5 year age gap?

[Wickedin]

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to hear some honest experiences from parents.

For those who have kids with about a 5 year age gap, have you found any downsides or challenges with that gap?

I hear a lot about the positives, but I’m curious about the trickier side too. For example, if the eldest has quite a strong or dominant personality, did that ever make things harder for the younger one?

Did they struggle to play together much because of the age difference, or did it work out fine?

I know every family is different, but it would really help to hear real experiences.

Thank you 😊

I have a 5 year age gap with my 2 boys... the eldest adjusted very well when my 2nd came along and he loved to help out with grabbing nappies, helping to bath etc..he was in primary 1 when my youngest was born and I appreciated that time with baby and was also able to "sleep when baby slept"... now they are 3 and 8 I sometimes wish they were closer in age to be into the same things. They do play alot together but my eldest is quite sensitive and definitely more of a chill child and probably finds the younger 1 a little annoying at times...he is absolutely bonkers and never stops... he's still very good with him. I find it easier in terms of doing thing, eg taking them both swimming together, out on their scooters and bikes. I cant imagine doing this with two tots! I also know when they're older it will be absolutely fine as my big sister is 6 years older than me and we are extremely close. Hope this helps. Any questions please feel free to ask x

4.5 years between my 2 girls and it was great at the beginning. DD1 used to 'help' with DD2 and never got jealous etc as she understood that babies need a lot of attention, comfort etc and she wanted to do it all with me.

DD1 had started school in the September and DD2 was born in the January so I could have 1 to 1 time with DD2 during the week and only ever one set of nursery fees to pay at once.

Now at 3 and nearly 8 they adore each other but entertaining them both in terms of days out can be challenging. This is largely due to the fact I'm on my own most of the time due to my DH working away. Much easier if you have a partner around so you can each take a child.

My DS was a few months short of 5 when DD was born, the transition to 2 was great and I think DS being older meant he understood what was going on, was at school and can play alone when needed.

DD is now 1 so we're not further down the line yet but they do play together and generally its quite a nice age gap. DS does get frustrated that DD doesn't know how to 'play nicely' or understand when things are his but generally they love being together.

5 year gap between me and my sister and we had a blast.

Mine are adults now, Ds was born first then Dd. They didn’t play together much when they were younger, they had different tastes when it came to toys/games, but now they are adults they are very close. My eldest is quite chilled out and took everything in his stride when his sister was born, I do feel if it was the other way around it would have been very different because she has the more dominant personality but he wasn’t a pushover and didn’t let her have all her own way. They are both very different in terms of personalities, interests etc and I don’t know if that makes it easier or harder, in my experience it’s a good age gap to have because it’s close enough for them to have become friends but it wasn’t too close that made it harder when they were younger.

Have around 5.5 gap between me and DSis. We’re close now but hardly had anything to do with one another until we were adults.