What do you think the ideal spacing between children in? 2, 3 or 4 years?

Answer 1

3 --- I like the idea that when the kids are in the dreaded high school years, when one is a Senior, the other is a Freshman and can help in the sometimes-tough-transition from middle school to high school, and act as a older "protector", if need be. Also the older one would be of driving age so he or she could drive both to school.

Answer 2

Well there are 6yrs between my son and daughter and then 1yr, 4 days between her and her baby brother.

Guess I've gone to extremes both ways but I have to say that the interaction between my daughter and youngest son is a joy to watch and he is ahead of other kids his age in almost every aspect because he's trying to keep up with her-and she's ahead because she's trying to keep up with her 7yr old brother-who by the way thinks having a baby brother and sister is the best thing since stripey toothpaste!

I really don't think that it matters how many years you leave between them-they all have advantages and disadvantages.

If you leave 4yrs+ then they enjoy the baby aspect but the imposition of a new sibling can cause problems, if you leave 2/3yrs then you are at the optimum age for maximum sibling rivalry and jealousy and if, like me, you leave almost no gap they take up all of your time and attention but accept each other without question.

Truth of the matter is if you're ready for a new baby and you prepare your other kids dilligently you'll have no problems-regardless of how many years/months you've left between them, although that said I would put either a 12-18month gap or a 4-5yr gap as my own personal preference if pushed.

Answer 3

2-3 years. I think 2 1/2 is ideal. It spaces out their birthdays a bit and cuts down on rivalry

Answer 4

I had my first two kids 25 months apart and my second and third 39 months apart. I like them spaced farther apart. It was a lot easier on me both carrying and delivering. The funny thing is that the oldest boy and youngest girl are the closest emotionally, now that they're all adults.

Answer 5

Research on this issue suggests that the closer they are, the more they compete for your "intellectual resources". Kids who are too close together don't get as much attention from their parents and have to figure out more for themselves (sometimes to their detriment, but not always).

It's also less stressful the farther apart they are spaced. So keeping in mind that being smart is sometimes overrated, if you're concerned about your children's intellectual development, four is the best of the options you provided.

Answer 6

I think 3 years. I have an older brother 6 years older than me, a older sister thats 3 years older than me (and then 5 other little siblings but I wont say how far apart they are).

Answer 7

Well mine are all 3 years apart, so naturally my answer is going to be three LOL. 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2007 (coming very soon). Yes that makes the oldest to youngest 15 years apart. What have I DONE LOL. It's good that way b/c they are still close enough to be friends and playmates, and that puts one out of diapers and the "whinies" before you have another one.

Answer 8

i rather dont think of that there is any perfect spacing while God needs it to ensue this is going to. I even have 4 little ones sixteen, 12, 7 and 20 months and that i wouldnt have performed it any opposite direction.

Answer 9

Get one out of diapers before having another in diapers. So, I would say 2-3 years.

Answer 10

Research suggests somewhere between 3.5 and 4.5 years is best. Each child has a babyhood all their own.