Hello,

My first two boys are 21 months apart, my second and third boy are two years and one day apart, my third and fourth boy are about four years and two weeks apart and my fourth and fifth boy are about six years and two weeks apart!!!

To be honest, I think the closer together the better.  When my first two were little, they were fantastic together. I could take them out anywhere and the eldest would walk by my side holding the pram and I never found it difficult at all. 

The gap between my third and fourth boy I think is too large, and same goes for the fourth and fifth, but that wasn't planned!!! I did plan the gap between my third and fourth because after I had my third, I found out that my eldest was autistic, so I thought a bigger gap would make more sense while I was coming to terms with that.

I am currently pregnant with boy number six and the gap will be 21 months again and I think it's going to be great.  The youngest is very out of place with all the older boys here and having a child his own age is going to be great in another year or two.

Good luck with it all.

Tanya

sorry just thought of another con at the moment i am toilet training my 3yr old and the nearly 2yr old makes it hard cos i cant leave the toilet door open or a potty out, Hes to young to toilet train but wants to cos she is and if he gets into the toilet what a mess. But i suppose thats part of having kids,

i have kids close in age the first two are 21mths apart  and the next two are 18mths apart, The only problems i had was needing two cots but i used a portable cot for the older one. You will need a double pusher as well. My kids play together most of the time but do fight but what kids dont fight. I had fat babys so when the baby turned 8mths both children were in the same size nappy as well. The only con of having them close together is sometimes i have had to get up to both through out the night.

 my to boys are 2years and 1 month apart.  It was great, no sibling rivaly.  They have similar intersts (tv shows, music, toys etc). They fight, but not seriously (ie, the big one is still too little to seriously hurt the 'baby').

For the first little while it is hard as you need to supervise them both, but it becomes much easier.  I love having my too little boys.

There is a lot of info on the internet about sibling gaps.  You need to leave enough time for your body to heal from the first birth (12 months is enough to make sure the second baby gets enough nutrician). Other than that, it is up to you.

Having no children of my own I can only comment on a friend who has 4 children 3 boys 1 girl

2 boys ages are 18 and 21 the next boy is 4 and the little girl is 2 This is what they planned 

and are enjoying their young family all over again. So really I believe its up to the individual as to how you feel in yourself as to how soon or far apart. they are all the most precious gift anyone could have. Just sorry I couldn't have any, circumstances  were against me.

Ciao Vicki 

love the bigger age gap, have found that the nearly 4 years between my kids has ment that i can enjoy each of them on their own and focus on the things that each is interested in. there is also verry little fights between them. my son who is now 6 tends to look after my 2 year old daughter alot and watches out for her. he is quite the protective brother and loves to teach her new things. when he is at school i can play with her and dont have to deal with two or more kids in that tantrum phase or nappies or help with feeding etc. but i am lucky because i have good hours for work that fit around my partners work. the one advantage to having them close together that i wish i had was the ability to get back to part time work quicker. (since childcare and i dont agree) it is something that we had to work at.

Ooh, here's one I have a lot of experience with!!

I have four kids and one on the way.  The gaps are as follows: 18.5 months, 15.5 months, 22 months, and eventually another 22 months.

Pros: There seems to be less jealousy of the new baby because the older one is too young to know better.  The kids play very well together and are very good friends, which gives you some space to do things without them needing you to entertain them all the time.  You condense your nappy changing years (BIG bonus!).  You don't have to store the baby clothes and equipment for as long between kids, and the number of years spent stuck at home are reduced.  I am just finding out now that the younger kids miss the older ones as they start kindergarten and school, so it's good that there is only one year to wait before the next one starts.  Later in life, I think it will be worth it, because they will be close friends... I hope.

Cons:  You need a big pram, and multiple car seats.  You have a lot of nappies to change, and often have to buy different sizes and pack stuff for multiple youngsters when you're going out.  Often it's easier to stay home than to go out somewhere with little ones.  The older child is still a baby and needs your care, and cannot help with the new baby.  It's difficult to train multiple little ones and they can run rings around you at times.

I still think we did the right thing for us, having our kids close.  For us, the pros outweigh the cons, and it is getting easier, because our oldest is 6, and she is a good girl, and very helpful.  I love having a pack of young'uns all playing together, and they can all enjoy the same games, because their ages are close.  I don't  have a clue what it's like to have a big gap between kids.  I assume it's fine.

I have 2 boys 23months apart.  I love it.  I think it's great to have them close together.  They play together and the oldest it protective of the younger and now I've noticed that the youngest have feelings like that too, obviously he's small, but it's still very cute.

I think it's what you think you can cope with, some people like to have the older in kinder or school, so they have some time out etc, but I think the second it easier so it doesn't matter.  I think that a 2 yr age gap is good.  But then again what have I got to compare it too lol