pro's and con's in your experience
2007-06-03 10:55:35 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
i am the mother of 2 sets of 'generation babies'...meaning that i have children that are almost 10 yrs part.
my oldest are 9 and 11
the youngest is 15 months, and i will be having another end of Aug beginning of Oct.
i don't have any cons to this issue...i think that having older and younger kids are awesome! my older kids (both boys) are a great help w/their sister...even learning to changed diapers and make bottles (a GOOD learning experience for them to use later in life).
they love their sister, and have learned how to 'play gentle'.
they are pretty self sufficient, which means that i can focus on the baby while they bathe themselves or get their own snack.
of course having TWO that age means that they also have a companion that is roughly the same age as they are, so they don't get 'bored' w/all the baby stuff.
i think the hardest challenge will be when my daughter (and baby i am currently pregnant with) is old enough to date...my daughter will have 2 older brothers that will be checking up on her and that might annoy her.
i know a lot of ppl prefer about a 2 yr age difference, but to be honest i think the main reason for that is so that the kids feel close growing up. some ppl think that kids closer in age won't agrue so much, or that they will have more in common when they are around the same age. well...i know my boys (who are 2 yrs apart) fight ALL day long, but they also love each other. and whether they are 2 yrs or 10 yrs apart they still have something in common...they are siblings!
i think as long as you get your children involved in the other siblings lives and have family time you won't get that 'void' everyone keeps referring to w/kids that are spaced so far apart.
after all..it's not up to the kids to learn how to be 'good siblings' it's up to the parents..if you don't show them how..they won't learn it.
i think the environment will reflex the relationship siblings will have w/each other rather than the age difference. i know siblings that are 10+ yrs apart that are VERY close...and i know siblings that are 18 months apart that can't stand each other.
i think it's a matter of circumstances, environment, development and personality.
no matter how far apart or close together your children are, just love them...that's what really matters.
2007-06-03 11:27:45 · answer #1 · answered by ☆MWφM☆ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from my experience, I think a smaller age gap. I have a 22 month old and a 9 month old. It was a little difficult at the start, because our first was a bit rough, but he soon learnt that he had to be gentle. They now get along so well, and play really well together. A lot of people ask if I have my hands full but I don't really think it is any harder, it would be harder having twins then children close together. We are so happy with our age gap, we are already having the third. So I will have a 27 month old, a 14 month old and a baby.
2007-06-03 11:02:30 · answer #2 · answered by Mum_of_2.5 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My children are 27 months apart. It is perfect. They play with each other. They will two years apart at school. My brothers and I are 9 & 10 years apart and that is far to much. We are close but I also feel like an only child often. My brothers are 16 months apart and that is way to close. They fight and hardly ever talk. I think your first child needs at least two years before a sibling arrives. Have fun with your first and enjoy having the second with the help of your first.
2007-06-03 12:06:34 · answer #3 · answered by Mia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother, sister, and I were each separated by about 22 months. It wasn't horrible, we were all able to hold our own against each other for the most part (although my little sister was always the one to start things, and guess who always got blamed--that's right the older kids).
My two kids are 3 years 4 months apart. We were ultimately trying for about 2.5 years difference, but things didn't work out that way. It's pretty good so far. My son is able to help out the the baby, and he doesn't need as much attention as a toddler would need.
More than 5 years in difference and they're experiences are more like only children would experience (according to this months Parents Magazine).
2007-06-03 11:05:25 · answer #4 · answered by Heather Y 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My little sister and I are 3 1/2 years apart, and we get along wonderfully.
My husband I, however, have waited until now to TTC baby #2, so they will be almost 4 years apart. It works out bet for us financially, therefore - it will be better off for the baby becuase WE won't be stressed.
I think, honestly, that there are pros and cons to both. On one hand, they can be best friends (or worst enemies :) but on the other hand, the parents can provide a more stable stress-free environment (assuming, of course, that you are not wealthy).
2007-06-03 11:06:07 · answer #5 · answered by Jax 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both my big sister are only slightly older. 1 a year and one 3 years. i love them both and i think that less than 5 years is good so they can have some things in common.
2007-06-03 10:59:58 · answer #6 · answered by BKool 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my kiddos are 21 months apart and it has its good and its bad.
the goods for me are the fact that they are close, they play together, I am doing it all at once. When my daugther stopped teething my son started and so on. The bad. is the fact that they keep me on my toes constantly but that could be with all kids
2007-06-03 11:42:42 · answer #7 · answered by reagans_n_kanes_mommy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd definatelly say to definatelly go with a tiny gap of either one or two years. Trust me, the farther you are apart, the more fighting will go on because the two won't have a lot in common. When two children are close in age, they will be more of friends, because they'll have a lot in common.
Hope I helped! ;)
2007-06-03 11:07:25 · answer #8 · answered by secret_prayers2 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
2 years. my family was that way and it is nice to remeber birthdays and how old everyone is. It was also nice in school my brother was two years ahead of me and my sister 4 years so we had each other in school and we had some one to tell us what teachers to avoid in high school becuase they hadn't all left. My youngest bother is 4 years younger than me and that is too far. he wanted to play with cars when we were all driving cars and he was/is lonely at home with just my parents.
2 years is good
2007-06-03 11:05:20 · answer #9 · answered by polarisash 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well my sister is 8 yrs older and were not as close as me and my lil brother, who is 2 1/2 yrs younger so id say ... 1-4 years is good
2007-06-03 11:16:03 · answer #10 · answered by Bridget 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋