If you're fine with 2.5 years, I'd start trying now. I got pregnant on the first try the first, second, and third times, but the second pregnancy ended in an early miscarriage. You just never know. I don't think it makes sense to try to time children so precisely.

(We have girls who are almost exactly 2 years apart. Best friends, no, but it's been fine.)

If you're fine with 2.5 years, I'd start trying now. I got pregnant on the first try the first, second, and third times, but the second pregnancy ended in an early miscarriage. You just never know. I don't think it makes sense to try to time children so precisely.

My girls are 3y4m apart and it has been fantastic
spacing. They are best friends--now 6 and 9.

Sister and I are 1 year apart, brother was 3 years later. Overall, 2 years works much, much better than 1 or 3, you're still in the swing of "baby," but you're not breastfeeding or doing purees anymore. And 2 gives an incentive to potty train the older one

I conceived right away with first but it took alot longer for my second so consider that

For us in DC- the free preK at 3 was a key motivator in waiting until then for the second.

We have detected zero jeolousy from our older child. They adore one another. It is a beautiful thing to watch.

OP, if I were you, I wouldn't wait. The older I get, the harder the sleep disruption is physically. If I could rewrite time, I would have my kids earlier (requiring that I met DH earlier, etc.).

Anonymous wrote:Mine are 2.5 years apart and I did not find it overwhelming. I don't think they would be as good buddies if there were more of an age difference. It's also a common age difference, they have friends with same age siblings, so that makes for good double play dates.

Pp, mine are girl/boy and three years apart in school.

Mine are 2.5 years apart and I did not find it overwhelming. I don't think they would be as good buddies if there were more of an age difference. It's also a common age difference, they have friends with same age siblings, so that makes for good double play dates.

This is OP. Lots to think about but it seems like more advocates for a longer gap. I got pregnant on the first try with #1, at age 33. So I'd be AMA by a little bit either way for #2.

First was a winter baby and I hated that, so ideally I'd aim for spring, summer or fall but not winter. That makes an 3 years apart tough. Given that older DC is a winter baby, he'll be oldish for his grade in school. A spring or summer kid would be on the younger end.

Baby fever is setting in too....

Anonymous wrote:2.5. Perfect!

2 boys. 1 school grade between them.

They are very close and the best of friends.

7 and 9.5 currently.

They do the same camps, have the same interests--makes life easy.

+1

Or less!

My family was 3.5. Definitely make the children closer in age, if at all possible. So they won't be complete strangers to each other down the road. It is totally worth sucking it up for the first couple years.

mine are exactly 3 years apart. It will be easier in many ways to have them 3.5 years apart because a 3 1/2 to 4 year old is so much more independent than a 2 1/2 to 3 year old, and less prone to jealously and bad behavior. but I can see the advantages of having a 2.5 year age gap in terms of the logistics of more years being at the same schools, same activities etc.

would they be 2 years apart or 3 years apart in school with the 2.5 year age gap?

in hindsight, I would probably have had DC1 earlier and gone for a 5 year age gap.

2.5. Perfect!

2 boys. 1 school grade between them.

They are very close and the best of friends.

7 and 9.5 currently.

They do the same camps, have the same interests--makes life easy.

My two girls are 3.5 years apart, and the age gap is perfect for us all. The older one could legitimately help when the younger one was a newborn, like getting things for me while I was nursing the baby. More importantly, the 3.5-year-old understood to a better extent what was going on when her sister came along, instead of just feeling rejected or replaced, and she's always loved being a big sis. My youngest is 3 now, and the two of them are close and play together. I sometimes think about how having kids closer in age helps with financial aid when they are in college, but I guess everything has pros and cons.

We have a 2 year 3 month gap and a 2 year 10 month gap. The second was much easier. But the first was nice from a friendship perspective.