5 Things to Consider for Child Spacing

 

5 Things to Consider for Child Spacing

 

I always wanted to have a two-year interval between my children. I thought that was going to be easy, well …. It wasn’t. I realized that, there were factors that I needed to consider and I will like to share them with you.

 

NB – I know there are people experiencing fertility issues and as someone who had secondary infertility, I understand. This post is for those looking to space out their children and have no underlying fertility issues.

 

This applies to all parents, regardless of gender identification.

 

Factors to consider:

Health 

Age

Career

Finances

Social support

 

Health  

From a heath perspective ask yourself, are you ready? 

Are you physically ready to have another baby? 

If you already have children or just had a child, have you physically healed? 

Is your body ready to carry another child or children? 

Additionally, are you mentally, emotionally, psychologically ready to have a baby? Did you experience postpartum depression? If you did, how are you doing now? Are you able to have another baby in your current emotional and mental state? You need to reflect on your mental and physical health, before you decide to have another baby.

 

Age

Ask yourself, when do you want to finish having children? 

Do you want to be done having babies in your 30s, 40s or 50s? 

Some people already in their late thirties or early fifties will want to have a baby almost every year and not wait to space out. 

Others in their early twenties or teen years may want to take their time and space out as much as possible. Age therefore can determine how you space your children. 

 

I had a friend that said, she wanted to have all her children by the age of 30. Thus, she got married at the age of 25 and had all children, 3 of them, before she turned 30. Her 30 years age mark guided her child spacing. 

 

Career 

Starting and building a new career can also determine child spacing. Ask yourself these questions:

Will having another child now impede my career progress? 

Can I lose my job as a result of having another baby? 

How will this affect my pension and retirement?  

How will this affect my expenses? 

If your career can afford you to have another baby with no penalties, then go ahead. 

 

One of the reasons why I could not do a two-year interval was because I had just started a new job, I needed to pass probation and also prove myself. Hence, I waited an extra year before I started trying for another child. 

I was well aware of my body and how my pregnancies were, thus I decided to give my career one year, build a legacy and then try for my next baby. 

There are others that are between jobs or are stay at home mums, all things being equal, they can go ahead and have a child every other year because career is not a factor.

 

Finances

You can disagree with me on this but children are expensive. Daycare, car seats, diapers, baby clothes, baby food, babysitter, one year maternity break with reduced wages etc makes having babies expensive. 

Therefore, you need to check your finances before you have your next child. Are you good financially or will you depend on others to cater for your baby? 

Are you able to afford your life now if you have another child?

Analyze your finances before you start the baby making process😉

Social Support

Consider your social support. Do you have help? Will you be able to do it all by yourself? Some people can manage and others may not be able to do it all. Consider social support whiles you think of child spacing. There are people that can have family members or friends come over and help them when they have babies. This makes it easier for them to have more children. If this is not your situation, this might be something to consider whiles you plan for the next addition.

Final Thoughts

But whatever you do, don’t do it out of pressure or what the society wants. 

Do what will work for you and your family. 

If you are not ready to have another child, please talk to your family doctor about family planning and the best method for you.

 

And until next time, know that 

You are enough, you are worthy!

Learn to Live life in the present 

And know that nothing last forever so everything will be fine! 

Take care of YOU, YOU are all you've got!