Written by Sindhuja Prabhu
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
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.
Some couples might decide to have a second child soon after the first. Some of the factors that could influence such a decision are:
Some couples might delay having a second child. They might want this time for the following reasons:
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.
Here are some important factors every couple needs to consider when they think about having a second child:
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.
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?
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.
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.
No, it is not. It can be hard if the parents are too old or had the first child after fertility treatment.
Technically a gap of 10 months is the minimum but there are world records for lesser gaps. WHO recommends a gap of 24 months.
Sindhuja, a mother of two, is an obsessive mom with a keen interest in psychology, especially child psychology. Her quest for knowledge and way with words led her to become a passionate content writer. She transformed her love for writing into a full-fledged career which incidentally also turned up being the perfect stress buster for the last 5 years.Read more.
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