Why Wait?! 7 Reasons Siblings Love Being Close in Age

When they're close in age, your kids are able to play together as friends. They don't even need to leave the comfort of home sweet home to find a partner in crime for everything from finger painting to playing board games to warming up before a baseball game.

Source: Flickr user Yogesh Kumar Jaiswal

While mom and dad may feel just a touch of guilt for springing a newborn upon a young toddler, the early lessons in empathy, compassion, and even responsibility will prove invaluable for the rest of his life.

Source: Flickr user Brad

A child who becomes a big brother or sister as a toddler will never remember what it was like to be on their own. Sure, there'll be some growing pains as everyone adjusts, but they're likely to get those silly sibling tiffs over and done with in the first few years.

Source: Flickr user Alexander N

The junior high years can be a challenging phase in an adolescent's social life. While friends come and go during these transitional years, a brother or sister is forever. And the closer they are in age, the more they'll relate to whatever tough time the other is going through.

Source: Flickr user Dave Goehring

Mom won't have to figure out the logistics of squeezing in a travel stroller for one kid, car games for another, and a family-friendly soundtrack for the eldest. Instead, a brood that's close in age means a backseat alliance (for better or for worse!).

Source: Flickr user Ben Francis

Having to share favorite toys, books, and clothes comes with the territory of having a sibling that's just a year or two apart from you. A child who's comfortable sharing with his brother or sister is that much more likely to be great at sharing with friends, classmates, and eventually roommates and significant others.

Source: Jennifer Little | Sugar Photography