3 year, 3 months

[becstar]

We started TTC #2 when #1 was only 9 months old due to fertility issues.....it took longer than expected and I also suffered a miscarriage. If all goes to plan though I am pregnant again and there will be a 3 year 3-4 month age gap. What are the pros and cons of this age gap?
I wanted them closer together but am kind of glad i have had all this extra time to spend with just DS. It is nice to be able to have that, everything will change soon! Also, DS probably won't be toilet trained (he is just not interested and I don't want to push it too close to the new babies arrival) and is in the middle of dropping day naps but not coping too well with it. When he doesn't nap he is a nightmare, when he does he won't go to sleep and then wakes up at 5am. Not sure how I am going to cope with that while dealing with a new one!!

Bec

[TigerBlueBear]

The gap I have between my eldest and 2nd child is 2yrs and 2 weeks and between my 2nd and 3rd children is 3yrs and 3 months.

I was lucky with Tiger as he toilet trained early and was day dry when Blue arrived. However I did have double ups on nappies for a few months at night. I was also still at the stage of weaning Tiger off his dummy, and even though he had not had a bottle for months still tried to pinch his brother's on occasion - although he was not interested when Blue was having a breastmilk feed. Jealousy was not an issue but I think I was just lucky as Tiger has a very easy going personality.

I did regret having them this close as I felt it would have been nicer for Tiger to have had me to himself for just a little bit longer as it seemed he grew up very fast after Blue came along.

The three year gap between Blue and Bear was great. He was totally toilet trained and needed minimal help with getting dressed, eating etc. He was big enough to be given some duties to help with Bear and when I needed him to he played nicely with Tiger without me having to be constantly there. With Tiger being 5 he was very helpful and old enough to reason with to some degree such as making sure he and Blue played more quietly when Bear was having a sleep. It was nice that Blue had that extra year to be the youngest.

If I was doing it again I would opt for the larger gap.

[gidgeroo]

Hi
my two boys are just under 3yrs apart and I have found this gap really handy in a number of ways.

DS1 is self sufficient, toilet trained by day, feeds himself, easy to entertain, helpful with the bub, walks beside the pram, understands that he has to wait for things sometimes, keeps me company so I'm never bored... the list of pros goes on and on.

I would have liked to have them closer together but it just didn't work out that way for us. However, its turned out to be a really good gap in terms of giving me space to look after DS2 and also meant that I was able to spend nearly 3 years focusing on DS1 when he really needed it.

My DS1 has also just started dropping day naps (aaargh!) I hear you - he's terrible too when he doesn't get that nap.... whingy, whiney and sooky but we have started having a couch-rest. He sits up on the couch with a cushion and a blanket and has a bit of down time instead of a nap. This is helping his transition somewhat. It also means I can still do what I need to do while he's resting.

Its tricky getting coordinated with 2 but its more fun than stressful now that we are a few months down the track.
good luck!:smiliedance:
cheers Georgia

[2s'nuff]

We'll have a 3.5 year gap between DD ad #2. I don't think I could have coped with any less of a gap. DD is now fully toilet trained and can take herself off to the loo, can get herself undressed and almost dressed, feed herself, almost completely wash herself in the bath etc. I'm trying to teach her to become even more independant so that when #2 arrives, she'll be able to help me with lots of things.

DD is also a nightmare if she doesn't have a nap during the day, I just limit it to 45min-1hr (and have asked daycare to do the same). This way she's not so tired as the day wears on, but is still tired enough to want to go to bed at night. And she's always been an early riser, no matter what time she goes to bed:no: .

You can't do much about the gap, so just enjoy what you do have when bub arrives.

[rae80]

hi ive got 2 boys and another boy on the way in 5 weeks time he will bless us with his presents my fisrt and second born are 3 years and 4 months apart and i found this to be extreamly help full as #1 wanted to help out alot feaching me things like nappies and wipes ect but this time around its going to be tougher as there will only be a 16 month gap between #2 and # 3 number #2 still isnt walking yet so its going to be fun
good luck with everything