Spacing Between Siblings

I had heard 3 years apart is a good age. I tried for that and it worked. I have a daughter and son and they truly love and respect each other - they were born 3 years and a month apart. (She is a second-mother to him... so that I have to watch!!!) I love the 3 years apart just because my oldest has always been an independent soul and really wanted to be part of the action when her brother was born. Plus, I loved those 3 years alone with her.

However, my sisters are 4 years and 6 1/2 years older than I. We too, are great friends.

Good luck to you.

JB,
How I longed to have my kids close!! But we don't always have a say as to when they come. Enjoy your kids, enjoy your husband and don't worry so much about controlling things. My kids are 19, 10 & 22 mos!! I literally have one in the Air Force & 1 in diapers!! And they all love each other, fight like siblings will occasionally do, and can't wait to all be together as soon as possible. I just hope if I get any more, it's sooner rather than later! I always say I put in my order, He sends them when He sends them.

Don't sweat it, go with the flow! It all works out in the end anyway.
D.

Follow your gut.. My girlfriend's daughter was about 9 months old when she got pregnant again. Guess what? the second pregnancy was twins. so her daughter turned 1 in June and the twins were born in Dec.. she certainly had her hands full. So do this at your own pace. If you are not ready then wait. My son is 1 and I am not ready yet, while I will have another child, right now is not the time for me. But you are the only one who can make that decision. I am still enjoying the 1.1 time with my son and I think the time is not right at this time.

My son turned 2 in April and we are trying now. Do what your gut tells you. I personally feel that anything other than 3 yaers apart is crazy- but that is only because my son is the most active child ever! I want him to have a few hours a day in pre k so I can be alone with the baby. Good Luck!

My boys, currently 16 months and nearly 4 are 2.7 years apart. The older one was old enough to "help out", and he's VERY independent. It was rough in the beginning, but I'm happy I didn't wait much longer. Now, they have a great time playing together, and I hope that they will be great friends forever!

My kids are 5 years apart and while I really wish they were closer together (took us a 1.5 years to get prego with our 2nd), I have to say they are SUPER close and it's so nice to have had the 1.1 time with my first. However, if you don't want them to be spaced too far apart, I would start trying now becuase you never know how long it will actually take!

My kids are 3 1/2 years apart, now 11, 14, 18, and all are really close. I think you can help any age siblings to have good relationships by making sure everyone's needs are met and helping older siblings feel special and important to be "big", while allowing them some time to be "little" too, lots of cuddles. I didn't feel ready to have children closer together because, like you, I didn't feel ready for pregnancy, and because I wanted the opportunity to talk about feelings with the older siblings, which is harder when they are under 3. But lots of moms do fine with this, as I'm sure you'll hear!

I have 2 little girls who are 28 months apart and I find that (even though it wasn't originally planned that way and I had a failed pregnancy in between them...) their age difference is awesome. I do believe a lot has to do with temperment though. They play together and LOVE eachother so much. And they are so silly together. They do fight too but I know the overall picture is that they are truly in love with eachother.

When I have my baby in December, my two kids will be almost 3 years apart. I think that is a situation that works well for the kids and for me as a parent.

In my opinion, I think that many different dynamics and age ranges can work well as long as the parent is equipped to deal with it and make it a positive situation for the siblings.

Personally, I wanted my son to have a little more independence before I brought another child into the mix. It's what I can physically and mentally handle and I don't think there will be a problem with them bonding or getting along.

On that same note, I know several other parents who have had kids like 14-18 months apart on one end of the spectrum and then had kids 5-7 years apart. Both situations worked out fine, too.

I think as long as you go into it with the right attitude and nurturing spirit, it won't matter what the difference is. Good luck with whatever you decide but remember, with love and logic your kids will be fine :)

my son and daughter are 20 months apart, right now they are 5yo and 7yo. I didn't really plan it this waY, but now that it happened like this i think it is great. They fight now and again, but they never lack a play mate and are always doing everything together. im just now experiencing the fact that my daughter is old enough to have her own friends from school and now my son sometimes feels left out. but i think the age difference is great. on the other side, my brother and i are 7 years apart and we are very close also. growing up he was like my whipping boy and i bossed him around alot.....but we always had a blast together and are still pretty close. it is hard to have the kids close in age in the beginning, but like everything you get the hang of it after a while. good luck