I am the last of 7 children. I love ALL my siblings and their kids. I have two children. I could never imagine them as an only. That is my very personal opinion as I had a great childhood and now good relationship with my siblings. My girls love each other to pieces and I am raising them to be each others best friend. I tell them that all the time. They do have their moments as did I with my own siblings.

I love kids and having a 2nd child has really changed our family dynamics. My husband was a skeptic and was really thinking one would be enough especially with this economy and all. When we were pregnant with # 2 all doubt flew out the window and I could hear him telling his friends on the phone 'what a blessing'. I do know a few only children adults and they do seem to have that 'what if' thing about them and some are really good with it. Growing the family is very personal and a difficult decision. I am with the "GO FOR IT" group though. LOL!! Good luck.

I think the reason to have a child is because it's right for everyone in the family, including you, not because it's right for any single member of the family. There are many 'only children' in these modern times - the average family size in America is now 1.2 children per family - as odd as that sounds but the sound of it strongly suggests what is the truth - there are Lots of families out there with one child. And lots of children being raised as only children.
Good luck with this decision.

I think too so this is a personal choice if you want to bring another child to your family.I'm a happy mom of 3 but is hard take care of each one.when my son was 3 years ,born my twins daughters and before they born,my son was very solitary and he didn't like to play much,I was feeling bad because he was playing alone all time .When my dauhgters come to my home and my family,all the things changed,and now they are the best friends,they play together and fight too but this are normal things only happens one time in the life.But if you decide to have another baby,don't let pass the time because more years go the kid grow up like "unique" ad is more difficult bring another baby at home because they become jealous and selfish of the new member and the last thing so we the mothers want to do is hurt the feelings of our kids.Sorry for my redaction because I can't writte very well english my language is spanish but I wish you understand me and good luck for you.

I feel the same way. My daughter will be four in March an I grew up with a brother who was and is my best friend. Her dad grew up with four siblings. She gets lonely sometimes,especially in the winter when we can't go to the park. Plus I am working and in school, her dad works a lot. So I really don't think it's a great time to have another, but at the same time I don't want there to be a huge gap in ages when I do decide to have another.

I dont' think about siblings only for the younger years, I'm glad I have siblings as an adult. I know too many singletons who say they wish they had a sibling. The more the merrier in my book!

I am not an only child and neither is my wife, neither of us got along or liked our siblings. So we asked our 4yr old and he said no way, plus having the possiblilty of two headstrong kids is a nightmare. He misses playing with someone, so we have play dates, but wanting to play with someone is by no means a reason to have another kid.

I think it is truly a personal choice. My husband was an only child and is now a wonderful successful man. I think he was lonely as a child, but his parents also divorced and his mom did not have that much money, so he was not able to participate in a lot of extra activities. I think he spent a lot of time alone. So......... Now we have 5 children. He wanted a large family. I had three sisters, so I am use to chaos. :D

I concur with tjlove that for every family, it is an individual decision. Some people who had no problem conceiving one child, find it difficult to have another. Not all children are born in perfect health. Children can be a true gift and joy, but also a lot of work! (Never a dull moment with them, that's for sure!)

My son is now a teen, and he is an only child. He was "a handful" when he was younger, and my husband and I didn't feel that we had the energy or patience for another. Having another child is not a guarantee that they would "get along," as I know from personal experience. (I have a sister who is only 361 days younger than me, but we have very different personalities and interests, and I remember more arguments with her when we were growing up than I remember "good times." My husband, however, is a twin, and they enjoyed one another's company.)
I will say that when families face stressful times, it is usually nicer to have siblings to count on (when our mother was in the hospital, we could take turns visiting) but again, that's hardly a good reason to have another child, because you can't count on them living near you or being willing and able to help out if you should need assistance many years from now. If you and/or your husband have sisters and brothers who live nearby, and they've got young children, perhaps those "cousins" will be close like siblings to your child. In any case, may you and your husband find peace with whatever decision you make!

This is such a personal choice. I think as our children get older it's hard for us, as mothers, to watch them become less and less dependent on us. We know that in the blink of an eye they are going to be adults and out there on their own.
I have one daughter who is two and sometimes I get sad for her when I see her playing by herself. I grew up in a huge family and I always had someone to play with. So I think I can understand where you're coming from.
But, I don't think having a sibling makes things better or worse. There are plenty of only children who loved growing up as only children and basked in the attention they received from their parents. There are plenty of people who come from a large family that couldn't imagine it any other way.

It's up to you and your husband to decide what's best for your family, but I don't think that you can make a "wrong" decision here. I hope that helps :-)