Sibling Age Gap?

live4something · April 2015

Hi, ladies. I'm due Dec 4th (woohoo!). Our daughter will be 13 years old when the newest addition arrives. Does anyone else have a large age gap between children? I feel like we're starting all over. Our daughter will be off to college when this one starts kindergarten. For those of you who have gone through this, how was the bonding between your children? I want our children to have a strong connection but I'm worried that it will be difficult. Thanks and congratulations to you all!

c000501 · April 2015

My husband s younger brother is 12 years younger and he said he really enjoyed being a part of his life and being involved. They are the best of friends and things are great. They might have times where they are in different spaces in life but it works out. They are both men, so I don't know if that plays a role if the genders are same or different. Think positive.

mamagard4 · April 2015

My son will be 11 1/2 when this baby is born. Then an almost 9 year old and 3 1/2 year old as well. My son is really excited. He seems closer to his youngest sister than he does to his sister that is 2 1/2 years younger than him. The age span can be good. My brother is 12 years younger than me, and he is my little man. There is a special bond there.

twointow83 · April 2015

I think it might actually improve their relationship in the long term... they'll get to skip the sibling rivalry, lol.

dtucker1126 · April 2015

I have huge age gaps with my children. 23, 18, 9, 7, 3, 1 are the ages right now. My 23 yr old doesn't live with me or even in the same state but my 18 yr old does. He doesn't like children lol! But he is a good big brother. My sister is 10 yrs older than me. She wasn't around when I was growing up (she moved out at 16) but we have a great grown up relationship. My younger ones get along real well too.

Marchmellow2 · April 2015

twointow83 said:
I think it might actually improve their relationship in the long term... they'll get to skip the sibling rivalry, lol.

I agree with this.

Tlynn83 · April 2015

My family has kids 20-33. The age gap was fun growing up! I'm 31 and really close with all of my siblings. Have a huge maternal bond with my younger brothers. It was so much fun when they were little and even more fun now that we're older. My daughter will be six when baby gets here and I'm loving the fact that she'll be my big helper:)

stephiebabe88 · April 2015

@nayloves99: I was 17 when my sister was born. I know that's a wider age gap than the one between your daughter and baby-to-be, but I love the relationship I have with my sister (she's nearly 10 now, and I'm 26). Certainly we don't have the peer relationship that closer-in-age siblings often have, but we love spending time together. She looks up to me and I think she's a blast to be with. I'm also a teacher and I love chatting with her about her schoolwork, friendships, and how she's progressing, which we can talk about without her feeling the same pressure or angst she feels when our mom does. Anyway, I did go on a bit of a tangent, but all to say that a wide age gap can most certainly allow for a close relationship. Prayers, love!

stephiebabe88 · April 2015

Oh, and I second @tlynn83's sentiments about the "maternal bond." I would rock my baby sister to sleep and help care for her. It gave me a lot of experience! I'd babysit her as a toddler when I was home from college during the summer. Super fun times. Maybe your daughter will have the same excitement about being able to lend a helping, loving hand.

live4something · April 2015

I can't thank you all enough for your input/insight. Thank you for the encouragement!

OurBabyS · April 2015

I am 11.5yrs younger than my brother. We both felt like only children growing up, and it wasnt until my 20s that we started getting closer. I love the relationship we have today! My parents loved having a free babysitter!

lucky for me he had kids later in life so my LO will be 4.5yrs younger than his oldest and only 2 yrs younger than the youngest. The cousins will be close in age. Enjoy the older sibling who can help out!

RobinaCee · April 2015

There's also 13 years between my oldest and youngest. 21 and 8 yrs old. It was the best decision of my life!

lanaloulittle · April 2015

I am 18 years younger than my oldest sibling. We don't have a super close relationship, but my parents raised us completely different. There are 6 kids, so it's like there are 2 different families (5 year gap between the 2 sets). I think your age gap will be much better than mine. I do love having such older siblings because I am close in age to my nieces and nephews.

inthelost · April 2015

no huge gap here. my daughter will be 2 years and 3 months old when this one is born.

nmason824 · April 2015

My stepsons live with us full time. They are 15, 13, and 8. Our son together is 8 1/2 months. There is a huge gap between his kids and our's together. They are so helpful though and they love their little brother!! He really looks up to them.

bvaughn113 · April 2015

I will have a 4 year old and a new born

I feel like 4 years is a good difference. My brother and sister are 15 and 16 years older than me

elgrha · April 2015

My oldest will be eleven when this one is born. She's so maternal and caring that I think they'll have a special relationship. This baby will be my last so he/she will have three older sisters to dote on her/him.

Xnwif416 · April 2015

My mom has 25, 23, 22, and 21 year olds then a four year old. (Im the 23). The 25 year old ia married and has 3 kids who play with the four year old. Im married and pregnant now, the 22 year old is about to graduate college, and the 21 year old lives at home and works. The four of us love our "baby brother" and try to take him out to museums and other places when we can. He gets spoiled with love. Its all good here. Also,the older brother pretend fight him and have a "rivalry". All in good fun

sbost0118 · April 2015

Built-in babysitter!!! My oldest will be 18 and the next will be 15 when little one arrives. They already babysit my youngest three (for cash) and love it. When they want to earn money, they ask me don't I want to go out? I have so much more freedom this time around than when the oldest ones were little.

Also, I think personality is what drives the bonding. My oldest is very close to two of my little ones, but he tends to clash with one of the twins. They are too much alike! I'm picturing them wanting to spend the night at his house after he moves out. Plus the little guys will babysit my oldests' kids in the future.

neferhathor · April 2015

I am an only child but my aunt had a another daughter when her first was 13 and I was 15. I am really close with them and at the time we lived a few minutes away so we went to their house nearly every day. My cousin (who is like my sister) had SO MUCH FUN with the new baby girl! We played with her and took care of her like she was our own child. We took her places when she was a bit older, like to the movies and out to eat. Now that she's a teenager herself, we are still really close (despite the attitude... Yeesh!). My aunt also had a baby boy 19 months after that and it's the same story. I love them like they are my own siblings and have always loved spending time with them.

Caraherrera · April 2015

My sister is 17 years older than me and my brother is four years older than me my brother and I always got along really well and my sister and I do too she just wasn't living at home majority of my child. We're pregnant with her first and my husband has three children from his previous marriage better 17, 16, and 14 so we'll see how that age gap works out but I'm sure it will be just fine for you as well as myself!!!

kami2277 · April 2015

My son will be almost 17 and my daughter almost 12 when this one is born. :-)

babynumber2121415 · April 2015

My siblings are 25, 23, 11, and 9. I'm 21. Being the middle child I got to bond with the older ones and be a maternal figure to the younger ones. Best of both worlds! My daughter will be just over 2 years old when this one is born!

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