waiting about a year or two to have another baby?

Question

My son is now 3 weeks old! He is such a little cutie pie. He sleeps most of the time and is such a quiet boy. I'm breastfeeding him so the only thing my hubby and I (we've been together since 1999) are spending money on is diapers and baby wipes. My hubby has a very stable job, and I am going to college (online finishing up my pre-med reqs), and we were wondering if one or two years was a good time to wait until we have another baby? We would really like to have another so our son could have someone to grow up with and play with. What do you think?

Answer 1

Well, I have 4 boys. 7, 5, 4, 2.....my middle two are exactly a year apart which means when I got prego, my baby was 2 months old. I had 2 babies on bottles an 2 diapers going on. It was a little stressful, but in retrospect, I LOVE that my boys are so close in age. They are forming such an admirable bond. AND, they have so much fun!!

This is all just peoples' opinions. Of course almost everyone will say the cliche "wait 2-3 years" let your body heal...blah blah, the fact is....Let nature take it's course, if you are meant to get pregnant next week or next year it will happen. Have fun!! ;) I think you should go at it and knock out your pregnacies and births and than go back to school when your youngest is out of diapers! School can wait a couple years.

Answer 2

WOW! 3 weeks old! Congrats!

I think you should give it some time. Right now your son is still small and isnt that much of a hand full and sleeps alot, and fairly easy, BUT it will change soon. There are going to be plenty of sleepless nights, crying till all hrs of the morning, ear aches, tooth aches, etc etc...

It takes a full 2 years for a womans body to get back to a pre-child birth state. Alot of women get pregnant before then and have healthy happy babies... but for a mothers body, its best to wait 2 years.

I say give it some time, test the waters of motherhood for a while (into toddler years hehe) and then make an informed decision. I have a daughter who is almost 2 years old and I love her to death, but OH she is more than 2 handfuls. My hubby and I talked about ttc again, but we decided it would be best to wait a bit longer and get through school so we can better our family and THEN extend... its not the same for everyone by any means though. Good luck.

Answer 3

I reckon waiting till your first is between 14-18mths months old before trying for the next one so that there is at least 2 years inbetween. 2.5-3yrs is optimum but more makes it harder to have close sibling relationship especially if they are the opposite sex.

Mine are 2.7mths apart and it is fantastic. they are running around the loungeroom as I write, playing together great (if not a little loudly!) I am possibly pregnant with my 3rd and it will be a 3.5yr gap from 2 to 3 and more than I wanted but probably easier to handle if the 1st and 2nd are a little older.

best of luck. you will know when the timing is right. I just recommend leaving enough of a gap so the 1st is toilet trained and in a bed not cot otherwise you will have your hands full. thats why I say no less than 2 years.

Answer 4

This is definitely something only you and your husband should decide. However, I do hear more people say that having them close in age is better. The other common thing I hear and also personally agree with is that adding child #2 is not much of a change, but adding #3 is a big change. I had my second when my first was almost three. And then came a big shock with #3 who was born 13 months after #2. that is quite hard. Having all three of mine fairly close has been nice but definitely hectic. For instance sports are very chaotic. During football/cheer, they are all having games and quite often at the same time and the same is true for baseball. Good luck

Answer 5

my sister and I are a year and 2 months apart, we fought like cats and dogs our entire childhood. Now we are pretty close, but we have large differences of opinion. Not always are kids close together, close in heart. My son is 5 and I am going to have my second next month, he cant wait to help take care of his baby brother. I think it all depends on the child you already have, you will know when the time is right. I think 5 years is perfect for mine. But I wouldnt suggest a gap too large, as the first will not really be interested in being a sibling more than likely, because they will be used to being the only child and may regret it.

Answer 6

i think 2-3 years is perfect time to wait. your first child is out of the "baby" years and a toddler. care is not constant like a baby. and you certainly don't want to wait 5 yrs like i did. all mine do is fight. one was the only child for too long and is jealous of the younger one. the younger one thinks he needs all the attention because he's the baby. they play together sometimes, but not very often. the age gap is just too much. i feel like i'm in a zoo somedays!

Answer 7

i had my kids 2 1/2 years apart because me and my sister are ten years apart and it felt like i was an only child. i believe having them closer together gives them a stronger bond, but every family is different. since your son is only 3 weeks old i would not worry about it and just enjoy having a new baby.

Answer 8

My sister and I are 3 years apart and have been best friends all growing up. My daughter will be 3 in January and I'm due in April with our 2nd so they will also be 3 years apart and I'm hoping for a great sibling relationship with my own kids too (we planned it that way).

Answer 9

I would wait until your infant is out of diapers and you are out of college....but before med school if you can't wait until you become an MD.

Answer 10

I think you should make up your mind if you are going to stay with your husband before you start planning another baby.