It’s becoming unfashionable to have kids

Don’t forget you were a child once too.

The Economist ran an article about the reason for falling birth rate across developed countries.

It is mostly due to teenagers having fewer babies. Women, if they have babies, are having them later in life and hence popping out fewer. Financial incentives by governments (e.g. South Korea where it is very generous) barely move the dial on increasing the birth rate.

Once a country is in the grip of a death spiral of lower and lower birth rates, it is difficult to climb out of it without immigration which brings its own societal problems.

Accept the reality of an aging population. Use robots 😁.

I have 3 children and nursery is £6k per month. Having ‘one more’ ended up being twins.

Total rubbish. Woman is still more or less synonymous with mother for most people.

👏👏👏👏

Can't remember the last time I went to a music concert. How bizarre that you think that's what people with no children prioritise.

I do hate to break it to you but we work, pay bills, do housework, shop...you know all those annoying little things we all have to do as adults.

I was explaining to the other poster that it is a fact that the birth rate has fallen. I didn't comment on the pros and cons.

Abso-bloody-lutely and I say that as a mother.

It's a graceful marbled atrium (uncluttered by buggies, scooters, skateboards), full of luxuriant plants (which no one has yanked out), where you can sip tea or coffee (which hasn't gone cold) from fine china (unbroken), savour delicacies from around the world (instead of leftover baby puree on a half-eaten rice cake), chased by a cocktail or spirit, or two (because you can) from delicate glassware (not a plastic sippy cup in sight). Your every whim is immediately catered to, and any mess is whisked away and fixed (by other people!). You can enjoy adult conversation (uninterrupted), and the music of your choice (no Teletubbies or Blue's Clues or Dora Exploring on perpetual loop). You can watch a movie straight through to the end (instead of intermittent 5 minute snatches) and get lost in any book, in all the books (without learning the same 20 pages by heart, with voices). There is not a single piece of lego underfoot.

"nowadays"? - didn't realise it was a new thing!

It's not about it becoming trendy, it's become acceptable, which is a good thing I think. I'm amazed at how many people seem to automatically have kids as it's the done thing and I wonder if everyone fully thinks through such a massive decision

Well aren't you a treasure.

What about the scallies who have children and abuse them, neglect them? They're obviously so much better than people who consider their options and decide for whatever reason not to have children

Women who don't have children seem to put a great deal more thought into their decision than many who do.

Being child-free is very much a woman's decision.

Men usually fuck off sooner than later, have affairs, etc.

Most women are left holding the baby while he fucks off to create another family.

Men have their brain in their dick basically nowadays.

They can't even relate to how damaging the wide-spread use of porn is.

Roughly the same number don't have DCs at all.

What's changed the birth rates is that women are having fewer DCs and having them when they are older.

I have several female friends in their 40s without kids (can think of about 8 off the top of my head). Only 2 of them made a conscious choice not to.

Ffs most people don't have kids to be "fashionable" 🙄🙄🙄

It's a fact that the UK birth rate, and the birth rates in most other countries are falling. They have fallen considerably.

So what, though? The planet’s fucked. We do not need to be over-populating it.

I didn’t decide not to have kids because it’s fashionable. I decided not to have kids because a) it’s not the 1800s and I have a choice and b) I couldn’t really think of any good reason for me to have any. At no point did DP and I feel there was anything missing from our relationship, so no need for us to make the massive change of having kids.

What does it matter anyway? Women aren’t brood mares. We don’t have to pop out kids on demand.

😆😆😆

@SoHotandPregnant87 I can understand not having children with a husband whom they think won’t pull their weight as a parent, it’s dodging trouble!

As you say though, why stay in the relationship if you view your partner as lame? Plus if one partner really does want children, it’s probably going to fail at some point. Being child free needs to be a joint decision.

I don't think people are making decisions this big based on fashion.

The pressure on people to be perfect as parents and the judgement for not being is huge.
Children and families are more and more unwelcome in public spaces and socialising with children in tow is frowned upon.
The cost of living is astronomical.
Young people are struggling to afford adequate housing, let alone a secure home with enough space to raise a family.
There is uncertainty about the future and if the planet can survive the climate emergency.
Women have choices other than getting married and having children and many are exercising the right to make a different choice.
The education system is not keeping pace with society and is becoming less and less fit for purpose.
The NHS and other public services which used to support families are failing due to chronic, long-term underfunding.
The current older generation are less willing to offer help than previous generations.
Childcare costs are ridiculous.

Those are just a few of the contributing factors as to why we're not having kids as much as we used to.

• Olympics - how many mums did it - celebrated everywhere

Yes, saw something on Facebook - The Olympics left us with countless heartwarming moments that showcased the beauty of motherhood. ❤️
Moms (and moms-to-be!) at the Games showed us that being a champion isn’t just about winning medals—it’s about the love, dedication, and the extraordinary journey they shared with their little ones every step of the way. 👏🏅

I mean, all power to mums and pregnant women competing in the Olympics but that is pure sentimental hogwash.

It's a fact that the UK birth rate, and the birth rates in most other countries are falling. They have fallen considerably.

I don't think it's a question of being unfashionable though @Housebuyingfamily. Often, it's for financial reasons and because it is impossible for many to afford secure housing.
Other reasons might be because it is now acceptable to be single or not have children in a way that it wasn't previously or because women choose to pursue careers that aren't very compatible with children.

I’m not sure if the wider stats bear it out however in my experience there are a lot of people having one child.

I work in a fairly senior high paid role and almost all the women in similar positions end up having a single child at about 40. I don’t know any who has one before 35.

Most don’t start trying to have children earlier due to career progression and then many are happy with 1 if they want to provide private schooling v etc as 2+ starts to get very expensive particularly if you don’t want to retire too late in life.

Even if they wanted them finding a good man to have a baby with could easily eat up their remaining fertile years (especially if they actually want to like him.)