CHILD-SPACING

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CHILD-SPACING

(Family Planning)

"Dr. Sears, What's your opinion about spacing children?"

Child spacing varies from family to family. There is seldom the ideal time for a child. If we always waited for "the perfect time" to have a child, we would probably have two instead of eight. An important factor is the need level of the baby. If you have a very high-need infant who requires a lot of time and energy, it would be wise to space the next one two to three years apart for two reasons: to avoid parent burnout and to fill the needs of your infant before a competitor comes into the family. If you have a somewhat easy infant, spacing even one year apart often works because then you have an in-house playmate. Don't worry about having enough love to go around for your next child. You'll be surprised how the love and extra energy for your next child just seems to appear.

AskDrSears.com is intended to help parents become better informed consumers of health care. The information presented in this site gives general advice on parenting and health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual needs.