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.

© Brenda Lane

Siblings at play, Janet Goulden
When parents begin to plan for the second baby, they may wonder what the ideal spacing is between siblings. There are many issues to consider when planning your family.

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:

Disadvantages:

Spacing Siblings Farther Apart

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

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.


The copyright of the article Spacing Between Siblings in Pregnancy & Childbirth is owned by Brenda Lane. Permission to republish Spacing Between Siblings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.





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