Thinking of another baby

[jgale]

Just wondering how other folks made the decision to add another baby to the family. How are your kids spaced? How has the spacing worked for you? How do you know when you're ready (I know we can never really know, but you know what I mean).

Also curious about people's experiences of tandem nursing and how that helps or doesn't help with sibling rivalry. (Perhaps I should post that in breastfeedin?)

Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[meemee]

well circumstances have prevented me from having another baby. but if i was in a relationship we would have started ttcing when my dd turned 2. she had gone from a v. high needs baby to a v. independent one. by 2 1/2 she was begging for a sibling. and since after a months of persistence she realised she wasnt getting any so she created her own imaginary brother kahlua and sister jason. for us what would have made us ready to have another baby would be my dd's readiness level. for her bday she wanted a brother and a sister. or even a baby would do.

[phathui5]

My first ds was two months shy of turning three when I had dd. That spacing was great for me because then ds wasn't a baby anymore and could do a lot of things for himself. My dd just turned two in August and I had ds #2 last week. This is a little more challenging because dd can't do things like go up and down steps by herself, things like that. It still works for me though. The ideal spacing for me in between is 2-3 years.

This is also my second time with tandem nursing. I think it helps the older nursling accept the new one and they seem to feel less displaced from the role they had before baby came.