Anonymous wrote:We’re gonna have this age spread! When did you all tell your older child they were gonna have a sibling? How far into the pregnancy?

I told my DD right away.

We’re gonna have this age spread! When did you all tell your older child they were gonna have a sibling? How far into the pregnancy?

I had my kids 5 years apart. I love the age difference. As a mom, it is so much easier to have my older kid in school all day so I can give my son the attention he needs as a baby. My daughter loves her baby brother to pieces.

I have 4 kids, currently ages 11, 8, 6 and 3. How they all interact depends more on their individual personalities and interests than ages. For example, the 11 year old and 6 year old are similar in personality and often play together outside but will also fight the most inside. The 11 year old dotes on the 3 year old and will play physically giving piggy back rides and roughhousing and will also help out like watch 3 yo for a few minutes if I have to run to the bathroom. My 8 year old is quiet and likes little kids so when 3 yo wants to play with trucks or imaginary play, that’s when they hang out.

My youngest sister and I are six years apart. We were very close growing up and remained so adults. A different kind of relationship than I had with my siblings who were closer in age, bit absolutely wonderful in its own way. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

My sister and I are 6.5 years apart. We weren't that close growing up, but we slowly became closer after I left for college and we are good friends now (at 36 and 30).

My two boys are 6.5 years by choice. They are the bestest of friends right now (12 and almost 6). They had a sleepover last night! I will say my younger child is exposed to older boy stuff, so instead of Paw Patrol he watches Cobra Kai etc. now I have a 3rd on the way (a girl) and she will also be 6 years from my current youngest (again by choice).

I feel like each of my kids got the experience of being an only baby. I also never had to chase two babies around. I’ve also had really great helpers. My first was old enough to reliably fetch things for me and dress himself for school etc. i absolutely love it!!

My girls are 8+ years apart due to secondary infertility. Our oldest loves and protects her little sister, but they also bicker and fight like any other siblings. We sometimes have to remind her she is NOT the parent and she does NOT make rules. But seriously, they hang together (probably helps that the pandemic has brought us a LOT of family togetherness) - they have movie night sleepovers and the little one sneaks into her sister’s bed quite frequently.

I honestly think it helped that I had no preconceived notions of how siblings are supposed to be because I was an only child.

Personally know quite a few families with kids who are 6 years apart. All worked out great and are happy.

Can I respond? Six years apart from my youngest-older sibling. I have great memories of him babysitting when I was in elementary school. We adored each other. We did fight. And certainly was never a fair fight with me being so much younger. When Mom was around, I would go running to her. But he kept me from being a brat. I learned so much about life, what was ahead. Made me a more confident teen/adult, more confident than my peers, imo.

My brother is six years older than me, and it’s been such a good age gap that my husband and I want the same one with our kids!

My sibling and I are 7 years apart. It was kind of an aunt/nephew relationship at times but a very loving one. We were close growing up and are close now as adults. I feel more kinship w him than w my other sibling who’s 3 years apart.

Best thing about that age gap is one is already in public school at that point so you're not paying for two in daycare.

They probably won't be close friends in childhood but they can be close in early adulthood. My DH is 6 years older than his youngest brother and they do "game day" marathons where they play video games and board games with a mutual group of friends. With an age gap like that they are like 2 only children, which has advantages (e.g. you have more time to pour into them individually). I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm sure it will be fine!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all my siblings, I’m closest to the ones who are 4 and 8 years apart from me.

Actually with my 10 year age gap multiple people from large families told me their closest sibling was the one with a 9/10 year age gap.

My DH is the youngest of 4 boys, and his oldest brother is 10 years older. As a child, he was closest to his nearest-age brother, and I think he felt like he barely knew his oldest brother, but in adulthood, his oldest brother is his favorite and who he is closest to.