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What advice do you have for parents who are thinking of having a second child? originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
Answer by Anne K. Halsall, CPO & co-founder of Winnie, on Quora:
There are plenty of parents who are happy with a single child, and plenty of children who grow up perfectly well adjusted as only children. You don’t have to have multiple children because you think it’s the right thing to do, or out of a sense of obligation to your child. All the myths out there about only children being spoiled, selfish and lonely have actually been proven false.
That said, if parents are even considering the possibility having a second child, I would strongly encourage them to take the leap. Although there’s no denying that the first few months of having a newborn and an older child can be tough, the benefits really outweigh any short-term downsides.
From your child’s perspective, there’s a lot of value in having a sibling. Not only do they have a built-in playmate, but they also grow up learning valuable lessons in how to share, whether it’s their toys or their parents. As adults, they also have a built-in support system. Siblings are really special.
There are also a lot of benefits to parents to having more than one. Though it may feel a bit like starting over, everything is easier the second time! You have so much less anxiety because you already know what you’re doing. The hard parts are less intimidating because you already know that it’s all just a phase that will pass and the good parts are better because you now know to savor them. Ultimately, nothing beats watching your children become best friends.
Having two is not as difficult as it may seem. You can also be smart about aligning naptimes and bedtimes (after the newborn phase) so that you can still get the breaks you’re used to with one kid. In fact, you’ll probably end up with more breaks when your children start entertaining each other.
But don’t just take my word for it. You can read what other parents think here:For the parents of multiple kids, how was it going from one to two kids?
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