Is it Time to Start Trying For a Second Baby?

When and how to build upon your family is always such a personal decision. But it seems that for those who do want more children, around one year of age is when the discussion of, “Is now the time for a second baby?” starts to crop up.

That’s because your baby has somehow morphed in the last 12 months from a helpless little being who sucked you of all your time, sleep, and energy, into an interactive and ever-changing little person who seems more and more grownup every single day.

Still, are you ready for a second child already?

Well… again, that’s personal. But there are plenty of factors to consider. Including:

  • Desire: Do both members of your relationship feel ready and excited about trying again? Or is one still on the fence and wanting to wait a bit longer?
  • Timing: Does your little one seem like he or she might be ready for a sibling within the next year? Or do you think your family could still use a bit more time adjusting to your family of three dynamic before adding a fourth?
  • Age: While no couple wants to allow age to be a determining factor in whether or not they try to conceive, the reality is that after 35, your chances of getting pregnant do go down. So it’s fair to take your biological clock into consideration, especially if you had any issues conceiving the first time around.
  • Money: Can you afford a second child at this point? Does that mean two daycare tuitions? Or extra diapers? Or formula?
  • Space: Do you have room in your home to accommodate a second child?

There is no perfect point at which to begin considering a second child. For some families, keeping the little ones close in age is important—they like the idea of a less than two year age gap that will encourage siblings to play together in the years to come. For other families, larger age gaps seem to have been ideal—they brag about how nice it is to have an older sibling who can help with the baby, and who is cognitively aware of why having a new baby might mean a little less attention is paid to them.

There is no one right answer here. The best you can do is to discuss the various factors with your partner, and then come up with a plan together on when you may be ready to start trying again. Most doctors recommend waiting at least a year after a child’s birth before attempting to get pregnant once more, simply because a woman’s body needs time to recover from all that pregnancy and labor put it through. But you’re there. So if you decide that now is the time to begin trying for your second: good luck!

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.