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How many children do you want? Ideally?

107 replies

redplanet · 25/03/2013 16:43

Are you having less than you would like to becuase of financial/ social/ practical restraints? Do you think you always regret not having the last one?

OP posts:
Ragwort · 25/03/2013 16:45

I wanted one, I had one; I absolutely don't regret having any more. And nothing to do with financial or practical restraints, just didn't have a want/need for any more Smile.

redplanet · 25/03/2013 16:48

What sort of age were you when you had him/ her? How old is he or she now? Do you think you will ever change your mind?

OP posts:
Umlauf · 25/03/2013 16:49

One. DH wants two. Currently pregnant with the first one. He is desperately hoping motherhood will change my mind! Who knows, perhaps it will!

intheshed · 25/03/2013 16:51

I have two- age 3 and 5. Secretly I would like one more in a couple of years, once the 3yo is at school but I haven't even broached the subject with DH yet, he has made it very clear he is happy with two.

Wonderland121 · 25/03/2013 16:52

Have 2 want 3 but who knows.

patienceisvirtuous · 25/03/2013 16:52

I used to want three. Still do - but it's taken me 'til now to meet someone suitable (I'm 35) so I'd be overjoyed with one if I'm honest. I've been broody since mid-20's so I feel like I've been waiting an age.

I'm hoping for twins or triplets! :o

redplanet · 25/03/2013 16:55

Thanks for all your replies- I'm from a big family, so have always thought lots is 'normal' but it so much depends on so many other things. I also have several friends who only want one. Such a personal thing really.

OP posts:
PogoBob · 25/03/2013 16:58

Have two, 2y7mo DD and 12 week old DS.

Would like 4, sticking with 2 for financial reasons, still play the lottery though so who knows!.

Dinosaurhunter · 25/03/2013 16:59

I have 1 and don't intend to have any more . I'm really happy with my ds and feel content .

flossy101 · 25/03/2013 16:59

I have one, would like four, but not sure can afford/have room.

redplanet · 25/03/2013 17:03

I quite like odd numbers- would quite like three. But maybe four if 3 goes OK. If we are luck enough to.

OP posts:
redplanet · 25/03/2013 17:05

In reality though we have 2 and I can't quite see how we could have more than this. I would just like more ideally.

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ThedementedPenguin · 25/03/2013 17:05

I wanted 6/7 growing up, now I have one ds I thinking two would be enough. It's tough work not sure I'd cope with 7 haha

Wishfulmakeupping · 25/03/2013 17:08

I have 1 would love 4 but we would not be able to afford 4 so will try for a second and stop there

GwendolineMaryLacey · 25/03/2013 17:11

Have two, would love one more. But I'm 41, fat, generally unfit and don't want another pregnancy being so unfit. I don't think I can get into shape in time to squeeze out another one.

WillYouDoTheBunnyHop · 25/03/2013 17:11

I'm 29 and I have one; he's only 14w. All through pregnancy I thought he'd be an only, but immediately after (as in in delivery suite) I knew I wanted at least another one and quite possibly more. As my hormones have settled down the urge to do it NOW has subsided but I (and DP) still want another fairly soon.

stickygingerbread · 25/03/2013 17:31

Before I had children, I didn't know if I wanted any. Now we have 2 and would love to have 4; however at 42 I would be very lucky to have 1 more. We wish we had started sooner, but we didn't know how much we would love being parents. wish us luck for twins. Grin

CheerfulYank · 25/03/2013 17:34

I'd like 5.

Tailtwister · 25/03/2013 17:37

If we had started earlier and money was no object, I would have liked 3. It took 8 years to conceive DS1 (IVF eventually) and DS2 arrived unassisted just over 2 years later when I was 39.

I couldn't cope with 3 under 5, so having a 3rd wasn't an option. We're actually very happy with 2 we have and having a 3rd would rule out a lot of things we want to give our existing children. So, in summary 3 would have been my fantasy number (reduced from the 5 I wanted in my 20's!), but we feel very lucky to have the lovely 2 we do.

redplanet · 25/03/2013 17:38

How many do you have already Cheerful? Would you actually HAVE five?! I am one of four and it was great growing up, and still is now that we are adults actually. I'm not sure that another one would have made that much difference to us. But to actually have 5 would be very brave. But lovely....!

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Tailtwister · 25/03/2013 17:40

My SIL had one (in her early 30's) and was absolutely adamant she was sticking to that. She is a fabulous mother, but very realistic and sensible (which I admire!) and I do respect her hugely. She has maintained her career through the early years (where I feel I have stagnated somewhat) and has made some really brave decisions recently which have really paid off (can't go into too much detail or I would out myself).

CandyCrushed · 25/03/2013 17:42

I had three very close together but had always wanted four. DH wanted to stop at three so we did. I am very, very glad I stopped at three. I am sure I would have loved four but three is plenty Smile

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EsmeWeatherwax · 25/03/2013 18:01

I have three, eldest is 6, 3 then 1. I would love four or five, but I'm a wreck during pregnancy, it just wouldn't be fair on my existing children to go through it again. I was sterilised after the last one and in many ways totally regret it, but having a fourth was simply not an option!

sjupes · 25/03/2013 18:10

I desperately wanted a third as soon as the second was born. Ended up pregnant around dc2s first birthday by accident and now wish i had stuck with my 2.. i'm 20 weeks pregnant with dc3 now and very slowly coming round to it.

IrrelevantElephant · 25/03/2013 18:13

I'd love five. Got none at the moment- TTC, so understand my views on children might change!! I'm one of 5, and so is DH, and all our parents/siblings have large families, so it's just the norm for us. I loved my childhood so much with my siblings, and we still get on fantastically as adults, and I want that support for my DC too.

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