Researchers came to the conclusion after examining the lives of families with different combinations of children, both male and female. The results show of all the variations, two girls make for the most harmonious family life as they are unlikely to fight, will play nicely and are generally a pleasure to be around.
The study also found that two girls were more well behaved, got along better and were more likely to help around the house. However, doubling the number of girls does not make for a happier home. Researchers found that a family of four girls was the worst combination of children.
Is it a household of girls, a household of boys, or a mix of the two best for parents? According to a survey conducted by British parenting website Bounty, two girls are considered the best combination for parents to have a happy and harmonious family life.
If you ask “for any family with two children, what are the chances that they have one boy and one girl” the answer is 50% (and a 25% there are two boys and 25% that there are two girls).
Other research has showed that while parents are happier in the lead-up and first year after having their first child, there are diminishing returns: the boost of happiness for the second child is half that of the first, and by the third, there's no boost at all.
Grow your family to at least four children! According to a study out of Australia's Edith Cowan University, parents with the most life satisfaction (which means those who are the happiest) are those that have four or more children.
An actual study revealed one to two children is the ideal number for “happiness”, but with two you don't have to deal with the aforementioned only child issues.
Having two children is good for your health
Having two children reduces mortality risk. Three different studies looked at thousands of older adults and found the same thing: two kids was the sweet spot for health. The risk of an early death increases by 18% for parents of an only child.
A plurality (41%) of moms at the end of their childbearing years now report having two kids, while just 14% have four or more children.
In terms of happiness, a compelling argument for having an only child comes from science that strongly indicates that mothers with one child are happiest.
The short-term answer is usually yes. Children thrive in predictable, secure families with two parents who love them and love each other. Separation is unsettling, stressful, and destabilizing unless there is parental abuse or conflict.
Because of that long connection, she adds, siblings matter a lot for our personal growth and well-being. “Throughout the lifespan, people who have close sibling relationships have better mental health, better psychological health, and better social relationships, generally speaking.”
It turns out the formula for a happy family is not the one boy and one girl combination that many couples strive for. It's actually families with two girls that are the most harmonious, according to a study of more than 2,000 families.
Parents who have girls are much happier than those with boys, particularly when the children reach early adulthood, according to a study.
Across several studies, mothers of one appear to be happiest. Research shows that only children have an edge in key development areas. While once stigmatized, “older” first-time moms (and their children) reap benefits women who first give birth in their 20s are less likely to see.
Modern science suggests only children are exceedingly normal. Studies that go back to the 1980s show there are no set differences between singletons and children with siblings, aside from onlies having stronger bonds with their parents.
New learning is a good reason to have a second child
This means he/she is ready to welcome the new sibling and lend a helping hand to the little one. As they grow up, they would support each other — right from studies to their life decisions. In this way, both develop the habit of learning many things in life.
Created with sketchtool. Later life, boys tend to be more expensive. After age 18, sons are more likely to move back home and more likely to get financial help from their parents, research shows. Whether you have a son, daughter or both, one thing is clear: It's extremely pricey to raise a child in America.
For most women, it's best to wait at least 18 months between giving birth and getting pregnant again. This means your baby will be at least 1½ years old before you get pregnant with another baby. This much time gives your body time to fully recover from your last pregnancy before it's ready for your next pregnancy.
The researchers followed a number of families over a 5 year period and monitored their happiness as their families grew in size. The result that they came up with? Having 4 children is the best way to boost your happiness.
Stress. A TODAYMoms.com survey of more that 7,000 mothers found that the least stressful number of kids is four, while the most stressful number is three.
Since having five or more kids is generally the cutoff point for being considered a “large” family, here are all the ways your parenting will change once you hit that pivotal plus-five milestone.