My mum had a baby when I was 18, my brother 14 and sister 12.... She said it was a bit of adjusting swapping her headspace from a 22 year old to a 4 year old but she had a lt of help!! (Yes, we are all 4 full blood sibling! It was just a nice surprise!!)

I had a lot of responsiblily for my brother, babysat him for a day a week while I was doing uni - I loved it. She used to bring him into my bed when he was a newborn after BF and I would sleep with him while she got the others ready for school i Took him to baby water play and a number of the maternal Heath nurse appointments for my mum... It was the most amazing thing having a baby brother at that age. I miss baby bro... He is now 18 and at uni himself, and he is such an amazing young man - we have all had a hand in reading him.

I suspect there are challenges whatever the age gap - and there are pros and cons either way... And no one can tell you which one is easier... Cause everyone has only done things one way....