Because newly 1 year olds are easy and so people think - wow time to have another! And it takes a few months to get pregnant, so you end up with kids 1 year 10 months to a shade under 2.5 years apart, haha.

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of maybe two or three friends, almost everyone I know (neighbors, mom's club members, friends) have their baby two years after their first. Most, no exaggeration, have them within weeks or days of two years apart.

What is it about this so-called magical age gap that everyone loves?

I think this is covered on page 3 of the Parenting Manual. Did you not read it, OP?

Mine are all 3 years apart-it's perfect.

In cultures where natural spacing rather than artificial birth control is the norm, this is largely due to breastfeeding and weaning patterns.

In the US, it's just convenient for many families. Also, most pregnancies are still unplanned.

I don't know ,but I do agree with you. I went the opposite direction and had three kids in less than 38 months, so I wasn't paying attention to trends

I think the people who do this have at least 2 or more of the following characteristics:

1. They have known from the start they want more than one kid
2. They want the baby stage over with as quickly as possible--they don't want to wait until kid #1 is so far removed from the baby stage that they feel like they are starting all over again with sleep deprivation, diapers, etc.
3. They get pregnant easily (i.e. can actually time these things).
4. They are older and feel a time pressure to have kids.
5. They found a nanny they loved for #1 and want to maximize her use for #2 as well.

At least this is what I've seen in my friends, neighbors & community.

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of maybe two or three friends, almost everyone I know (neighbors, mom's club members, friends) have their baby two years after their first. Most, no exaggeration, have them within weeks or days of two years apart.

What is it about this so-called magical age gap that everyone loves?

We aimed for 18 months apart and got 25months apart. I think 2-3 years is a natural gap. My grandmother was one of 7 and they were 2-4 years apart, mostly 2-3.

Anonymous wrote:Mine are 2y9mo apart, so not exactly 2 years, but I know many, many moms who time it to almost the day exactly so that they are 2 years apart. I think it's just easier. Play well together, a little space in timing college costs, etc. Plus, if you are only having 2 or 3 kids, you get done with the pregnancy/baby stage very quickly that way.

Also, here we're usually all starting later. If we all had our first at 20, then we might space them out a bit more.

You get through the trauma of the first year, the amnesia sets in, and boom, you're pregnant again.

No, but seriously, I think a lot of people get nostalgic for babies once their first is no longer one. Plus the desire for siblings to be close in age so they can be friends, keeping the diaper and daycare years into a condensed time frame, etc.

My kids are 3.25 years apart. We planned for closer to two but it didn't work out that way, and I'm happy with this larger age difference right now.

Most people want kids close together enough so they can play together, enjoy similar activities, grow up close in age.

But TOO close in age makes it too difficult physically, emotionally, etc for many people.

not that complicated... ?

For me, it wasn't so much of a "magical age gap" as it was things finally getting easier with #1 when she was around a year old so that I could finally see myself having another.

I think a lot of people wean at 1 year and their cycle finally starts up again and they get pregnant.
It's not magic, just biology.

I think 9 months prior to your first born's second birthday if the first time that it seems reasonable to pull the goalie after the insanity of becoming a first time parents, and people are often surprised how quickly number 2 finds that egg.

Mine are 2y9mo apart, so not exactly 2 years, but I know many, many moms who time it to almost the day exactly so that they are 2 years apart. I think it's just easier. Play well together, a little space in timing college costs, etc. Plus, if you are only having 2 or 3 kids, you get done with the pregnancy/baby stage very quickly that way.

With the exception of maybe two or three friends, almost everyone I know (neighbors, mom's club members, friends) have their baby two years after their first. Most, no exaggeration, have them within weeks or days of two years apart.

What is it about this so-called magical age gap that everyone loves?