Q: What is the ideal spacing between children?

One to three years: 47%
Three to five years: 24%
Whatever feels right for the family: 29%

"At least one year, but the decision lies with the family. If the sibling is under three or so, you just have to accept the fact that you have two babies; they can't be expected to be big kids and give up the nurturing and attention that they need at that age." — Ann Kellams, MD, FAAP. Charlottesville, VA.

"There is no ideal spacing. This is parental preference. Some plan what they think is ideal spacing for them, but then it doesn't happen that way." — Eugenia Marcus, MD, FAAP. Newton, MA.

"I've seen all kinds of spacing between kids work out great. If I wasn't under the gun of a biological clock, I'd love to have 3 years between children." — Julie Luttinger, MD, FAAP. NY, NY.

To obtain these results, Babble randomly called 300 AAP-approved pediatricians in 50 states, then tallied the answers of the 20 who called back. Pediatrician Poll appears in Strollerderby every Friday.