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Parentpedia
Planning the Next Baby
What Experts Say
For some people planning subsequent pregnancies is easy – they want to have siblings spaced a certain way or want to get the early childhood years over all at once. But others worry: Can we love two babies? Will caring for more than one overwhelm us?
The truth is that there is no perfect time to have another child – just like there was no perfect time to have your first. You can't guarantee siblings will be best friends or worst enemies just by virtue of their birthdays, or that you'll be more prepared next year than this one. So how do you decide?
"The ideal spacing between babies is the amount of time that you and your partner are comfortable with," says Gail J. Dahl, author of Pregnancy & Childbirth Secrets.
OK, that seems obvious but it's a good reminder, because in the end, this is about your family and no one else. Not your mother-in-law, your opinionated neighbor or the nosy woman at playgroup.
Take the time to talk to your partner about the same things as you did for your first baby: How will it affect your lives as a couple? As parents? How about your finances?
To get a feel for what parenting two (or more!) is really like, your best resource is other parents who share your parenting style and values. They can give you the scoop on the good, the bad, the ugly, and the sublime.
Whether that means your kids end up 18-months apart or you don't start trying again until Junior heads off to kindergarten — or even middle school — your perfect family doesn't have to look like one belonging to anyone else.
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The contents of ParentPedia are intended for educational purposes only. Such contents are not intended to, and do not, constitute medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on information presented on ParentPedia is at your own risk.
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