Key Highlights
- TikTok creator Mia Kuykendall, known as @miabkuykendall, reconsidered her preferred age gap after experiencing colic, breastfeeding challenges and postpartum depression.
- Mia originally wanted her children to be four to five years apart but now prefers an age gap of about two years.
- She said having children closer in age could help her move through demanding early-parenting stages within a shorter period and give her firstborn a sibling playmate.
Mia Kuykendall Reconsiders Her Preferred Age Gap
TikTok mother Mia Kuykendall, who posts under the username @miabkuykendall, shared why her plans for the age gap between her children changed after becoming a parent. Her video received close to 126,000 views and 270 comments.
Mia said she originally wanted to wait four to five years between children so she could experience each child’s infancy separately and avoid feeling overwhelmed while caring for two young children. Her firstborn is around 16 months old, but she said she is already experiencing baby fever again and now prefers to have her children about two years apart.
Her experience with her first son played a major role in that change. Mia said he had colic during the first few months of his life, and she faced difficulties while breastfeeding him for 15 months. She also said she began experiencing postpartum depression when he was about a year old.
“When he was about a year old, I started really going through it mentally, and . . . I felt like I was fighting every day to, like, stay happy and optimistic,”
Mia explained that she eventually recognized that she had been feeling this way during the breastfeeding period. After she stopped breastfeeding, she said she began to feel like herself again.
Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression Influenced Her Decision
Because of that experience, Mia said she worries about finally reaching a point where motherhood feels more manageable, only to face postpartum recovery and breastfeeding again several years later. Having another child sooner, she suggested, could allow her to move through those demanding stages within a shorter period while the experience remains fresh.
Mia also said a smaller age gap could give her firstborn a sibling close enough in age to become a playmate. She explained that she and her partner do not live near family and are often occupied with their own responsibilities. A sibling close in age, she hopes, could provide her son with a built-in companion as they grow up.
Mothers Respond to the Two-Year Age Gap Idea
Many responses came from mothers who supported Mia’s revised approach. One commenter said she had her daughters two years apart and described the relationship between them as increasingly strong.
“My girls are exactly two years apart and yes it’s challenging but it’s so nice having them close. My girls are three and one now and they love each other so much!”
Another commenter said she also preferred not to wait too long before experiencing the early stages of parenting again.
“Yes! I don’t want to wait too long to need to survive again! I feel like getting to enjoy their first year, then adding another baby isn’t a bad idea.”
The Daily Dot said it was unable to independently verify the personal experiences shared by TikTok creator @miabkuykendall, which are based solely on her account in the video.
Why This Matters
Mia Kuykendall’s story highlights how parents may revise family-planning preferences after experiencing pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and the mental-health challenges of early parenthood. Her original preference for a four- to five-year age gap changed after her first child’s colic, 15 months of breastfeeding and her experience with postpartum depression. Her comments also reflect the practical considerations parents weigh when they do not live near extended family, including childcare demands and the possibility of siblings growing up as close companions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age gap did Mia Kuykendall originally want?
Mia originally wanted a four- to five-year age gap between her children so she could focus on each child’s infancy separately.
What age gap does Mia now prefer?
Mia now prefers to have her children about two years apart. Her firstborn is around 16 months old, and she said she is experiencing baby fever again.
Why did Mia change her mind?
She cited her son’s colic, challenges breastfeeding him for 15 months and postpartum depression that began when he was around a year old. She said having children closer together could help her get through those demanding stages within a shorter period.
