A TikTok mom, @miabkuykendall, posted a video that received nearly 126,000 views and a total of 270 comments, describing why she changed the age gap between her children that she originally wanted after her firstborn. Initially, she said she wanted a bigger gap so she could enjoy each stage of early childhood individually, but after experiencing what happened with her first child, she has other ideas.
Mia started the video by explaining that she originally wanted an age gap of four to five years, but has since decided that she would prefer to have her children about two years apart. Her firstborn is about 16 months old and she says she already has baby fever again.
Mia explained that her initial preference was largely to have enough time to enjoy each stage of her children’s development without feeling overwhelmed by having to divide her attention between two young children.
However, her experience with her first son made her rethink this plan.
One commenter agreed with the idea of having older children, saying it could mean getting through the most demanding early years together. “Girl, yes, get through the tough years TOGETHER, then when they are older and close in age, it will be a dream!! Mine are 17 months apart!” the commenter wrote.
Breastfeeding and postpartum depression made Mia reconsider the age gap
Mia said her first son suffered from colic in the first months of his life and she also faced difficulties breastfeeding him for 15 months. She added that she started suffering from postpartum depression around the age of one.
“When he was about a year old, I started to really experience it mentally, and…I felt like I was fighting every day to stay happy and optimistic,” she said.
Mia explained that she finally realized that she felt this way during the breastfeeding period. After she stopped breastfeeding, she started to feel like herself again.
Because of this experience, Mia said she feared finally reaching a point where motherhood seemed more manageable, only to face the challenges of postpartum recovery and breastfeeding again several years later. She said bringing the children together could allow her to complete these demanding steps in a shorter period of time, while the experience is still fresh in her mind.
Mia also said that having another child closer to her firstborn could give her a sibling to play with. She explained that she and her partner do not live near family and are often busy with their own responsibilities. She hopes a smaller age gap could mean her son will have a built-in playmate as he grows up.
Reactions to this post come largely from mothers who agree with the two-year age gap method. One commenter said she had her daughters two years apart and their bond grew stronger. She wrote: “My girls are exactly two years apart and yes it’s a challenge but it’s so nice to have them close. My girls are three and one now and they love each other so much!”
Another commenter agreed with his strategy. She wrote, “Yes! I don’t want to wait too long to survive again! I want to enjoy their first year, then adding another baby isn’t a bad idea.”
The Daily Dot was unable to independently verify the personal experiences shared by TikTok creator @miabkuykendall, which are based solely on her account in the video.
Gn Health
