When to Have the Next Baby

I have four kids, with 16 mo., 21 mo. and 27 mo. between. Although it's hard, I'm happy they're so close. Sometimes I feel guilty because they rarely get one-on-one time, but they all have so much fun together.

However you space them, it will be perfect for you. The farther you space them the easier the first months will be, and the closer you space them the more they will be able to participate in the same activities.

Good luck and whatever you decide it will be "right".

I say go for this Spring. If you can afford it and want it, go for it. You never know how long it will take to get preggo or if you will have a miscarriage, so you might as well try sooner rather than later. My second DD was supposed to be a Fall baby but I was on the patch and it took 6 months to get pregnant. Have fun!

~N.

The Academy of Pediatrics recommends 3 years apart--but do what's best for you! Ours will be almost 8 YEARS! :) But whatever works!!

Hi L.! My first two children were exactly two years apart (both Summer babies). It was hard at first with a newborn and a toddler. After two miscarriages and waiting awhile, I had my 3rd baby 3 3/4 years after my 2nd baby (Spring baby). It was a fairly easy adjustment because my older children were both potty-trained and didn't need naps anymore, but the second child was jealous of the new baby. I then had another baby exactly two years later - also in the Spring. I had 4 children in 7 years and my husband worked in the summer full-time, even though he is a school teacher. That was a very hard adjustment! Then, three years after my 4th one was born I had another Spring baby. And yes, you guessed it, I'm expecting my 6th baby 2 1/4 years after my 5th due this summer. (I have very distinct fertile periods!) So, I have three sets of children that are 4 and 3 years apart, and 2 years apart within each set. I really must say that I love the spacing. It's been very challenging at times, but it has really worked out well. It's always safe to talk it over with your husband again, pray about it, pray about it some more, and then possibly throw caution to the wind and see what happens. My inclination is to encourage you not to wait too long, but trust God. He's faithful and is sovereign over these precious children that he has for us. God bless you!

I was able to observe the way my cousin interacted with my son when he was 4.5months and she was 19month and it was great. That's actually more along the lines that I want. The oldest will be young enough to adjust and never remember a time where there wasn't a sibling without the big jealousy period that happens when their older. Plus we wouldn't have started potty training yet so I won't have to worry about regression. The oldest will be old enough to communicate their needs. Not to mention the relationship between them as they get older and are close in age. So we'll be actively TTC starting late spring/summer.