Having children close to the same age?

Question

Has anyone ever had children really close to the same age? How did you like it? I know its going to be alot of work but I have a 6 month old and we would like to start trying for #2. I know it can be challenging but I just wanted to hear how you like it and handled it? Thanks

Answer 1

My kids are 6, 4, 3, and 1. So they're all pretty close.

My son and daughter are 4 and 3 respectively, and I'll tell you upfront; it IS a challange some days. They're only 17 months apart, and that comes with it's own difficulties. I should tell you; they're the best of friends. They play together all the time, and get along famously about 80% of the time. I really can't wait to watch their relationship progress as they get older. But it can be really hard some days. It seems like whenever my son is finally over a "phase", my daughter starts it. Like sleeping through the night, potty training, sucking the thumb, etc. And when they do fight; they FIGHT. That's mostly what I'm worried about when they get older, as I had an older brother and sister who were seperated by a year and they fought like h**l all through elementary school - high school. It's just that being close in age means they like the same toys, games, and friends, etc, so they have to share that much more often. So we'll see.

But overall, I'd do it again. They're good kids. :)

Answer 2

i think it's great ,  i have an 11 yr gap between my oldest and the baby and im trying for #3 immediately so that my baby can have a playmate. :)

Answer 3

Well I can give you a first hand account because I'm fourteen and my sister is thirteen, we're less then a year apart. Of course there are ups and downs, but mostly I just think its a bad idea to be so close in age. I never really got a chance to be the 'baby'. I was only eleven months old when Jamie came along and after that the attention was on her. Everyone- parents, teachers, friends, etc- compares us in every aspect. People will say all the time who they think is smarter, prettier, funnier, hotter, and it gets so annoying! Plus I can never really be the 'oldest' child because were only a year apart. So I didnt get any advantages of being the oldest. Just expect a lot of fighting and competition, for a long time lol. Good luck!

Love Haleigh<3

Answer 4

My youngest is 5, and my second youngest is 6. They grew up close together.

Answer 5

My daughter is turning 1 and my son is due next month, it's hard and sad for me, I'm tired 24/7 and I can't pick up my daughter as much as I'd like to.

Just think about waiting a little longer in my opinion, maybe when your first child is 1 or 2.

Answer 6

All my kids are pretty close in age... I have a 5,3,& 10 month old and i'm expecting the 4th! It will be hard but anythings possible! =D I like it! I think they all can get along! I mean they have fights but you just break em up and later they are best friends forever!

Answer 7

I'm sure it is manageable, but don't you worry that you are taking away your 6 month old's "babyhood" too soon?  It isn't fair to have to be the big brother/sister when you are barely a year old.  I'm not trying to tell you what to do here, but personally, I would savor that time with him/her while I had it before I tried for another.

Answer 8

yea actually I had two the same day LOL twins obviously. It was hard at first but once we found a good routine, it wasn't so bad. I was lucky to have tow good babies, no colic and they were both easy going sleep through the night at 2 months old kind of babies.

My twins were 2 1/2 when my next was born but after having two at once, my 3rd seemed like a piece of cake! LOL My youngest was born when my middle one was just about 3 and my twins were 5 1/2

My sister and I are only 11 months apart. We are actually the same age for two weeks.

Answer 9

Mine are 18 months apart, girl then boy.  They get along really well, always have.  When they were little she liked to help with him a lot and it was great they were able to play together and pretty much with the same age group of toys.  They grew up knowing they had to share because of that.  As far as my daughter is concerned, he's always been there so sharing is just part of it.

Instead of dealing with diapers for 4 years (2 years each) I only had them 3 years, because 1 year overlapped, lol.  Lickety split, done with diapers...YAY ME!

When they were toddlers, they helped each other make trouble and I think that was the hardest part for me, lol.  They tag teamed me.

They're teens now and they actually like to hang out together.  They get along with each others friends, go to mall together when there's no one else around, she gives him advice on high school and he's able to give her a boys perspective (from her age group).

I think close together is the best way to go :-)

Edit:  When they would fight as 5-7 year old, I would give them time outs in the same room and tell them to work it out.  I didn't care if they were in there agreeing they both thought I was a meanie...as long as they were getting along.  Arguments are very rare with them now, they were always forced to work through it so they know how.

My siblings and I were farther apart in age and closing us in a room together would have meant someone was coming out bruised and battered.  lol

Answer 10

Well i have a 13 year old daughter, she's the eldest and she has younger siblings. I guess if you have close age children like one 11 year old and one twelve year old they can keep eachother company.

Answer 11

My sister and I are 11 months apart.  As children, we were very close and always played together.  As teens, we developed our own interests and groups of friends.

My children are spaced farther apart.  Current ages:  26, 22, 11.  Though the older two are great friends now, they were never really playmates.  The little one is more like a niece to them than a sister.

My sister's kids are exactly 1 year apart.  Yes, it was difficult when they were both babies.  Two in diapers, two in car seats, etc.  However, they always had a playmate!  They are 22 and 23 now, and still as close as can be.

No matter which way you go, there will be people who think it's the wrong choice.  But if it works for you and your husband, that's all that really matters.

Best wishes!

Answer 12

My first and second are 4 years, 3 weeks apart. I like the age difference because it gave us the chance to spend time with only one child. I sometimes wish they were closer together, but most of the time I love the age difference. We just had our third child two weeks age. There is a 6 year, 8 month age difference between our first and third. There is a 2 and a half year age difference between our second and third. I think that the two younger kids will be closer, even though one is a girl and the other is a boy. I think that the oldest and youngest may not be as close as I would like, but you never know!

Answer 13

i have a 4 yr old, twin 19m/o's and one who is a week old.

i think it is better because they get to grow up together and play together etc.