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Original poster

How many cousins do you have/ your DC have?

268 replies

Allswellthatendswelll · 27/07/2025 18:44

Inspired by this article in the Times:

https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/parenting/article/why-cousins-are-dying-out-it-matters-more-than-you-think-d6vr0rgtx

It's behind a paywall sorry but basically it says due to declining birthrates children born now are much less likely to have lots of cousins. I think down from average 7 to 5 but falling quite a bit. The article argues that this means children have less peers their age in family gatherings to play with and smaller networks.

I find it very interesting as I have 13 cousins but I'm not very close to any of them as an adult. My DC have 4 for now but probably 7 or 8 once everyone is done. I'm quite glad they have quite a few cousins but perhaps we are becoming more unusual as all our siblings have kids or intend to.

Why cousins are a dying breed — it matters more than you might think

In the 1970s a British teenager had seven on average. Today it’s five and projected to fall further, with consequences that can be profound

https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/parenting/article/why-cousins-are-dying-out-it-matters-more-than-you-think-d6vr0rgtx

OP posts:
Fearfulsaints · 27/07/2025 18:47

My children have 3 cousins.

My husband has 6 and I had 5 but I never saw them.

Craftysue · 27/07/2025 18:49

I've got no cousins. My kids have 6 and they all get on pretty well

Eastendboysandwestendgirls · 27/07/2025 18:49

First cousins - me 3 who I haven't seen in 30+ years. DD none.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
itsanicenight · 27/07/2025 18:51

I have 8 cousins. My children have 2

Comedycook · 27/07/2025 18:52

I had five...my dc have 15 because dh has a huge family, but two cousins on my side..but some of them they wouldn't even recognise and are adults with their own DC now

I agree as families get smaller aunts, uncles and cousins will be a thing of the past. It's quite sad really. I have awesome memories of hanging out with cousins.

schmalex · 27/07/2025 18:52

I have zero and my kids have 6, soon to be 7. They get on really well and I'm quite envious!

ChiefCakeTestertoMaryBerry · 27/07/2025 18:52

I have 7 first cousins, all on my dad’s side. None live in the UK and I hardly know them. My children have 2 first cousins.

TheOliveFinch · 27/07/2025 18:52

I have 3 and my children have 2. DH on the other hand has dozens

TheIncredibleBookEatingManchot · 27/07/2025 18:53

I have 11.

DS1 has 7.

DS2 has 2.

(Different fathers).

UnderCoverB0ss · 27/07/2025 18:53

2, haven’t seen them since they were in primary school. They’re 45 and 43 now and I’m 54. My DC have 4 cousins who they don’t see too often, 3 times a year maybe but they all message each other regularly and they all get on really well. Ages are 30, 28, 26, 26, 24,16.
DH has so many cousins, his mum was one of 10. They don’t see each other regularly but they all get on really well.

Adelesky · 27/07/2025 18:53

65!

triplechoc · 27/07/2025 18:53

I have 10 cousins but as an adult only really have a relationship with two of them; DH has 2 and rarely saw them as a child due to distance, and doesn’t have relationships with them as adults.

DS has 3 cousins, and sees them regularly. I wish he had more cousins as we couldn’t give him a sibling, but don’t think that will happen now, plus DS is now 16 so it wouldn’t be a peer relationship with any others anyway.

uphighonahillside · 27/07/2025 18:53

I had 11, my son has 2 who are much older and we never see due to distance so he might as well have none.

drspouse · 27/07/2025 18:54

I have 12 and my DC have two. It's totally true that they are dying out.
My DC are adopted and they may have cousins from birth family though we do know that one birth parent was an only child, though there are lots of birth siblings (maybe more we don't know about) and indeed one nephew.

Delphigirl · 27/07/2025 18:54

My kids have 8 paternal first cousins and 5 maternal first cousins. They are close to 10 of them (3 live on the other side of the world).

I had 14 first cousins I knew very well and 5 I never met (family rift on fathers side)

user1476613140 · 27/07/2025 18:54

I have four cousins.

My DC have two cousins.

TeenToTwenties · 27/07/2025 18:54

I have 6 first cousins.
My DC have 3.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 27/07/2025 18:54

I have three, but I only speak to one.

My children have three.

Nsvdi · 27/07/2025 18:54

I have 9 cousins, DH has 12 cousins.

Our DC have 2 cousins.
And that’ll be it due to the ages of mine and DH siblings (late 40s to late 50s).

Fifthtimelucky · 27/07/2025 18:55

I am in my 60s and had 11 1st cousins. My husband, who was born in the 1950s, didn’t have a single one (or any siblings).

Our children, born in the 1990s, have 11 1st cousins (I have 3 siblings) so that has made up for the lack of cousins on my husband’s side!

Pigriver · 27/07/2025 18:55

DH and I probably have more than 40 each. My DC have 3

yeesh · 27/07/2025 18:55

I have 25 first cousins (about double that for second cousins), my son has 4. My mum was one of 8 and her parents were also from big families. I know lots of her cousins and they come to family parties etc.

Sassybooklover · 27/07/2025 18:55

I have 21 cousins!!! My son has 4.

Christmassy24 · 27/07/2025 18:55

I have 22 first cousins, which is the list of anyone I have met. My husband has 17. My mum was one of 8 though. My kids have 3, with very limited likelihood of more. I only know a few of my first cousins, but spend time with some of their children (are they second cousins?)

MiseryIn · 27/07/2025 18:55

I have 6 cousins. Am close to 2 of them and their 4 children are “cousins” to my children.
Mine have 4 actual first cousins, none of whom we are in touch with.