What is your gap between kids?

What are the drawbacks and benefits?

Why did you choose (or not! ) the gap?

How old were you when the first was born and then the subsequent LOs

Thank you

Re: What is your gap between kids?

DS and DC 2 will be about 27 months apart.

I chose this span due to the fact that I wanted a second child and I'm getting older.

I don't know of any benefits/detriments yet since DC 2 isn't here yet!

Re: What is your gap between kids?

DC are 27 months apart
I was 29 when dc#1 was born

I knew I didn't want a huge gap between dc. 2 years seemed like a nice spacing, not super close or too far apart imo. DC#1 is at a good age now and is interested in the baby. DC#1 can play independently while I feed or tend to #2. I look forward to as they get older we will be able to enjoy activities together and not worry about a much younger child being left out.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

My boys are 3yrs 4mos apart. I would have liked them a bit closer but it took me 10mos to get pregnant.
But it has worked out nicely. DS 1 was old enough to help and understand things. He just started kindergarten in the fall which will give me a lot of one on one time with DS 2 before he starts school.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

My son is 6yrs older then my DD. Its great he helps me a lot and he is more independent so it easier to put most of my energy into my DD.
Also she learns SOOOO MUCH from him.. its amazing. Im trying for a 3rd & if all goes well they will be alost 5 yrs apart.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

3 years, down to the month. 3 years is nice because so far, they seem to be alternating their "terrible" years. DS was done with his "terrible twos and even worse 3s" before DD went into it. They are close enough so that they play with each other all the time.

We wanted them to be at least 2 years apart.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

Well, if I get a BFP next week my DD (now 3) and the new LO will be exactly 4 yrs apart.

I think the benefit would be being that DD is older she's more independent which will make it easier on me when it comes to taking care of a new baby plus I think she will adjust better because she can understand the changes better. The drawbacks might be she won't be as close with her sibling as kids because there is a decent age gap, they will be in different places at different times. Might be an issue, who knows.

It's not the gap I wanted at all, I wanted my kids to be 2 yrs apart and we did start trying when my DD was 1 buuuuut unfortunately we suffered three miscarriages and then ran out of IF coverage so it put a real crimp in our plans. Four years is longer than I would've wanted but it is what it is.

I was 33 when my DD was born. If I am pregnant now, I will be 37 when this baby is born.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

2 yrs, 2 weeks. I wanted it closer, but what can you do.

It's PERFECT! They play so nicely and are very closely. I really haven't felt there was any sibling rivalry and are close enough to enjoy the same shows, toys, activities.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

They'll be 2 years, 9 months. My ideal gap was 3 years, and we got PG immediately, so....

I was 30 w/ #1 and will be 33 with this one. I did a lot of reading on the topic and it seemed like 3 years was ideal for me in terms of him understanding the new baby and being more independent, but not so large a gap that they wouldn't be close enough to overlap in school and have things in common. I had hoped he'd be potty trained, and we're working on that but not 100% there yet.

Ironically it wound up being exactly the same gap as I have with my older brother, which was always perfect for us, so I am excited.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

hoping for 29 months apart

Message edited 2/1/2012 10:11:19 AM.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

DD was 3 1/2 when DS was born and I found it to be a great age gap - she was older and not as needy and she adored him...grant it they fight every day over toys now but still they really love each other and she calls him her little "bother"!! I am pregnant with #3 and DD will be 6 1/2 when this baby is born and DS will be 3 years and 2 months...I was supposed to have had a baby last year but had a miscarriage so they would have been closer in age but it didn't work out.

I actually love the 3 year gap but I wanted a shorted gap between #2 and #3 because of my age, I am 40!!!!

Re: What is your gap between kids?

DC 1 and DC 2 are 20 months apart
DC 2 and DC 3 are 28 months apart

I wanted them closer together but it just didn't work that way. (We were trying to keep them all within a year gap each.) In my mind, I wanted to get the "diapers and lack of sleep stage" over with. I didn't like the idea of getting a taste of freedom with an older child and than being thrown right back into the infant stage again. Plus I wanted them to be close in age from a playing and friendships standpoint.

DC 1 - 31
DC 2 - 33
DC 3 - 35

Message edited 2/1/2012 10:25:14 AM.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

6.5 years between #1 and #2
1 year between #2 and #3.

With #2 we were TTC, my 1st DD was from another marriage so thats why the big age difference.

With #3 we were just getting ready to start TTC and i went to the dr and found out i was already 10 weeks along.

When my youngest turned 1 we started TTC again and have had our run of bad luck. We're hoping to have #4 when our youngest is 2.5 or under.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

DD and this baby will be 23-24 months apart.

We were going to put off TTC until DD was closer to 2, but I was told (by many people) that age 3 is 100x worse than age 2, so we figured this way may be "easier".

I wanted to keep the option of having a third baby open and I'm getting up there in age. (35 today!)

I did not want 2 under 2. (but I calculated that a bit wrong so we may be 2 under 2 for a week or so. )

DH and I both wanted the kiddies to be close so we can do the same age appropriate things sooner with both of them.

I don't want to "rush through" any stage, but the thought of being done with strollers and diaper bags relatively soon is nice!

I'll let you know in May/June how it's going! lol.

- I was 33
- I will be 35

Message edited 2/1/2012 10:48:47 AM.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

20 months between the first two.
3.5 years between #s 2 and 3.

I can honestly say, I think both were great. I mean, I can say this now the whole "2 under 2" thing is a faint memory. Since the plusses and minuses won't apply to you here, I'll skip on to the next pair...

It's been wonderful. The girls were old enough to care for their little brother. I had a lot of time to devote to #3 as the others were in school when he was born (one part time, one full...now both full time). I didn't mind the two in diapers thing, but I guess dealing with only one is definitely a positive. I enjoyed going "back in time" to the baby stage. Everything was new and exciting again and I got to share it with the girls. The only real downside to this arrangement is having my personal time with the girls compromised because of DS's nap schedule--which I adhere to 90% of the time. But I know this is a temporary situation...

ETA: my age:
early 30s
mid 30s
late 30s

Message edited 2/1/2012 11:47:12 AM.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

4 years, 3 1/2 months.

Ideally, I would have liked them 2 years apart, but DH wasn't ready to have another until DS was almost 3 1/2 because he also has two older boys.

It ended up working out perfectly for us. I think 4 years is a wonderful gap. Older DS appreciates his baby brother. Loves him more than I could have possibly imagined. DH thinks they won't fight as much and won't be as competitive because of the age gap compared to his older two who are 2 years, 8 months apart. They also may not have the same interest at the same times, but pros and cons to each. Overall, I'm very happy with the 4 year age gap. Older DS refers to younger DS as "his baby".

Total, we have:

15
12
almost 5
almost 6 months

Re: What is your gap between kids?

DC are 4 years apart. I would have liked 3 years but things happen.

Benefits- DD is independent and potty trained. She is my little helper. She will also most likely remember her brother being born. My sister and I are the same years apart and I remember her being born. I like that I only have one in diapers, one with bottles etc.

Drawbacks- not being able to do as much because DS is not ready to do them yet. We used to take DD everywhere, circus, city, plays etc. DS is too little to do most of that so we have to wait or find a sitter. Although they play together, it's more like she is teaching him rather than playing with him. Maybe this will get better as he gets older.

With I was 30 (turned 31 11 days later)
With I was 35

Re: What is your gap between kids?

I was 27 when I had # 1 and there are 20 months between # 1 and # 2 (I was 29 when # 2 was born). There are then 27 months between # 2 and # 3 (I was 31 when # 3 was born).

I wish I had # 2 and 3 closer together and I wish I had had a # 4 right after # 3. But we are done at 3.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

My kids are almost 26 months apart and it is a wonderful age difference. They play well together and I was still in the young child stage so it did not feel so foreign to me. I was 29 (almost 30) when I had DS and 32 when I had DD.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

-DDs are 20 months apart.

-We did not plan DD2- I drank too much wine one night 9 months later...

-It's alot easier than I thought it would be.

Benefits- Hopefully they will be close friends

Detriments- Neither of them gets as much attention as I would like

-I was 28 when I had #1, 30 with #2

Message edited 2/1/2012 2:38:41 PM.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

DD#1 and DS: 17.5 months
DS and DD#2: 15 months apart

total gap: 2 years 8 months

drawbacks: lots and lots of diapers, crying, clinging, lack of sleep, sibling rivalry

benefits: they entertain each other, they are EXTREMELY close to one another and loving, they miss each other terribly when 1 or 2 are in school or out on a playdate, I'm now done with diapers, bottles, waking at night unless sick

Re: What is your gap between kids?

My children will be about 32 months apart. DC#2 isn't here yet so I can help you with how it turned out.

I didn't choose the gap. I actually probably would've waited another year, but God had other plans.

I was 24 when DD was born and will be 26 when this baby is born.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

My first two are exactly 2 years apart (almost to the day).

My third is going to be 6 and 8 years younger than the first two

There's so many pros and cons to each age difference. I feel like with #3, I am completely starting over in all aspects, since it's been almost 6 years since I had my DD.

This. goes. through. my. head. all. day.:

Message edited 2/1/2012 3:19:39 PM.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

4 Years, I wanted 3 years but it didn't work out that way. However 4 years is AWESOME. When Immi was born, he was already at school in nursery, so I had more time to spend with the new baby. It has proved to be a great age gap for us!

eta...I was 33 when Noah was born and 37 when Imogen came along.

Message edited 2/1/2012 5:42:06 PM.

Re: What is your gap between kids?

23 months apart and we couldn't be happier...

worked out perfectly for us... i wanted them closer but DH wanted them at least 2 years apart... so we could enjoy each one