When this baby is born, my other will be seven. Is that close enough in age that they will play and be close?

Answer 1

my children are soooo close... especially oldest and youngest there ages are 3months 19months 11years 14years 16years

Answer 2

Depending on the sex of the new baby...if you have a daughter now and the child is a boy...they will be close until the age when the boy becomes his own independent personality. Then he may decide he knows what buttons to press to get his big sister upset and as she will be the older of the two, it could work in his favor :)

If the first born is a boy and the new babe is a girl...the boy will be a proud brother until again the girl has her own independence.

My first two were the latter and there was 6 years difference, they were close right up til about age 11 for the boy...we have never chosen favorites and each child is treated with equal respect so even tho they had their issues with one another, it never ended up in siding with one while the other either laughed in a corner or was crushed because they really were not at fault over something.

If you treat them fairly, equally and without more favor to one than the other...you'll probably grow up with very close kids. We have 5 and they are still very close including the oldest now 26 and the next now 21...

I'm sure it will all work out just fine...good luck!

Answer 3

My son was about 6 1/2 when his little sister was born. He was fascinated by her and very sweet and protective of her, not jealous at all.

When she got older from about ages 4 through 10 or 11, they had their problems, but now that she's 15 /12 and he's nearly 22, they're close, confide in each other, enjoy each other's company and are good friends for the most part.

It'll work out. Just make sure to tell your older child that he or she will have a very important position in your family as the older child and that you'll be counting on him/her to help you teach the baby!

Have fun!!

Answer 4

I was worried about this when my second was born too, since the older one was already five. I found out what a great helper my oldest daughter could be. She was great at helping with the care of the baby, bringing diapers, helping to give her baths and bottle feedings when the baby got older. Now, the oldest is about to turn 8 and the little one just turned three. They play together great, and I have found that my youngest has a larger, richer vocabulary, as well as more advanced play skills due to her interactions with her older sister. I think that children who are given the opportunity to bond to one another will create that loving bond. While they may not be the best of friends always, I hope that my girls will make it past the teenage years still being able to talk with one another and be good friends.

Answer 5

No, not really. For a few years maybe from say 1&8 to 5&13, but once the older one gets into being a teen and hanging around with friends their own age and into highschool it will be tough because they will have so little in common. I am 6 years older than my sister and that's what happened to us. I moved out to go to college when I was 19 and she was 13 and we didn't really get to reconnect until she was 19 and came to live with me for a few years when she went to college and then started working in the same city where I live. We are pretty close now as friends and hang out with a lot of the same people, even though we are both now married and living in different cities.

I would caution you not to start relying on the older one too much or giving them too much responsibility and to ensure that they are not cheated out of their own childhood by having to look after younger siblings.

Answer 6

yes and no. My older son was 7 when my little one was born. They didn't really start playing together until the little one was 2. They are now 10 and 3. They play things like hide and seek, hot wheels, certain games like hungry hungry hippos. but for the most part they do their own thing. The 10 year old's biggest complaint is having to hide some of his stuff he doesn't want his little brother messing with. The little one gets frustrated sometimes because he wants to keep up with the older one. My husband and I have to make an effort to find things for them to do together sometimes but they do love each other and look out for each other quite a bit.

Answer 7

No. Why would a 9 year old want to play with a 2 year old? It doesn't mean they can't be close but they aren't going to play together much. By the time your younger one is old enough to do much the older one will be a teen and will want to hang out with his friends, not some kid.

Answer 8

I have 7 1/2 years between my son and my 8 month old daughter. Right now at 8 years old, he has his friends, sports, boyscouts, ect. However when he is home, he LOVES to play with his baby sister. She LOVES him. If he comes home from school and ignores her, she screams until he talks/plays with her. At home, he spends alot of time with his baby sister but he also is given plenty of time to play with his friends and do his sports activities without her tagging along. When is is a teenager, he probably won't want to play with his little sister but by then she will have her own things going on and it won't matter. I think it has nothing to do with the ages of children, and more to do with the personality of the older sibling and how they are brought up. Good Luck, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about!

Answer 9

They may not play so much together, at first. But your older one will be a big big help! Once the baby gets older they'll get a kick out of each other. My 18 month old twins, think my 7 year old is hilarious! The only tip I can offer is to let them help if they want to. My oldest was barely six when my twins were born. We taught him how to hold them properly, taught him how to feed them, and then watched closely. Now he changes wet diapers if he notices before I do! I asked him to hunt him down sippy cups, around bedtime, last week. I looked up ten minutes later, to ask again, and he had put them to bed! Blew my mind!!!! He'd gotten their sippy cups, rinsed them out, filled them with water and put them in bed. I was in shock!

Answer 10

There's six years between myself and my brother and it never bothered us. I still played with him, despite the age-gap. In fact, it's better because, in those first few years, there won't be fighting over dominance and your eldest is more likely to tolerate the younger child tagging after him without worrying he's trying to 'steal' friends or the like.

They might drift apart once your eldest hits his teens but that will only be for a few years then the age-gap between them will count for less as both grow towards adulthood. Take the time to find activities/films/TV shows that will absorb them both to help with the bonding and try to avoid make your eldest feel he should always be more responsible just because he's old. And always respect that your eldest will not always want to play with a younger kid.

Answer 11

No, I don't think so. When your baby is 2, the other will be 9. 9 year olds dont play with 2 year olds.
When your other child is 14 he/she will be able to babysit your 7 year old, so that works out pretty good!