Facts to Consider When Thinking About Having More Children

What’s the right number of children for a family to have? The average number of kids per family in the United States is around 1.8, but of course, some families have no children at all, while others have six or eight kids! There’s no right answer to the question, so how do you decide? Here are some things to consider.

• First, you have to decide if you actually want children at all. Many couples do not, and that’s a perfectly reasonable idea.
• If you have an only child, you’ll have more to give that child. You won’t have to divide your time among the siblings, and your only child will reap the benefits of being your sole focus. You’ll have more time, attention, and monetary resources.
• A house full of kids can be wonderful, too. Large families are boisterous and busy! Children learn early how to share resources and care for other people, and the sibling dynamic can be very rewarding.
• Whether you have one child or ten is entirely up to you. Don’t let other people make you feel bad for your choice. There are benefits and drawbacks to any family size, and only you and your partner can determine what’s best for you.
• Communication is very important when you’re deciding whether or not to have more kids. Make sure you know how your spouse feels about the issue so that neither of you feel stuck or ignored. Talk it through thoroughly, considering all the details of bringing another human into your life.
• Will your child be happy about a sibling? Will the child you already have adjust well to a sibling? Will the new arrival be greeted with excitement or jealousy? You can’t entirely predict how your child will react, but you know your child well enough to form a hypothesis about it. If you think it could get ugly, but you still want another baby, do some reading on helping siblings adjust.
• Your lifestyle changes with each new addition. If you already have a child, you know that the simplest thing, like going out to dinner, can become a surprisingly big ordeal. Are you ready and willing to double the demands placed on your time and attention?
• Can your budget handle another child? A recent government study placed the cost of child rearing somewhere between $12,000 and $13,000 annually. Make sure you can comfortably raise a new little one before you decide to have one.
• Ultimately, it’s about how you feel. Why do you want another child? How will you feel if you don’t expand your family? Once you can honestly answer those questions, you’re likely to know whether or not you should have another one.

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