Spacing Between Siblings
Is there an ideal spacing between siblings? Find out the pros and cons of spacing your children close together versus farther apart.
Aug 22, 2006
While some parents decide to space their children close together, others may feel that it's easier to have their first child in pre-school or kindergarten before they tackle the demands of another baby. There are actually good reasons for a closer spacing between siblings as well as spacing siblings farther apart. Here are some of the pros and cons of both.
Spacing Siblings Close Together
Advantages:
- Parents are already used to the demands of little ones.
- Siblings are close enough in age to play together.
- Research shows that kindergarten-age children have better social skills when they have younger siblings.
Disadvantages:
- Possible double diaper-duty!
- Raising two babies at once can be more tiring on parents.
- Same gender siblings may be more competitive as they grow up.
Spacing Siblings Farther Apart
Advantages:
- Parents have had some time to "recover" between siblings.
- Parents can devote more time to one baby.
- An older child can be more of a helper for younger sibling.
Disadvantages:
- Siblings spaced apart may not share the same interests.
- In some cases, spacing farther apart may be harder for parents to get back in baby mode again.
- Siblings who have been the "functional only child" may have a harder time adjusting to the new baby.
There is no ideal spacing between siblings for every family. What works best for some families may not be the best for others. One parent recently mentioned to me that they spaced their children 4 years apart to avoid having two in college at the same time!
However many colleges provide more assistance to families with at least one in college. So all things considered, the spacing between siblings may be a draw in the end. Parents should make family planning decisions that best suit their own needs.
How close in age are your babies? Tell us more.
