age between your babies

"Ideal" really is whatever seems best for you! Just remember to include the 9 months of pregnancy into your calculations... eg: for a 2-3yr gap, you'd look at starting TTC when #1 is 16mths old. If you got pregnant straight away, assuming #2 doesn't arrive early you'd have a 24mth gap.

For me: Gap between #1 and #2 is 4 years (with extenuating circumstances - Kiya is my daughter from a previous relationship, and was 6mths old when Nat and I met)
Gap between #2 and #3 was supposed to be 20-24mths, but ended up being 18mths after I found myself pregnant sooner than anticipated.
Gap between #3 and #4 hopefully will be at least 2.5 years - I need a break! I've been pregnant or breastfeeding since August 2004

We have 20 months between ours. While I do think it is a good gap, somethings I wish I had given more thought (and so think about this alot when I see mums with young bubbas posting about ttc again so soon)to was these things.
1.) morning sickness (I had it for 9 months this time) is EXTREMEMLY hard to cope with when you have a busy busy toddler.
2.) as is the tiredness of the first trimester, which dosen't really go away, cos you can't just sleep any old time when you have a toddly person
3.) if your toddly person isn't walking, think about how hard it is going to be picking them up when you are fatter!!!
4.) your toddly person will grow up that much faster, they're not your baby any more!

We haven't had any problems with jealousy at all, we have been very lucky, but I know a few mums with the same gap have. Just different kids, I guess. While it is hard now, I think in a few years, it will pay off, as they will be nice and close in age, and hopefully play well together!

We have 2 years and 9 months between our 2. In a way it is good Andrew is out of nappies and so we only have to buy for 1. But on the other hand he has been so used to being the centre of attention that he demands it all the time and its very hard to give him cuddles when BF. He is old enough to help with Joshua - getting a nappy and things like that, but is still too young to realise that his cuddles are a bit too much for Joshua and also he hasn't mastered holding him yet.

I don't think there is even an ideal age gap they just happen.

Big topic... look how many "snaps" there are! And when I started typing, there were no replies!

Were going to start trying for Number two when James is 2 and then number three when number 2 is five i have no reason why I have chosen these gaps. I think just like to work for a bit before I have number three.

Edited by Danni-chick

I agree with what ever suits you, three years was just right for me between the first two. My big girl was very happy to be a big sister at the age of 3.

And now, after a thirteen year gap, my two eldest (17 & 14) are stoked to have a younger brother.
They are enjoying him immensely :)

I think its all about what you want and can cope with. A friend of mine wanted to get her children all born within 7 years, so she had 4 under the age of 7 and was exhusted but loved every minute of it and coped really really well. Me, I couldnt have done that without loosing my sanity completely!

There's 3 years 8 mths between Maya and Sienna, and 3 minutes between Sienna and Mercedes

I would have liked a smaller gap between Maya and our next baby but it wasn't possible (Willie and I separated for 18 mths, then it took us a year to conceive again).

The way things have worked out is pretty perfect for us tho with having twins. I had a shocker of a pregnancy with morning sickness all the way thru (again) and with having twins I was that much bigger and more uncomfortable from far earlier on. With Maya being 3 already she was pretty independent (she used to get up and turn the DVD on and help herself to fruit and biscuits for breakfast on the reaaaally bad mornings where I couldn't get out of bed . And she is at preschool 3 1/2 days a week which gave me a break. Plus she is TT, doesn't need a stroller etc. And she's great with the gremlins, a little rough sometimes, and sometimes expects them to be a bit more 'aware' than they are but overall she's great. And she likes to 'help' - pick out their nappies, clothes, bath with them etc.

We (read I, coz Willie is not at all keen) would like to have one more, but it will be a couple of years away yet - mostly because with the disgusting pregnancies I have I wouldn't cope with TWO small babies/toddlers.

I'm not finding having 2 in nappies that much more work than when I just had one, but then TT might be a bit of a mission if you have a baby on your hands as well. And I don't know if I personally would cope with TT during pregnancy coz I would be too tired and sick (and lazy)

We have 3 and a half years inbetween Bay and jellybean I wanted at least 3 yrs because i wanted Bay to be past certain milestones such as walking, talking, almost at full time kindy etc, old enough to understand, fully toilet trained,a good sleeper, in his own room, independant etc etc probably just being fussy but those were our preferences
We also want to have 2 more children but at the moment we want to wait another 10 years and then start on the other 2 because these 2 will be alot older and easier and we will have a good 10 years to recover from bulk school fees, school balls, first cars etc etc plus DH and i will only be in our early 30s by then so not too late (im 23 now and DH is 21) oh and il be able to go back to work for a few years before i start on the SAHM stuff again

Hmm...

At first we decided that when Zaara is one we will try for another but since we have changed our mind several times.

Several reasons: Work, money and time of work etc.

And also yes I want Zaara to be potty trained....but I dont think that will happen. We wanna start trying for number two between June - Sep this year and if I get pregnant straight away then the gap between my two will be 2.5 years.

The Gap between my bro and I is 8 years. At first it was great as I helped mom heaps with nappies, feeding, putting him to bed etc....but then I became a teenager and he became a toddler and ...lets just say...he was in my space!!!