Most siblings are 2 to 3 years apart, with the gap small enough to establish a close relationship, but far enough to establish seniority. But what if your children have a wide age gap, like 5 years or more? In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits and challenges of raising kids with a wide age gap.
The “Best” Age Gap Between Siblings: Does It Exist?
When planning for a family, parents often think about spacing their kids.
Some want to get all things done early on, so their interpregnancy intervals are small. Others want to give undivided attention to each child, so they try to keep the siblings apart in age.
But, is there really “the best” age gap between children?
If you’re looking for a one-size-fits-all answer, there isn’t one. After all, the best age gap depends on many things:
- Is it physically and mentally okay for the mother to conceive again?
- Are the parents financially and emotionally prepared for another baby?
- What is their preference when it comes to spacing their children?
One report titled, Effect of interpregnancy interval on birth outcomes: findings from three recent US studies, that reviewed three studies mentioned that kids should be 18 to 23 months apart because it is in that gap where adverse birth outcomes are at their lowest. Another paper, Birth spacing and risk of adverse perinatal outcomes: a meta-analysis, mentioned the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes increases when the gap is shorter than 18 months or longer than 59 months. However, these are reports focused on the birth outcomes and we must also consider the parents’ readiness and preference.
Possible Advantages of Raising Kids with a Wide Age Gap
Is there an advantage to having kids with a wide age gap? Interestingly, there are!
More Time to Breathe
Envision a parent with 3 kids: 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years old respectively. One needs constant nappy changes, the other might still be under potty training, and the oldest probably still needs help in the bathroom. Imagine when all these kids need their mom or dad at the same time. It will surely be overwhelming.
When siblings have a wider age gap, the oldest can usually play with little supervision, while mom or dad attends to the needs of the baby.
More One-on-One Time With the Younger Child
Another advantage of raising kids with a wide age gap is the ability to have more one-on-one time with the younger child.
When the older child is already in school, parents can focus on the younger baby. They can play with them more and do things that promote their growth and development.
Less Possibility of Jealousy
According to experts, jealousy between brothers and sisters is common: it may start at the arrival of a new baby and persist until the kids are well into their teens.
When children have a wide age gap, there might be less possibility of jealousy. That’s because the older sibling can be old enough to understand that it’s normal for families to have more than one child. In fact, with patience and guidance, the older child might even be able to help take care of the baby.
Additionally, when kids are farther apart in age, it’s less likely for them to feel competitive toward one another.
