Best Age Gap

[BeauticianNotMagician]

I have 3 children and thought I was done but DP is desperate for another one of his own. I have two older boys 9 and 8 from a previous relationship and a four month old with DP.

I'm not sure that I want four yet I'm just thinking about it and weighing it all up. I had the older two 18 months apart not sure I'd like them that close again but they do get in great now. We get married next Summer.

What age gap with a larger family has worked best for you?

[NAR4]

Mine are all 23 months apart, other than the 11 year gap between dc3 and 4. I have found this a great age gap. The toddler is old enough to be potty trained before the baby is born and is in dependant enough to entertain themselves while you are busy with the baby. They are still close enough in age to be really good friends as they get older.

[BeauticianNotMagician]

Thanks for the reply Nar4. I think DP wants to try after our wedding which if I fell straight away would be a 22 month gap.

I have lots to think about one of my main concerns being money. DP earns a reasonable wage but we are by no means well off. We do afford holidays at the moment which I'm not sure would be possible with 4. I should have known though that DP would want another.

[TwerkingNine2FIve]

I have 3 years (almost exactly) between all 5 of mine. It worked out nicely as they qualified for their 15 hours of childcare so had started preschool by the time baby came along. Don't think an perfect age gap exists though. All very dependant upon your family and the nature of the children. All 5 of mine are very close except for DS2 and DS3, don't think it's anything to do with age gap. They just butt heads a lot. DS3 gets on great with DS1 and DS2 is very good with DS5. DS1 is lovely to all his brothers and they all adore him. DS5 is horrible to them all except DS2 and still they all adore him!

[princesscupcakemummyb]

heres the gap between mine

dd1 now 4

dd2 nearly 2 this month so 2 years

dc3 1 week 2 year gap boy

[PacificDogwood]

There is no 'best' age gap IMO.

I had my 4 1, 4 and 2 years apart - pros and cons for each scenario.

And whether it's to do with the age gap or sibling rivalry or just clash of personalities, DS2 and DS3 cannot stand each other. It's wearing

But I like the 'symmetry' of my family - one of the reasons we never went for nr5 was that I would then have had to have a nr6... . I have no rational explanation for why I felt so strongly about that.