Age gaps.

[amytrisha]

How old was your first child when you had your second and how did they act with the new baby? X

 

[stripeycat5]

DS was 22 months and we had temper tantrums for a few weeks but nothing desperate. He is fine with her now and she adores him 😊

 

[Button#]

3 years 2 months and he was absolutely besotted and still is.

 

[apple_20]

2 years 3 months when she was born. He was completely uninterested with her tbh. Just accepted her quickly, now she steals his toys we have plenty of snatching but they love each other so much. She always wants to play near him and he cries if she's not in her cot at night. They share a room.

It's a great gap in my opinion though pregnancy with a toddler isn't easy

 

[Buttercup84]

2y9m between my 2 girls and my oldest has been quite jealous of the baby. She was the only child/grandchild for nearly 3 years though so I guess it's been hard for to have to share the limelight! DD2 is 11 months and adores her big sister, she never bears a grudge bless her

 

[zebbed89]

4 years between my 2! My daughter adores her little brother it's like he's been here as long as she has. Xx

 

[donnarobinson]

2 years between my two boys he wasn't really fussed at first then got a bit tantrumy but soon stopped they fight like mad but love each other so much to x there will be almost same age gap this time x

 

[mummytobe_93]

How old was your first child when you had your second and how did they act with the new baby? X

20 months exactly. My daughter honestly wasn't bothered by him at all. Ignores him most of the time apart from giving him the odd kiss and rubs him and says aw. If he's crying she also runs over with his dummy.

It is a hard age gap but good because she's not jealous at all which makes me feel a lot less guilty x

 

[confused87com]

Son was 21 months. Just wasn't bothered. Pretty happy and continued doing his normal things. Then was 4year 3 months when little brother arrived and again doesn't care. Daughter is 2yr 6 months and adores her new neither. To be honest they tend to leave him alone and prefer to be trying to murder each other!

 

[rwhite]

My son was 5, and has been excellent with her from the beginning. Literally no complaints here! There have been times when his behaviour in general has been difficult to manage, and no doubt this is because of our new family dynamic (and the fact that he only started school a few weeks before her birth), but overall it has been great

I think there are pros and cons to any age gap. I don't know if I would be patient enough to have a small age gap, but after all the hard work initially it must be great once the kids are a bit older and can play together and potentially be really close.

I do have concerns about the bond (or lack thereof) my children will have as they get older, and we have had to go backwards in a sense - DS had become so independent, but that also works to our advantage that he is understanding when I am busy breastfeeding and otherwise caring for his sister, and can get himself dressed and ready in the mornings etc.

 

[Perplexed]

Dd was 16 months. She didn't really seem to get it at first, but then she started wanting to carry the baby. These days if she does something and it makes him laugh (like jumping), she keeps doing it. She gives him kisses and hugs and rubs his feet and says aww. She's not jealous, but she doesn't want him playing with toys that used to be hers. but then even the cat isn't allowed to play with her toys lol.

 

[Pink Sarah]

2 yrs 3 mths between mine and ds1 absolutely loves baby, he just told me he loves him and he is a beautiful baby I could have cried lol! At the hospital when he first met him I didn't even get a hello just 'where's my baby' !!!

 

[xprincessx]

My DS is 4 years 10 months and has taken really well to his new sister. He doesn't find her very interesting yet as she mainly sleeps all day but he definitely loves her and likes to interact with her by reading to her and showing her his toys etc

Luckily he hasn't shown any signs of jealousy but we have tried to involve him as much as possible and made sure when people sent things for Amelie that he had something from us so he didn't feel left out.

 

[bumblebeexo]

My daughter was 2.5 when her baby sister arrived and honestly it couldn't have gone better. She loved her and wanted to hold her and kiss her as soon as she visited at the hospital. When her and OH left to go home she wanted to take the baby with them. We have never had any jealousy issues at all, I always make sure she gets a lot of attention too which I think helps. When DD2 naps I make an effort to do things one on one with her.
She always cuddles her sister and tells her "you're my best friend!". Obviously it's not always perfect and she does take things from her but if she takes the toy away from her she'll always find something else to give her. She does get mad if DD2 rolls over and starts playing with her things!
I'd definitely say it was a good age gap. DD1 has started nursery now she's 3 so in the mornings I get time alone with DD2 which is nice. It has been tough going back to sleepless nights/then having to get up at the crack of dawn with a toddler and also having them both needing my attention at the same time etc but I think that is all issues that you'd have with most age gaps.

 

[Eleanor ace]

21 months between my 2 and my eldest was such a sweetheart with his baby sister .

 

[bdb84]

3y9m between my first two and he was a dream.

5y2m between my second and third and again, it's gone amazingly well.

 

[Zeri]

5 years. DD was really excited and amused by him- she still is. They have a great relationship- no jealousy- and DD helps a lot with him.