl19]

How big an age gap did you leave between your second and 3rd child? And would you have left it longer if you could?

I have a 4 year old and almost 2 year old and can’t shake the thought of having another but I’m scared it will tip me over the edge (half joking lol) Not sure if I wait it will be easier? I found going from 1-2 quite difficult because my 2 year old at the time was really clingy but my second does loves to play with his brother which my 1st didn’t have. Did you find it easier going from 2-3? Or wish you’d stayed at 2? My 2 boys do have their moments but they are great and they are both for the most part great sleepers as well not sure if I’m risking it having a 3rd.

2y5m between dc1 and dc2
2yr 10m between dc2 and dc3

dc3 fitted in very easily.
I found 1 - 2 quite easy as well.

I was completely traumatised by 0 - 1 though.

So much depends on their personalities.

2yr1m between dc1 and dc2
21m between dc2 and dc3

I'm currently expecting dc4 and the gap between dc3 and dc4 will be 2yr2m

I found it hardest going from 1 to 2. The 3rd just seemed to slot in.

4 years between dc1 and dc2, 20 months between dc2 and dc3. Both gaps worked well, but I kept dc2 with her childminder 3 days a week when dc3 arrived so she got plenty of stimulation (she is a massive extrovert) and I got some time with baby/catch my breath/do the massive quantities of laundry three kids generate.

Nearly 3 years between DD2 & DD3
5years between my 3rd & 4th

I only have two but I'm the third child with a larger age gap between me and my two siblings and I hated it . I feel like I've spent my entire life trying to catch up and prove I'm not a baby which probably says something about me tbh but if you're going to have a third, personally, I'd recommend asap.

Thanks for the replies! Guess I’m just worried it’s going to be a lot harder the shorter the age gap I leave but then looks like that’s better in the long run. I’m 32 and probs should get it done soon to be able to deal with 3 under 5 lol

I had 3 under 5 - 22 months between the first 2, and then a touch under 3 years for dc3.

It was much much easier having the extra year, but they're still close enough to have a lot in common.

@UpendedPineapple this is what I was hoping to hear lol my first 2 had an age gap of 26 months and I was looking this time to do closer to the 3 year gap to see if that wee bit of a difference would help!

Most people I know who've had 3 waited until dc2 was in school.

The ones who keeps doing 2 year gaps ended up having 4 or 5 dc.

Don't forget you won't be having a baby and toddler together either, you'll have a baby and two older dc who are preschool/school. Different ball game.

@UpendedPineapple do you think that made it easier or harder?

I have 4 years 9 months between DS1&2
There is 4 years and 1 month between DS2&DD1.

People who have smaller gaps have my utmost respect. I would not have coped with less than 4 years between mine. Plus DS1 is almost 9 now and he helps with baby DD an awful lot.

2yrs2 months between my first and second
3 weeks shy of 2 years between second and third (third was due day after seconds birthday)

Loads easier ! The older two were far more self sufficient and I had lots of time just with the baby

@UpendedPineapple I thought that! I Was just checking lol! My 4 year old starts school this august as he was a January birthday then the following august my youngest will be in nursery the same hours as him so it would just be me during the day with the day until they finish.

the age gap between my 2nd Boy and 3rd boy is 6 years.

My oldest in 19 Years Old, Second is 15 years old and Third is 9 years old. I also have a daughter who is almost 1.

Sorry to hijack this thread a little, but I’ve got a 4 and 2 year old and thinking about no 3, though not in a position to try until later in the year so the minimum age gaps would be 5.5 years and 3 years between the baby and DC1 and 2 (DC1 in year 1, DC 2 in preschool). I’ve been worried that a gap of 5.5-6 years between DC1 and DC3 is too big - any thoughts on that? Does it disrupt family days out etc?

@ParentsTrapped I am one of 4 there is 5.5 years between my 2 brothers who are now 28 and 33 and they get on brilliant! I was more worried about age gaps and coping with how much a handful toddlers can be lol

@ParentsTrapped should of said my brother at 33 was first me and my sister in between and my youngest brother was my mums last :)

@Eldl19 yes I know what you mean - I found goinh from 1-2 hard as DC2 was born in lockdown and we had no childcare for DC1 so I was trapped with both of them, and it was very hard on poor DC1 who was 2.5 at the time.

Things would be totally different for me this time round as both the other kids would be at school/nursery, but I’m worried that I would be annoying for DC1 to be restricted by a baby with stuff like naps and enjoying similar things on trips out. When DC3 would be 3 then DC1 would be 9 and probably in a very different phase! Saying that DC2 is so social and maternal and would love a little sibling I think.

2 years between DC 1 and 2 - barely remember it - So hard!
3 years between DC 2 and 3 - easier - DC1 had started school and DC 2 was just less of a handful generally so it was easier

Going from 1 to 2 far harder than 2-3 overall and I was 37 having no 3

What did you end up doing, @Eldl19 ? And how are you getting on?

I am having the exact same predicament here.