Ideal Spacing for Siblings

You might picture several children when you think of the ideal family, but when it comes to planning your pregnancies, the dream gets more complicated. Several factors need to be considered when deciding whether it's the ideal time to add a new child to your brood.

  1. Health Concerns

    • The health of a mother and her babies can be affected by the spacing of her pregnancies, according to the Utah Department of Health. Mothers who want to increase their nutritional stores should wait at least six months after finishing breastfeeding before getting pregnant again. Rates of low-weight infants and infant deaths also fall if births are spaced at least 2 1/2 to three years apart. Pregnancies that are spaced too far apart -- five or more years -- could also lead to increased risks for mothers and babies, such as slow or difficult delivery, according to MayoClinic.com.

    Closely Spaced Children

    • Children who are spaced too close together can present financial and logistical problems for parents. Mothers might find themselves buying double the diapers, wipes and other necessities for young children. It can also leave parents on their toes, as they might be going through more frequent changing, nursing or potty-training sessions, according to Katrina Brown Hunt, writing for "Parents" magazine. Biological deadlines can also make it unwise for women to space out pregnancies longer than 2 1/2 to three years.

    Gaps Between Children

    • Large gaps between pregnancies can prolong the amount of time you spend rearing children, and children between two and four years apart might be more likely to experience sibling rivalry, according to "Parents" magazine. Spaces of five or more years might also give you additional help because older siblings can fetch diapers or participate in feeding a new baby. If your older children are in school, you can devote all of your energy to the new baby during the day.

    Additional Information

    • Talking to your partner can give you an idea of whether you are ready to add a new little one to your family. Your finances, job, relationship security, age, health, and support from family and friends can shape the ideal time for you to have another child, according to MayoClinic.com. Your doctor can also provide guidance and birth control services that can help you time your pregnancies according to your needs.

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