Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

The ideal age difference is completely dependent on the family.
For us, we wanted Ava to be in school full time before having another. So, I'll have this baby in the end of May and then Ava starts full time in school in September I just wanted one child somewhat independent first before having another. I always thought I'd want my kids close in age until I actually had one and realized I didn't want that anymore.

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

If I were younger I would have spaced my kids further apart. I married late, took a while to have Abby and lo and behold I will be 40 when this next one comes.

But here's the bottom line. You can plan til you are blue in the face, but plans are plans - they don't always work.

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

About 3 years for us-give or take 6 months. I will not be a 2 under 2 mommy!

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

2 - 2.5 years apart for me.

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

My sister and I are about 3 years apart and that has worked out very well for us as we got older. DH and I plan on doing 2 years apart for our kids.

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

I wanted mine closer together...but it took a year to get pregnant, so now they are just over 3 years apart...but you know what? it is working out perfectly.

my 3 year old is so independent, he is just this helper. no jealousy, acting out, nothing like that.

I am the oldest of 7. I have a sibling almost every age difference from 11 mos younger to 12 years younger...growing up, I played a lot more with my sister who was 5 years younger then my sister who was 2 years younger.

I was always closest to my sister who is 8 years younger then to the others.

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

I agree that there is no true ideal. I had wanted a 2.5-3 year age difference, but God has other plans for us. At this point, we're aiming for 3.5-4 years (and who knows, it could end up more than that!).

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

I always thought two years apart was ideal. DS#1 and DS#2 are 20 months apart, which wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. DS#2 will be 3 next week so if we have another they will probably be 4 years apart.

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

I agree with PP that the "ideal" varies with each family.

For us, I would have loved my children to be about 3-4 years apart. However, I was already 35 when I had DS. I did know that I did not want 2 under 2. I wanted DS to have some one on one time with me and DH before a sibling arrived. I also wanted my body to fully recover and heal before another pregnancy and c-section.

I ended up getting pregnant when DS was 19 months old (after 4 months of trying). So they will be 28 months apart.

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

Less than 2 years, closer to 18 months. My Boys will be 20 months apart. I wanted them 18 months (like my sister and I) but wasn't ready to TTC at that point bc DS 1 was a nightmare child!

Re: What do you think is the ideal age difference for siblings?

DS will be about 18 months when DD arrives!

My middle brother and I were 17 months apart and we were best friends growing up and still very close now! Although my oldest brother and I are 5 years apart and we've always been close, but in a different kind of way, more like big brother little sister kind of way, whereas my other brother and I were just best friends, if that makes sense lol.