Boy/Boy Duos - Experience?

patchen30 · January 2013

My DH has a sister 3 years younger, and I have a brother 5 years older. We're both close to our siblings and always have been - not BFF close, but close. But we never had siblings of the same gender so I'm curious about this.

We just found out yesterday that our DS will have a little brother 19 months his junior in June. Of course #1 priority is a healthy baby, but I was a little thrown b/c I always imagined having a daughter and I don't know if we'll have any more. However, I love the idea of having two brothers close in age and imagine them having the same friends, playing sports together, etc.

If you have boy/boy siblings under two, what's your experience been like?

ridesbuttons · January 2013

The good: we got to reuse everything, including clothing

The bad: they are very competitive esp. when it comes to my attention

The ugly: DS1 was a horrible bully to DS2 from the time DS2 started to crawl (at 5 months!) to the time that DS2 could start standing up for himself (age 3ish); oh my god, there was not enough wine in my house to manage those times! lol

Now that they are 4 and 5, they do play to together some, though at other times they are like oil and water. Whaddya do?

JaysonandKristin · January 2013

Best part? See siggy.

There really isn't a worst part. There is no competition yet. DS1 has always been gentle to DS2 with the exception of when DS2 instigates the rough and tumble stuff.

We did a divide and conquer when we brought home DS2 -- DH took DS1 and I took DS2. Nobody had to stress that they weren't getting enough attention.

I don't know. Maybe my kids are just easier than most, or maybe I'm just too laid back of a parent. There isn't anything to worry about. People have been having kids forever. Just try to be flexible, assess the situation, address needs before wants and be happy for two healthy, happy babies!!

[Deleted User] · January 2013

My two boys are almost exactly one year apart. The younger one adores his older brother. They get along beautifully. Of course there are struggles over toys, but for the most part they share pretty well. Sometimes the older one grabs toys and sometime it's the younger one that grabs a toy and runs off. They share a room and we frequently hear them giggling after we've put them to bed.

We'll see how it goes as they get older, but so far, I'd say it's a really great thing.

okate0213 · January 2013

My two are 18 months apart. Like the previous posters, it was nice reusing things, clothes, toys, etc. They already have a great bond. My older ds is very sweet natured, so he has been great as the older brother giving kisses and paying attention to his brother. Toys are becoming more of a problem, he takes what the baby has, but I make sure to have him give the baby something else to play with or vice versa. They just started sharing a room to and I think they both really enjoy it.

As they grow older we shall see, but so far I love it!

lkm2006 · January 2013

I'll have two boys about 17 months apart. Obviously DS2 isn't here yet so I don't have the experience but I'm already finding the good things!

Like everyone else has said, re using things. Since there is such a small age gap, everything from DS1 is still in great shape. This will be super nice!

Also, whenever 3 comes along, the boys will share a room together which will be a big help having them the same sex.

I can imagine going through some harder things like competition later on, but I definitely think the pluses will outweigh any minuses.

Daisy22 · January 2013

It ROCKS in my opinion. Ds1 and ds2 are 15mths apart then ds2 and ds3 are 20 mths apart. DS1 and DS2 play so well together. They will go upstairs to their room and play choo choos forever just the 2 of them. It's really nice since ds3 came. They of course have their moments when they fight over a toy or get to rough with each other but they really do love each other. It helped that they are close in age so there really hasn't been a jealousy issue. Now with ds3 here, ds1 loves him and is always trying to make him laugh. Ds2 kindof ignored him the first few months but is comign around to talking to him and giving him toys. We only have a few rules in our house and one of those rules is you respect everyone in this house. I do not put up with the boys being mean to each other. If I don't know who started it, they both go to time out since they couldn't work it out on their own. If they can't agree who gets to play with a toy it goes up for a while on the counter.

I will say be prepared for the wrestling. I am like a referee 95% of the time. They LOVE to wrestle and its not being mean it's just boys. They are constantly rolling around on the floor.

And I'm totally jealous of those who got to reuse clothes. Ds1 was a HUGE baby and ds2/ds3 were both small. Ds2 and ds3 were opposite seasons. Ds1 and ds3 are both june babies but since ds1 was so big I have hardly nothing for ds3. And now that the big boys are older they are so rough on their clothes there is no way anything can be pasted down.

Mrs.V · January 2013

My 2 boys are 16 months apart.

Good: They have very similar interests (sports, cars, etc.) so they can play together, especially sports. They are best buds. They really miss each other when they are apart and they make each other really happy.

Cons: They wrestle and pick on each other a lot. For example, if one is playing well the other comes and does something just to bug them. Sometimes they are too rough with each other. When on their own they are pretty quiet and well behaved but sometimes when they're together they drive me crazy!

MrsW80 · January 2013

Mine are 16mos apart and I LOVE it! I feel so blessed to have 2 healthy baby boys, its just amazing. It makes it a little easier to deal with the craziness and high energy that little boys have!

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