There's a lot that stacks up to say that three years is the best age gap between siblings and that it's in fact one of the easiest gaps for parents to manage.
Based on this body of research, a recent study concluded that the optimal length between pregnancies for the best health outcomes may be 18 to 23 months, which means your children would be 27 to 32 months apart in age.
GAP OF TWO YEARS: There are doctors who recommend couples two years to have a second child. Not only it is good for mother's and new born's health, the first also reaches at a stage where he/she could express and starts to understand things better.
Gaps of over five years are associated with pregnancy and birth problems (not just because you're likely to be an older mum) (Conde-Agudelo et al, 2006). With bigger gaps, your children may be into different things so not as close until they're much older.
In short, research seems to indicate that in many cultures, an age gap of 1 to 3 years is considered ideal — but some researchers suggest even a relationship with an age gap of less than 10 years will bring more satisfaction. Still, numbers rarely tell the full story when it comes to love.
In adulthood, these small numbers are usually not considered an issue. Even 5-7 years usually get by without a second glance. As the difference inches closer to 8 years or more, though, most people begin to see the difference in age as a more significant one, and one that has the potential to be more problematic.
If you are hesitant about a large age gap because of naysayers or doubts, take comfort! Having children 7 years apart has been a wonderful, beautiful journey for me so far. I love that I can watch them grow and learn together.
While four-year-olds often do behave better than 3-year-olds, both ages present their own unique challenges. It's important to remember that our little ones are developing rapidly in these early years and need our support to learn how to regulate their emotions.
There is no evidence that large age gaps are bad for kids or parents, so you can put that one to rest. As for whether your choice is normal or acceptable to others, remember that this is your family and your choice. And when it comes down to it, whether it works for you is what matters most here.
By 4 years old, firstborns are a bit more mature — which means they may be less likely to feel threatened, jealous or insecure with the arrival of a sibling. And since physical aggression is most pronounced between the ages of 2 and 4, your older sib is apt to be gentler with the baby, too. You're at ease.
A gap of 3 years or more greatly reduces the chances of sibling rivalry. By this time the older child is secure in him or herself and quite independent. In addition, the mother's body is fully recovered from the challenges of pregnancy and birth of the first child.
Yes, for most women their labours are shorter with their second baby. So if you struggled to get to hospital or a birth centre last time, you might want to consider a home birth this time around.
I found age 1-3 to be really hard with both my boys, but the general trend has been positive since then. However, two at home, bickering and fighting, is always tough. Hang in there - and get out of the house as much as you can to give them fresh air. Being cooped up at home at this time of year isn't great either.
Obviously, the only “perfect” family is one with two children, a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the odds of achieving that family dynamic – even if you wanted to – are fairly slim. Looking at my own friends and family, only 22 out of 100 randomly selected women have the coveted one-boy-one-girl combo.
But if you are wondering what is the "best number of kids" to have, and at least want to take into consideration what seems to work best for other people and why, at least consider the magic number two.
Couples with an age gap of 1 to 3 years (with the man older than the woman) were the most common and had the greatest levels of satisfaction. Relationship satisfaction decreased slightly for couples with age gaps of 4 to 6 years and continued to decrease for couples with an age gap of 7 or more years.
Siblings 4-5 years apart might be close or might have pretty separate lives. I've seen it go both ways both in the younger years and as adults with this sibling age gap.
In short, if you're going to break up, better to do it sooner, rather than wait until your children are older and more likely to form harmful patterns of behaviour themselves.
Women who become pregnant in their 30s and early 40s can have safe, healthy pregnancies, says Ellie Ragsdale, MD, director of fetal intervention at UH Cleveland Medical Center. But they do face a higher risk of some problems.
Research shows that some people find it hardest to parent children in their middle school years. Puberty and peer pressure can leave these teens feeling angry, alone, and confused, which can cause bad behavior and disagreements.
In fact, mothers who have three children are the most stressed out - even more so than those who have four, according to a. The study found that while transitioning from two to three children is overwhelming for parents because it means they are outnumbered, mothers tend to 'let go' once they reach four children.
If you're already dealing with a tantrum-prone two-year-old, I'm sorry to tell you that having a threenager is even harder. I've always thought that while most new parents find mommy-and-me meetups when they have newborns, it's parents of "threenagers" who truly need a support group.
Even with all the understandable talk of “windows of opportunity” and “biological clocks,” there are ways for women over 35 to make motherhood a reality. Infertility treatments can be difficult and expensive, but fertility specialists can talk with you about options. Age is less of a limitation than it used to be.
While delivering at age 35 and older is officially considered “advanced maternal age,” Dr. Kalish notes that in reality, there's no “magic number” for being at-risk for complications. “A healthy 38-year-old could have an easier pregnancy than a 20-year-old who has multiple medical issues,” Dr. Kalish says.
If you're older than 35 and hoping to get pregnant, you're in good company. Many families are delaying pregnancy well into their 30s and beyond — and delivering healthy babies. Taking special care can help give your baby the best start.