Spacing Children
If your one-year-old is your first child, you might be wondering if and when you should have your next baby. Discuss this with your partner, but there's something you should keep in mind. You need to give yourselves some time to let your mind change because very often the desire to have another child is based on the mood and behavior of your first child. Is he being especially cute? Let's have another one! Is he being difficult today? Maybe it's time to stop now.
The most important thing is that you and your partner discuss what would work best for each of you, both of you as a couple, and for your child.
Question
I can't wait to have another baby, but my husband is hesitant. What can I do?
Ask your husband for details about his concerns. Is he worried about money? His ability to cope with two children? His opinion is likely based on his desire to keep your family happy and healthy, so if you listen to him with that in mind, there is a better chance that you'll be able to come to a decision together.
Things to consider include the following:
• Schedules
• Money
• Your mutual relationship
• Your current family dynamic
• Goals you have for yourselves
• A new baby's impact on your careers
There is no right answer to the question of when or whether you should have more children. However, it is important that you should know that your body does need time to recover from pregnancy and childbirth, as well as breastfeeding and weaning. The medical community currently recommends that women wait eighteen months between pregnancies. If you want to only have one child in diapers at a time, wait three years. (This way they can still be in school together and be close in age.)
