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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How much of an age gap between your children.......

72 replies

Jaysfirst · 09/07/2006 19:59

is it a short age gap, long age gap? whats the best amount of time in peoples opinion?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Original poster

Jaysfirst · 10/07/2006 09:36

I dont mind adding now that i found out on Sat i was pregnant. My dd is only 6 mths old, so there will only be 14 mths between them, hence why i was asking the question! I am hoping they get on well, i know it will be tough but i am so looking forward to it, i cant wait!

OP posts:

fennel · 10/07/2006 09:38

17 months then 2yrs 8 months

intensive but I like the close gaps. They play together and get on well and they're compatible in the things they like doing.

Reece · 10/07/2006 10:16

Hi Fennel - which did you find easier? The 17 mth gap or the 2.8? Obviously 3 is toughter than 2 but how was it for the first year with all 3?

Reece · 10/07/2006 10:17

Oops should be tougher...

Piffle · 10/07/2006 10:21

9 yrs between ds 12 and dd 3
Has had enormous benefits
But to have two closer together is what I would like now....

pebblemum · 10/07/2006 10:59

There is 6yrs 4 months between my 2 ds's. DS1 was 9 in May and DS2 will be 3 in September.

After having ds1 i had planned to try for another one when he was 1 but i ended up seperating from his dad and it wasnt until marrying dh that the opportunity to have another baby arose.

Sometimes i love the big age gap. Ds1 is so independant he doesnt have to have the attention that younger children need. He mainly goes out with his friends but when he is in he will play with ds2 and keep him amused allowing me to get on with things. He has even started taking ds2 outside where we have a large green so that they can play football together. Once ds2 is in bed ds1 is still able to stay up for a while and so we get to spend quality time together then without ds2 interrupting. Now and again though i do wish they were closer in age. If the age gap was smaller it would be a lot easier to plan days out. As it is at the moment ds1 likes theme parks etc and ds2 just wants to feed the ducks all the time. It can be hard finding something they will both enjoy, if we go to theme parks ds2 gets bored and if we go to the local duck pond to feed the ducks and have a picnic ds1 gets bored. Sometimes its as though i cant win.

sandyballs · 10/07/2006 11:01

3 minutes

piglit · 10/07/2006 11:03

54 weeks between ds1 and ds2. They are still babies and it is very hard work but I'm looking forward to them playing together when they are older.

Jasnem · 10/07/2006 11:11

15 months between dd1 and dd2 ( I agree with whoever said the first year is the hardest)
5.5 years between dd2 and ds

CarlyP · 10/07/2006 11:21

11 months between my 2 boys. v v v hard at first, but gets easier every day.

ghosty · 10/07/2006 11:30

4 years 2 months between my two. I wish it was a smaller gap - but it just didn't happen that way
They are lovely together (2 and 6) but I thought that DS's life very much limited when DD was a baby .... and it seems to be taking a long time to be able to do things as a family without all the baby toddler paraphernalia (nappies, buggies, travelcots etc).
My friends with 2 year gaps now have a 6 year old and a 4 year old and although the first 2 years was hard they are now out of baby/toddlerdom and getting on with stuff ...
One of my friends has a 15 month gap between her two DDs and it was awful in the early years but they are such good friends now (6 and 5), both at school, never lonely, etc etc ....

chloesmama · 10/07/2006 11:49

Congratulations Jaysfirst by the way. Just wanted to add that on your thread!

there will be 18 mnths between my DD and unborn one (due in Feb), been told it will be exhausting by MN posters, but hey we dont have children for an easy time.

fennel · 10/07/2006 12:03

Hi Reece

in some ways I found the 17 month gap easier. though the first few months are a bit of a blur now, we were still in the swing of the baby thing so nappies, buggies etc were part of our lives. and there was no jealously really from dd1. (though actually we had no jealousy with dd3 either). and my just 6 and nearly 4 year olds have always been good company for each other even as babies/toddlers.

fennel · 10/07/2006 12:05

i mean, just 6 and nearly 5 year olds. that's the age of my older two.

as for the first year with all 3. hmm. hard work. definitely. still is a lot of the time. but I do like to see them playing together so much. they are never lonely.

Reece · 10/07/2006 13:20

Thanks for sharing that Fennel.I definately want to have another child so just wanted to ask out of interest. I know we can't really plan when these things happen but at the moment I have taken measures that it "won't" happen.

I am starting to get on a bit now so the biological clock is ticking, however I want to have a manageable gap between 2nd and 3rd child.

I am only just beginning to relax and have some time for myself so I think I will enjoy the 2 I have for a little while 1st.

alex8 · 10/07/2006 19:36

One of my friends said the reverse of fennels. She has 4 with a 17 month gap and 2 of almost 3 yr gaps and she said the latter 2 were far easier despite having more children.

Reece · 10/07/2006 21:20

I suppose it all depends on the kids personalities and whether you have had the experience of raising babies before or not.
I have to say the thought of having my 2 boys potty trained and in pre-school before another baby comes along is appealing more to me. The smallest gap I could manage now would be 2.1 as DS2 is 16mths old!!!

ummm....that doesn't sound too bad.

HappyMumof2 · 11/07/2006 07:53

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 11/07/2006 07:57

3 years 3 months was fabulous

DS old enough to understand and help and take ownership of 'my baby' ... never had an issue at all .. also DS was fully toilet trained .. also helpful

plus he went to school full-time when DD was just over 1 so she has my full attention and its like having 2 first children in a way

plus she gets on famously with all his friends and is everyone's little pet

plus .. my children are fabulous

schneebly · 11/07/2006 08:01

There is only 17 months between my two boys and although they do tend to bicker over toys they are incredibly close and idolise each other. I can also feed them the same, take them to bed at the same time etc which suits me! I would also agree that there is no 'ideal' gap - there are pros and cons to all types it is just whatever suits you and your family. I would love more kids but wont be having another for at last 3 years as I have just applied to do a degree and by that time I might just want to get a job! Who knows!

ssd · 11/07/2006 08:03

2yrs 10 mths.

works well for us, kids great friends now at 5 and 8yrs.

dreamydowler · 11/07/2006 17:53

I dont think you can predict how the children are going to get on I had my first four in four years and they get on really well for the most part and always have although there has always been an element of competitiveness my two boys however have 5 years between them and argue constantly. there will be three years between my daughter and the baby when she arrives in august which will be nice

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