https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 14:04:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby/page/2#post-2487019 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 01:26:59 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2487019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm only 2 weeks in haha. But 22 mo gap and my toddler boy has been super sweet to lil sis and not clingy at all. Like others mentioned my hubby totally tried to make efforts to bond w him during my pregnancy so he's used to daddy putting him down, playing w him etc..</p> <p>We also put out all the baby stuff early on and told him how this is baby's stuff and she's going to sleep here, wear this, etc...</p> <p>He's very loving to baby sis and kisses her all the time.. Very happy to see her and wants to be with her.. Doesn't get jealous when I'm nursing or holding her.. Which is surprising bc during my pregnancy when I was holding other babies he would get slightly jealous/possessive (not too bad.. If a baby was on my lap he'd want to sit on my lap too on the other side).</p> <p>But again it's only been 2 weeks... And I haven't been solo with the two of them very long... But definitely I can tell he knows she belongs to our family and he feels a connection with her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby/page/2#post-2487018 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 01:21:36 +0000 erinpye 2487018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think anything under 2 years apart is a medium gap. Mine are almost 22 months apart, it felt very small, and wasn't easy for the first year. My oldest was VERY jealous and melted down a lot. Now, it's awesome! (They're 2 and 3.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2487013 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 00:56:06 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2487013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our kids are almost exactly 2 years apart and I voted medium gap &amp; smooth. I was really nervous about this because DD was such a mama's girl, and really introverted/shy and mostly wanted me all.the.time. But to my surprise, she dealt with the transition really well, and was so loving and gentle to her baby bro. </p> <p>I think besides just temperament (in general, she is pretty even keel and logical - even as a toddler!)... during my pregnancy with #2, DH really stepped up and took on a lot of the kid #1 duties. He bathed her every night, took her on daddy/daughter dates, and we did bedtimes together. By the time #2 came along, she was already used to spending more time with daddy and becoming a daddy's girl while I focused more on the baby. </p> <p>It also helped that she was in daycare full-time, so it was really just the weekends that I was juggling baby + toddler... so maybe the transition wasn't as noticeable or a big deal to her. On weekends we did a lot together as a family so I don't really think she ever felt too shafted by the change - I just dragged the baby everywhere (poor 2nd child haha, but luckily he was an easy baby and very adaptable), and she seemed to understand when I needed to nurse or whatnot. Also, lots of TV/ipad time to keep her preoccupied whenever it was just me, her, and the baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2487009 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 00:50:05 +0000 birdofafeather 2487009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i think it's a pretty large difference in being less than 2 years apart and almost 3 years apart, so i didn't vote (because i'm annoying!). my girls are 2y10m apart and it's been medium. ha. not so easy (that was having 1 for me) but also not impossible or anything. sometimes i feel like it's hard but other days, it rocks. DD1 has been fine, it's me that needs the work!</p> <p>the almost 3 year gap is great because DD1 got herself dressed for bed and brushed her teeth while i nursed DD2 to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486973 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 22:42:37 +0000 mrsjyw 2486973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just over a 2.5 year gap and it's been a smooth transition. Ds went through a ton of life transitions that year and he handled becoming a big bro like a champ! We def had a period of his turning 3 but it never impacted his behavior or relationship with baby brother! If we decide to go for baby 3 were going to shoot for a smaller gap because I want to be done w pregnancy, but I wonder how different the transition will be with a smaller gap than we had with 1 and 2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486331 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 13:09:38 +0000 Anagram 2486331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Medium gap, LO handed it pretty well. I definitely needed more time to adjust as a mom of two, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486217 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 11:28:52 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2486217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Voted large gap &amp; smooth but they are almost exactly 3 years apart and it has been surprisingly smooth. Dd has been very accepting of her brother and we were able to talk a lot about it beforehand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486127 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:46:46 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2486127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our LOs are almost 3 years apart exactly. Their birthdays are 5 days apart. Our introduction couldn't have been smoother. LO1 loves his little brother, and he's really good with him. Sometimes I have to remind him to be gentle when he's hugging him too hard or he's pulling on his hand too much, but otherwise, I don't know how he's so good with him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486122 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:43:19 +0000 kodybear 2486122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a 20 mo gap it went pretty smooth. It took dd about a couple days to adjust. But she hasn't had many jealousy issues. She did go through a bit of a terrible twos phase but it started before DS came around the time of her 2-1 nap transition so I atttribute it more to that </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486117 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:40:55 +0000 LulaBee 2486117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 years apart and I have been blown away at how easy/how much older sister loves younger sister. Older is old enough to play on her own, understand what is going on, and help out with/dote on baby. We obviously have moments when older sister is needy or frustrated that she's not the center of attention, but overall much better than I anticipated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486116 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:40:47 +0000 Ms maths 2486116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>16 month age gap. LO1 seemed to not notice the baby for the first week she was home, and then it was as if he forgot she had ever not been there :)</p> <p>Now that they are older (12 months and 28 months), we do have issues sometimes: they both prefer mama at various times, they want the same toy, etc. But it seems like just typical sibling stuff, rather than a transitional issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486098 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:28:12 +0000 snowjewelz 2486098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm curious to since we're planning for a 2.5 gap. It really sounds like it depends on the temperament of the 1st LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486094 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:25:55 +0000 cat620 2486094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Medium gap between my boys (about 25 months). My son was NOT happy about having a baby brother for about a month. He slowly started warming up to the idea, but for a while there he was constantly throwing tantrums and crying all the time. It was hard </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486068 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:59:45 +0000 Applesandbananas 2486068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: I'm so sorry!! I didn't think about multiple siblings! I fixed it now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486066 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:57:41 +0000 Applesandbananas 2486066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: agree! I do think personality is huge, but age gap still plays a role :) it'd be much harder to do a poll of "what kind of personality does your LO have and how did that affect the adjustment to a new sibling?" Hahaha ;) and totally agree on the age gap, ours will be 3.5 too!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486065 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:57:18 +0000 Truth Bombs 2486065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 years exactly (their birthdays are 6 days apart). It's been pretty smooth. LO1 is pretty independent, sleeps and eats well for the most part, and can do her own thing when the baby needs me. She loves helping to take care of him so she thinks he's a fun project and not an attention stealer. The only time she gets mad at him is if he cries when Daniel Tiger is on 😝 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486061 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:54:47 +0000 lilteacherbee 2486061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>20 month gap and it was rough!! BUT it only lasted a short time (less than a month). My toddler started throwing tantrums all the time and didn't want anything to do with me at all, which broke my heart. After 3 or so weeks, he adjusted and now, 7 months in, he is fine and doesn't remember a time without his brother. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486050 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:35:21 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2486050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not quite sure where to vote. We had exactly a 3 year gap and it went very smooth. She was potty trained and could appreciate and understand her baby. However, I think anything less than that would have been a different story. Age 20 months - 3 years was a tough time with potty training for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486045 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:30:37 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2486045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>19 month gap and it was smooth. By smooth I mean that DD1 didn't seem to act out or have any trouble with her sister. Even 10 months later she's very loving kind and sweet to her. i struggled hormonally and recovery wise, but I don't think that was your question lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486039 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:24:34 +0000 lovehoneybee 2486039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're only 3 months into it, but mine are 3.5 years apart and by and large it's been very smooth. E is old enough to understand we were bringing a baby home (we talked about what it would be like A TON before I had her--about how she'd cry when she was hungry because she didn't have words yet because she wasn't big like him, etc). He's really eager to "be a great big brother" and help...get me diapers, throw them away, things like that. He can also feed himself and mostly get himself dressed, and is basically potty-trained. We've had a couple of small hiccups lately...he's been really clingy, but he's sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486038 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:23:42 +0000 JoJoGirl 2486038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: YES! Same as "are you close" questions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486037 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:23:39 +0000 KayKay 2486037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2.5 year age gap, and it was really easy. Much easier than I expected it to be! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486033 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:20:25 +0000 looch 2486033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was six when my brother was born and according to my mother, I handled it terribly. I didn't want my brother at all, I was used to being the queen bee. </p> <p>My husband, on the other hand, was 19 months when his sister was born, he says he doesn't remember a time when she wasn't there. They're not really close, he's closest to his sister that is 12 years younger.</p> <p>I think the actual number of years has nothing to do with anything, it's personality. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486028 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:15:31 +0000 winniebee 2486028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's also really dependent on the child rather than the gap. My first is really sensitive and feels everything in a really big way, I didn't really appreciate that factor as much as I should have </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486025 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:12:33 +0000 JoJoGirl 2486025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following :) we'll have a 3.5 yr age gap but I feel like that's "big" on HB so not many experiences reported! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486019 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 08:09:04 +0000 yerpie110 2486019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 years apart, and 3 months in, I consider it pretty smooth! Dd1 has adored her sister from the start and her biggest challenge was learning that I wasn't always available to her. We had our fair share of a few epic tantrums, but she has adjusted well and those are few and far between for now. We shall see what happens once the baby is more mobile... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486013 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 07:57:56 +0000 Mrs. D 2486013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wonder the same thing. We're still hoping for #2 someday soon, and with the financial plan we made with DD was little, we didn't start trying until this past fall. At this rate there will be nearly 5 years between them, so I do wonder if it will be smooth or rough since she's use dto being an only child. </p> <p>I will be following the responses on this poll! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486012 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 07:57:56 +0000 Cherrybee 2486012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>God, I'm so worried about this. E is already acting out and has become really, really clingy with me. I think it is because she knows she will have a baby sister in a few weeks but DH thinks that's all in my head and it is just her age..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486009 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 07:50:37 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2486009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Need multiple votes.<br /> 12 month gap has been my easiest.<br /> 36 months was also very easy.<br /> 24 months was marginally less easy.</p> <p>Overall adding new babies has been more challenging for me than for the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-age-gap-and-how-did-you-lo-react-to-new-baby#post-2486007 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 07:50:15 +0000 Foodnerd81 2486007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: same- dd1 doesn't really act out towards the baby, but has major tantrums I assume over not getting enough attention from me. I stay at home and she was used to all of me all the time. Dd2 thankfully is a good sleeper though. </p>