What do you think is a good spacing between little ones? How many years ideally would you like to wait before trying to conceive again?

My parents did an approximately 2-year spacing between us, their children. I am the eldest and I have 2 brothers. I was born 1982, my brother next to me was born 1984, and the youngest was born 1986.

I'm not sure what is the best age gap for your children. But 2 years is not a bad spacing, in my opinion.

I recall reading that the body needs at least two years between children to recover. I would imagine based on stories of development and behavior that two years would be a start and three or more would be better (terrible twos while pregnant sounds awful).

I think the ideal space is about 2 years, but I think it depends on your age. For a late starter, it's not necessary to wait two years if you have the support needed to take the pressure off you. I started a little late, my baby is now 16 mo and I am ready to go again, just waiting for the husband to get on board. :D

Age has a good deal to do with it. When mothers are starting out young, I have seen them wait 1-3 years tops, while later in life, its not always best to wait that long depending on age and any medical stuff that might interfere.

The time span between my son and girl is 4 years, 7 months, 8 days including the end date. I love this site (http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html)for quickies like this. I think if we do it again, I will not wait that long. It was quite an ordeal with me, I seemed to forget many things that I should remembered (the leg cramps, the bloating, all the fun stuff you know).

I have a space span of 14 yrs and 5 years and 4 yrs. They all fight and don't get along and don't play together. So my opinion is about 2 or 3 years apart as thats how far apart me and my sister were and we played together and did lots of things together.The spacing of mine did not work at all.:cool:

My kids have only a year of spacing. They also fight but they always play with each other. Now I am going to give birth to our third baby with a 2years gap with my youngest son. I also prefer the 2 years age gap.

I would say to have more children "whenever you are ready for them"

so how fast or slow that may be is up to you. Do you feel that you are ready for additional children? Can you afford to care for them, and give them the time that they need?

I also would say 2 yrs is good if you want them to be playmates and have things in common.Something to think about to ,could be you would have one girl then one boy which they would not play that much together because their interests would be to different. Depends on what reason you have when thinking about spacing. The main point is when you feel ready for more.:o

My great grandmother had 15 kids. All individual pregnancies (no multiples), so she obviously didn't space them out very much. Even starting at 16, she was still pregnant into her 30's. I don't think that could possibly be ideal. I don't think you should be pregnant more than three times in a decade. So, allow at least 3 years in between.

In those days, using contraceptives was considered wrong by almost everyone and children were considered to be a blessing, so the more children the more blessing.

My two are 22.5 months apart. It is nice that they can play together... but I am so exhausted from having two needy little beings! We plan to have one more, and this one will be further spaced. I am just not ready to think about conceiving another and being pregnant again. I'd actually like to wait until my older child weans (tandem nursing is hard enough - I don't want to do that AND be pregnant!); I'm thinking we'd like another sometime late '09-late '10. I want 2008 to be the year I am NOT pregnant for any of it! :D

My son is 6 wks old and we're neither planning or preventing. I want two children no more. Preferably close together. I'd like to finish up my childbearing and focus on raising them in a good home. Yes, I know it's not reccomended to conceive again so fast.

I certainly understand how you feel as I feel the same way, I think it's a great idea to have the children growing together even though I know it can be a strain.

The idea being that you have one either out of diapers or close to it. Also by 2 1/2 most children are doing more for themselves. Another factor that people often don't think about it is that with 2 1/2 years you won't end up with two kids in the same class in school. Even if the older one stays back one year, they are still going to remain in different grades.

I did 4 between each child. My oldest was 4.5 when my middle was born and she in turn was 4 when my son was born. I like the age gap as the child is able to help themselves a lot. I didn't bother woth the 2.5 thing as my sister and I are 2.5 (almost exactly) apart and we grew up hating each other. We never played together and fought constantly. My kids, at 4 years difference, play together often.

Do what you feel is right. That's all that counts.

I grew up close with my brothers and sister and we were like a year or so apart so I would like to do the same, it does not seem very practical though.