AIBU in thinking 3 children is not ‘a large family’

[Randomposter]

I see it a lot on here and sometimes with friends,
I wouldn’t even consider 4 children particularly large.
5+ yes. But 3? definitely not.

[MaMaMaMySharona]

I think it depends on what you're used to. I'd consider it quite big, not massive by any stretch of the imagination, but certainly not small either.

I'd say that 4 children is a large family though.

[thecutecouple]

I consider 4 or more children a large family. 3 is an average size.

[Wenttoseainasieve]

I think 1 child is a small family, 2 is average and 3+ is a large family. This is so subjective though, can you tell I'm one of 2 children and have 2 myself!

[firawla]

Yanbu. 3 is average just the slightly larger side of average, if average is around 2 or 3. Definitely wouldn’t see it as anything out of the ordinary. 4 is the max before it starts to hit proper “large family” territory but I have 4 and do get a few comments about being a big family now and again

[1stTimeMama]

I think it becomes a large family at 4 children. Car size, holidays, tickets to places etc all cost far more once you get to 4.

[TheresACatInMyLaundryBasket]

1 - 2 average, in my own family experience.
3+ and the parents are outnumbered! Don't consider it "large" though, just higher end average.
4 is larger, 5+ is large (IMO)
Probably depends on your own experience. Nobody in my family had or has more than 2.

[Seniorschoolmum]

Average in the UK is 1.8 so bigger than normal

[Barrenfieldoffucks]

4+ is big in my opinion.

Round here 3 seems to be the new 2.

[BejamNostalgia]

The average woman has 1.9 children these days so 2 children is the norm and I can see why a lot of people, especially in the South where families are smaller, would consider 3 children large.

[StinkyCandle]

of course it's not a large family, I'd say it starts from 4.

[Whitelisbon]

I don't consider 3 a large family, but I've got 5 and don't really consider that we're a large family! I know people with 12, that's a large family.

[flowersaremyfave]

4+ imo

3 is just average

[DustyMaiden]

I have three D.C. far spread in age, never seems like a large family. My DD has 3 D.C. very close together all needing car seats. Seems like a huge family.

[caughtinanet]

I consider it 5 or more, 3 is a fairly common family size ime

[Smoggle]

One more child than you have is a large family

[DauntlessFaction]

I would think 5+ children.

[Jizzle]

As has been pointed out, 3 isn't a normal family, seens as average is now hovering around 1.8. So yes, 3 is a large family.

[Seline]

I'd class it as large. Not huge but bigger than average.

[BertieBotts]

4+ is large IMO. 2 is normal, 3 on the bigger side of normal.

It's cultural of course - among US friends 3 seems standard, 1 small, 2 smaller side of normal, 4 bigger side of normal, 5+ large.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I think it's large when under 2 is the average

[HappyGoLuckyGo]

@Smoggle has it! One more child than you have is a large family

[RainbowWaffles]

One small, two average, three plus large. So many people on MN seem to have loads of kids, but this certainly isn’t my experience IRL.

[dairymilkmonster]

I read recently on the ONS website the 'average' i.e. mean number of children a woman in the UK now has is 1.8.

That would make 3 'bigger than average', whatever that might mean...

In general terms, I think of 1 as 'there must be a reason why they only had 1' (even though that reason might be choice), 2-3 as normal, 4+ as large. But that is just my vague thoughts. My father has a curious notion about 2 children for 2 parents being the right number as it is 'providing adequate replacements' for the population!!

[Seline]

I think of 1 as 'there must be a reason why they only had 1

My friend used to say he found only children creepy because it's as if their parents thought oh god never again. I'm an only myself but not by choice.

[soberfabulous]

Definitely large to me! I don't know how an average person/couple can afford it.