In the first sleep-deprived weeks after the arrival of a new baby, planning the next bundle of joy is the furthest thing from most mothers' minds. But eventually, the ticking of the biological clock begins to be heard over baby's cries, the pain of labor fades to a distant memory, and it's time to start thinking about creating another miracle. Exactly when the alarm clock starts ringing varies from woman to woman.

The way a woman feels about child spacing before she becomes a mother is not necessarily the way she will feel once spit-up cloths are a staple of her wardrobe. And no matter how carefully a mother plans the spacing of her children, Mother Nature may have other plans in store. Nursing mothers are frequently unable to conceive for the first 6 months of nursing, and some women don't ovulate for the entire time they lactate.

Is there an ideal amount of time to wait between children? A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that parents should wait 18 to 23 months after a full-term birth before conceiving again. The average age gap between siblings in America is about two and a half years – which means that the average parent has been following this advice.

It's important to note, however, that this study was only concerned with the ideal waiting period for the physical health of the infant – to reduce the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Many parents consider a host of other factors when deciding how to space their children.

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