2 boys 17 months apart. They are adults now and still very close. My DH has 5 brothers and they now go on long weekend brother trips.

I don't know if it means anything, but the families I know who have that set up have constant conflict and strife between the kids. It seems miserable.

It all comes down to personality. My sister and I are just under 2 yrs apart and have always been best friends. I don't recall us ever fighting. The only problem with the sibling dynamic in our home was that my 2.5 yrs younger brother always felt like an outsider since my sister and I were such a tight unit.

I do think when the close-same-sex-siblings aren't compatible that is the biggest opportunity for conflict. My kids are boy-girl, 1.5 yrs apart, and never great friends but also low drama. They have their own worlds and always did different activities while same gender siblings are often put together more.

My best friend has two boys two years apart and I wouldn't say they're a bad combination. They're very different and I do think the younger one struggles to find "his" things but they're pretty close and always have been.

I do think my girl twins are way closer, but they're also the same age so that's to be expected.

My brother and I are two years apart opposite gender and got along great as kids, even though we were very different (I was introverted and had anxiety; he was a super social athlete with very little fear). As adults, we've grown apart. We're not estranged or anything, but we're not close.

Basically, I wouldn't worry about this study when considering the age gap for your kids. They might be close and grow apart or bicker as kids and grow into a great adult relationship. Just have kids when it makes sense for your family.

My kids (boy and girl, 8 and 10) are almost exactly 2 years apart. They bicker and are different in a lot of ways but are also incredibly close and always have been. My brother and I are 4 years apart and although there's low drama, we are not particularly close. My bff has a sister 2 years younger and they merely tolerate each other. I think it's a lot of factors that come into play and not just gender and age gap.

I’ve got 12 and 14 year old girls who have a really great relationship. They can spend hours together and always have. Yes, I am very aware the teen years may change, but they really do have a strong friendship so far.

My girls are 12 months apart, and best friends.

I have two boys just shy of 2 years apart. Currently 13 and 15.

It’s been a great dynamic for us. They’re close and get along great. Share many interests, played together constantly when younger, know all the same kids, keep each other company when we travel.

I can see why it would not work out well but the two kids we got mesh together great and share a lot. They are at an age when I could imagine there’d be more conflict (my twin sister and I were not very close from 12 until 16) but so far we haven’t seen that. The younger one is actually pretty close with the older one’s friends and the older one doesn’t seem to mind having him around - though has no interest in younger ones friends - he claims all middle schoolers are awful except for his brother

Anonymous wrote:True in my family. My older sister bullied me me whole life. I finally had to ghost her. We haven’t spoken in years.

I have 2 daughters who are 2 years apart with totally different personalities. They get on fine. I have a big age difference with an opposite sex sibling. We didn’t get on that well in childhood and don’t speak outside attendance at family events now.

Don’t underestimate the influence of parents here. Like, who would let their bullying go unchecked?

I have two girls two years apart (now 6 and 4 years old) and they have always been close. They share and play together really well and have a lot in common.

My husband and his brother (now in their 30s) are three years apart and have always been like oil and water.

i have two girls, 2 years apart. they were never close at all as kids. they kind of are now in their 30s.

My sister and I are also 18 months apart and have always been close.

I have boys two years apart and then a daughter 5 years younger. The boys got along and were one another’s playmates when they were young. They are now 13 and 15 so in middle and high school now. While they don’t play together like they used to when they were little, they still get along. I wish they were closer but they don’t fight. They are focused on their own lives.

DDs are 22 months apart and in their 20s now. They are best friends and always have been.