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LovelyMummy
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Topic: 5 year age gap Posted: 12 October 2010 at 12:05pm |
Hi ladies, has anyone had a 5 year age gap between kiddies? If so how did you find it?
Thanks heaps
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Babykatnz
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Posted: 12 October 2010 at 1:04pm |
Have 5.5 years between DS and DD and it was great, he was old enough to keep himself occupied while I dealt with baby, he'd had time to adjust to being at school before she came along, and hes great at keeping her entertained while i get tyhings done around the house... plus she absolutely adores him!
Plus I didnt have to worry about doubling up on baby stuff (like this time around I need another cot, and possibly a tandem pram etc) as he'd long since stopped using that stuff
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Brandon - 05/12/2003 
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AandCsmum
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Posted: 12 October 2010 at 1:12pm |
It's great! Big kids especially big sisters adore babies & now they are playing together as well. I can safely leave them to play knowing there isn't too much mischief afoot.
Plus the best bit was that A went to kindy & then school during the day & I had all the time in the world for C.
I've had them sleeping in the same room, we just travelled to Oz for 2 weeks & it was great, she was big enough to go on the rides with one of us so we took turns.
Only downfall I found was the mid day sleep & that sometimes I have to wake him to get his sister from school but that was just routine that we had to fit around. He's certainly been a mobile baby in that respect.
I also find that C is really clued up about worldly things as he's copying his sister so he's been doing stuff that older kids have been doing from really young.
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Kel
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12
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monikah
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Posted: 12 October 2010 at 4:10pm |
the only experience i have had of it has been my sisters kids and i love them with all my heart but it is horrific (for them) they hate the same activities, tv programs, games etc.. they fight pretty much non stop. generally the older son ends up hanging out with dad and the younger girl sticks with mum. its like they are stuck in 2. all situations are different though. it worked better when they were younger as far as having a baby goes cos the older could help and stuff. it didnt turn to custard till the youngest was 3ish
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Babykatnz
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Posted: 12 October 2010 at 4:30pm |
Monikah, I love that my kids are into different things, means less fighting over one kids toys because the other wants it too (no way would my almost Mr 7 want to play with Miss 1's pram and doll etc, and Miss 1 is not interested in transformers and bikes) There is 3.5 years between my sister and I and it was really annoying having her take my stuff all the time as a kid... another year or 2 and I wouldnt have cared as I'd have been on to the next thing by the time she wanted anything I had lol!
Agree with Kel on the naps and routines making things a little difficult, its not something you can really work around as school finishes at (or close to) 3pm, so regardless of whether #2 is asleep, or needing to sleep... school pick-up needs to be done.
Also, shes gotten used to sleeping with noise as my oldest isnt the quietest of kids! Means she will sleep really well when we are out and about which is awesome. Especially since DP comes from a long line of avid speedway fans... DD (and this one coming) have no choice but to get used to lots of background noise!
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Brandon - 05/12/2003 
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monikah
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Posted: 12 October 2010 at 9:10pm |
i wasnt meaning to be a downer. lol. just saying that was my only experience and thought it was fair i put something up from both sides of the spectrum. i know that not all kids would be like that and it probably has a lot to do with how kids are raised and stuff too. im sure not all ppl go through this or there wouldnt be bearly as many large age gaps as there are. im sure its very rare
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escadachic
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Posted: 12 October 2010 at 9:40pm |
I personally have found the 6 year age gap between my 2 girls quite hard. Maybe it's cause I'm in my 30's or maybe it's because my nearly 7 yr old is just used to being the centre of my universe and spoilt and an only child. She does have some developmental delay compared to most children her age and I must say I've had less energy for her these days and my DP(who is not her Dad, but is babies Dad) has changed towards her, which sux. I do have PND which probably doesn't help. She is a lot like her Dad and the not so great parts of him, my older DD. I guess it is hard with a child from a previous relationship though, well at least in my case. I hear of a lot of people whose DP's are much better then mine.
Hopefully for you though, the age gap is a positive experience for you, as for many people it is a good thing, just wasn't so much fun for me.
Edited by escadachic
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jacobsmummy
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Posted: 12 October 2010 at 9:43pm |
Ive got a 4yr 1mth age gap between jacob and isabella, hes 5yrs 3mths and shes nearly 14mths old.
Ive found it ok with the big age gap it did mean he was toliet trained and he was a bit indepented and he helps with the baby, like 2nite he got a nappy for her which was helpful
I agree with the day sleeping, we have to time it round school like if shes asleep at 2.45pm i still gota wake her up and take her down or if hubby is home(he does nightshift) then she stays with him.
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_Deb_
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Posted: 13 October 2010 at 2:39pm |
Ooh got some news Shan??
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TheKelly
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Posted: 13 October 2010 at 4:19pm |
I have a 7 year age gap between my two, so closeish enough and its GREAT, Caitlyn is at school during the day and I can give Ty all my attention during the day .
Not to mention she is incredibly helpful and understands perfectly when I need to give Ty attention
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TheKelly
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Posted: 13 October 2010 at 4:22pm |
escadachic wrote:
I personally have found the 6 year age gap between my 2 girls quite hard. Maybe it's cause I'm in my 30's or maybe it's because my nearly 7 yr old is just used to being the centre of my universe and spoilt and an only child. She does have some developmental delay compared to most children her age and I must say I've had less energy for her these days and my DP(who is not her Dad, but is babies Dad) has changed towards her, which sux. I do have PND which probably doesn't help. She is a lot like her Dad and the not so great parts of him, my older DD. I guess it is hard with a child from a previous relationship though, well at least in my case. I hear of a lot of people whose DP's are much better then mine.
Hopefully for you though, the age gap is a positive experience for you, as for many people it is a good thing, just wasn't so much fun for me. |
Im sorry to hear that you're experience hasn't been so good ...hopefully as the girls get older things will get better
My daughter is from a previous relationship and i've been very lucky with DH as far as hes concerned SHE is his first child, first daughter, even tho this baby coming is a girl too.
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Renee & Lauren
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Posted: 15 October 2010 at 7:05pm |
I have a 5 yr age gap between my 2. I find it really good as DD is at school while I have 6 hrs with DS. After the first few week DD was a bit jealous but she got over it all and loves her brother to bits now.
To be honest there is no ideal age gap between kids though as I know people who had a short age gap between theirs and they had major problem. I haven't had too many problems with my 2.
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flakesitchyfeet
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Posted: 15 October 2010 at 7:19pm |
5yrs is the minimal age gap between my brothers and I.
TBH it's super hard work. I doubt my mum would change a thing though :) But I'm the only girl, and the oldest by 5yrs, so I felt it was my responsiblity to be a second mum, they probably resented me for that. Two of the younger ones are 7 and 13, and when they play rough and tumble it can be a bit tough too.
Yeah. Idk - I always wish I had a sibling closer in age.
It's cool for my 7yr old brother though, he's been an uncle since he was 5 and he thinks that just the bomb!
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Babykatnz
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Posted: 15 October 2010 at 8:17pm |
lol Flake, my borther has been an uncle since just before he turned 4, and he hated being called Uncle J..., when I came up home for xmas that year (he'd JUST turned 4 by then) he would always yell at me if I called him Uncle J... 'I'm not UNCLE J..., I'm just J...!
I'm actually more nervous about my less than 2 years age gap coming up, than I was about the 5.5 year age gap... never had 2 at home all day before!
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Brandon - 05/12/2003 
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