Perfect age gap between children?

[ThinkPink]

DS is 5 months and and I just feel really strongly that I would like ttc when he is 9-12 months? DP is completely on board. It took us around 5 months last time so age gap would probably be around 18 months- 2 years. I know its a personal desicion but I was just wondering about other peoples experiences!! What was the gap between your children and would you change it??

[nuthinbutpink]

I like closer to 3 years. I can handle any 3 year old. They are typically potty trained or close to it, you can reason with them, they can help, they can communicate, life for us starts to get pretty predictable at 3 based on past experience. Before that and it's like Forest Gump and the box of chocolates-you never know what you're gonna get!

[atomic sagebrush]

I had two age gaps, with my older two boys it was 3 years 9 mos. and that was almost TOO long. My older son really had gotten used to the idea that he was king of the castle and took it really hard. Plus at that age he was imaginative enough to come up with some really horrific "punishments" for mom and dad LOL! They were never really the right ages to play together and really didn't get along very well at all until just recently.

Fast forward 13 years which is an age gap I'm sure NO ONE wants!!!

My little boys are only 20 months apart and while it was def. hard that first month, overall it was easier than the transition the first time. DS 3 just sort of accepted it after awhile and once I kind of had him trained in the way things were going to be, it wasn't this ongoing battle for months on end. Also, he and DS 4 are kind of more on the same wavelength and actually play pretty well together...there's way less difference between a 2 and a 1 year old than there is between a 5 year old and a 1 year old. So for us, the closer gap was actually quite a lot better.

[Missyslair]

Yea, i'd say 18-24 months. My boys are 26 months apart and they are now 4.5 and 2.5 and play GREAT together! #2 just wants to follow #1 around and copy everything he does, LOL. #3 is 18 months behind #2 and both boys just dote over her. And #4 will be 18 months TOO. I love having them close. They have each other to play with and stay out of my hair, LOL. J/K

[lindi]

I don't know this from experience, but they say sibling rivalry in the classic sense exists in age gaps less than 3 years. Something about how around age 3 children gain some security about themselves and so a younger sibling is a little less disastrous to their way of life. But I think there really is no perfect age gap it would depend on the personalities of the two kids.

[Bee Shine]

Mine are 2 years a part and I love it.

[Liv]

My boys are almost 3 years apart and my DD is 5 years younger then DS2. I really love the age gaps of the 3, seems to work well for us.

[WantingButWaiting]

My sons are 4.5 years apart and I liked it. My older son was going to preschool and not so demanding so I could focus more on my younger son. They don't play much together now however. My older son will sometimes entertain his brother or watch him for me but not genuine playing like he'd do with a friend.

[fourblessings4me]

I think it depends. My first two are over 5 years apart (due to m/c's and fertility issues), and I thought that was perfect. lol. Not realistic - especially if you want a big family, but...
My other children are 4 years apart and 26 months apart. The transition of the 4th child and the 26 month difference was, by far, the toughest. However, am not entirely sure the age-gap is as big of a factor as just the number of kids, period.

[xnicolax]

With my DS1 and 2 there is a 3.5yr age gap. That worked well when DS2 was born as the oldest was in nursery and I had more time to focus on the baby. However, now they are 11 and 7.5, they are too far apart in age and do not get on at all, at times I just cant bear them to be together. DS3 and 4 have a 2 year age gap and although they are only still quite young (3 &1.5) they entertain each other much better. You have to take into account that all children are different though. I think much of it has to do with my DS3's presonality I dont think there is a rigt or wrong age gap, you just make it work for your family.