If you’re one and done do you ever worry your child will be lonely?

Nope not at all. You can always make new friends, and having a sibling doesn't mean an adult companion or even a childhood friend. Many siblings grow up fighting and/or have separate lives and only see each other occasionally if at all. Some are close but in my experience they're the minority. I'm close with my sister but because of where we live we only see each other monthly if that so if I didn't have other people to see I would be lonely, my sister doesn't solve that. I'd rather be the best mother I can be to one than have another out of some social obligation and be a worse mother to both of them. I know I would struggle with another. I believe seeing me struggling and potentially being unhappy would have a much bigger impact on my daughter than any potential benefits of a sibling. I'm not saying don't have another if you want one for the right reasons, and maybe your mind will change in time but having a baby simply to give an existing child a sibling isn't fair on either of them.

I have 6 siblings and only speak to one of them. Siblings don’t guarantee company at all. I’m one and done because I struggled really bad with ppd so don’t want to go through it again or put my son through it. You can ensure she makes friends and teach her the importance of making friends but also knowing being alone doesn’t mean ‘lonely’. It’s not always easy but I know my son would never resent me for not having another child. Being the best mum to your kid is the most important thing they need

I worry about this all the time just now. I was sure I was one and done but since he’s turned 2 I’ve seen such a change in him, loves making wee friends and if there is a doll about he tries to feed it and stuff 🥺. My neighbours also have 2 boys and a few cousins always playing in the garden and my son stands looking over at them and they ignore him so i just feel awful 😞. I’m 39 and it took a few losses and about 4 years to have him, my husband is 40 and he’s so sure 1 is enough but I just worry he’s going to be lonely when he’s older as well, he only had 1 cousin about his age but we don’t live close 🥺.

@Melissa 2 is still really young, they interact but don't make proper friends. I think you'll feel better when yours gets older and makes friends at school, you can be the fun house that everyone is welcome to come and play at 😊 that's my plan! Like I said, I have a sister and we do get on, but we fought and disliked each other until our mid 20s 😂😂 and I would absolutely call upon my husband or a close friend rather than her if I needed emotional support. Friends can be everything a sibling is and more- because you don't have to share your stuff or parent's attention with them 😂😂😂

@Rachel thanks, and I know you are right. There is an 8 year gap between me and my sister so we clashed a lot growing up but we are close now which I need to remember isn’t always the case, especially when my husband brother lives 2 streets up and they go months without seeing each other. And I keep saying we can do so much more (holidays/days out etc) with just 1. Just need to keep telling myself these things, plus there was a time I thought I wouldn’t have any so really just need to be thankful we got our little boy ☺️x

I have a sibling, he lives on the other side of the world and we don’t get on. I think loneliness is much more about personality, effort to make friends, circumstances and a bit of luck. You might get on with your siblings, but there is an equal chance you won’t.

I do, but more in terms of what happens when I pass away. As others have said, having a sibling doesn’t mean they would necessarily get on but I understand your worries. However, whatever your reason for having just one, either by choice or not, what matters the most to the child is a happy parent