Having a child can bring great joy to a family. It is also a big responsibility. Both mother and father must be ready for a child or must at least be in a mindset to accept the child if they do have one. Having a second child can be an even bigger decision. While some perceive it to be just another addition, many understand it is not that simple. It is more responsibility and commitment in every way possible. So, are you ready for a second child?
In today’s world where nuclear families are a norm, getting help can be slightly tricky. Raising cost of living, increasing expenses, higher school fees, and an intent to provide the best living for their child is showing a major influence on whether to expand the family after the first child. Are you in the same dilemma? We explain the various factors you can consider before you decide whether you are ready to have a second baby.
In This Article
- When is The Best Time to Have a Second Child?
- What Should You Consider While Taking The Decision?
- FAQ’s
When is The Best Time to Have a Second Child?
The decision to have a second child belongs to the mother and father. There is no one “good time” to have the next child. While many have theories of when a couple should have their second child, the decision is the couple’s alone.
Here are a few different scenarios and each of them can be perfect in its own way.
1. Back-To-Back
Some couples might decide to have a second child soon after the first. Some of the factors that could influence such a decision are:
- Career – If the mother has a serious career, she may not want to take too many breaks from it. She might choose to have both children one after the other and get back to her career after a solid break of a few years.
- Health – If the parents are old or the first child was a late child due to various reasons, the couple might decide to have the second child soon after the first. Here the age of the mother matters. The older she gets, the less healthy she will be to take care of them. The risks also increase as the woman’s age increases.
- Treatment – If the couple conceives a baby only after fertility treatment, they might decide to have the next one as soon as the doctor approves. Here, doctors might inject the mother with hormones, to help her get pregnant. So, they might decide to have another child while the hormonal levels are still high in the mother.
2. Delayed Child
Some couples might delay having a second child. They might want this time for the following reasons:
- Career – Again, if the parents’ career takes off after the first child and they are not in a position to take a break for the second one yet, they might delay it. Similarly, if their career is not going as they expected, they might want to wait until everything is better around them before they take on the next responsibility.
- Finance –If the parents suffer a financial crisis or underestimated the financial responsibilities of the first child, they might want to delay the next child.
- Health – If the mother suffered some health issues during the first delivery or had some issues later, they need to wait till the mother is well enough to go through with the second pregnancy.
Similarly, if the first child has some health issues, the parents will have to wait and focus on the first child. They cannot have a second child until they are confident the first child will be ok.
In each of the above scenarios, when the couple decides to have their second child is the “perfect time” for their circumstances.
What Should You Consider While Taking The Decision?
Here are some important factors every couple needs to consider when they think about having a second child:
1. Your Age
The age of the mother and father matters when it comes to having a child. While the mother’s age is very important, the father’s age matters as sperm counts decrease with age. Just like how older women might have trouble conceiving, older men might too. The older the mother, the more are the chances for pregnancy and post-pregnancy complications.
2. Your Lifestyle
Does your current lifestyle support the decision to have another child? Are you both happy in your marriage, comfortable in your career, in a position to take a break for the next child, or take care of two children at once?
3. Financial Situation
Babies can quickly become an expensive affair. With the first child, you would know what to expect for the next child. Are you financially sound to have the next child without having to compromise on the first?
So, are you ready for a second child? Having a second child is a big decision a couple must make based on several factors. They need to decide for themselves rather than fall for societal pressure.
FAQ’s
1. What is The Best Age to Have a Second Child?
A gap of 18 to 24 months after the first delivery would be an ideal age to conceive the second child. This gives enough time to breastfeed and take care of both the child’s and the mother’s health.
2. Is it Harder to Get Pregnant With a Second Child?
No, it is not. It can be hard if the parents are too old or had the first child after fertility treatment.
3. What is the Smallest Age Gap Between Siblings?
Technically a gap of 10 months is the minimum but there are world records for lesser gaps. WHO recommends a gap of 24 months.
