If I was younger I wouldn't be having a baby

[JingleBellez]

because childcare costs are sky high, nappies and milk have gone through the roof.

Tell me I'm wrong.

tax credits used to pay 80 per cent of my childcare...

Intrigued where this £20 milk is, I shop in Waitrose and M&S and it isn't that much.

Agree that it's easy to say you wouldn't do it if you already have.

you can get milk delivered in bulk online which would half that cost

There have been changes in both directions….

When I had Dd in 2010 my work provided maternity pay of 18 weeks full pay and paternity full pay for 2 weeks (this was seen as really good at the time). They now provide full pay for both parents for 26 weeks. (And both can stay off for the full year if they want as well - even if both work for the company!)

And childcare was 15 hours aged 3. From 2025 a 9 month old will get 30 hours free.

On the other hand, interest rates were about 0.25%, food banks were barely used and education and the NHS were in a pretty decent state.

What I do know though is that, for many people - myself included - having children is not so much a want as an almost visceral need. If you look at my life pre kids, my desire to reproduce was completely illogical. But I wanted my babies more than anything I have ever wanted in my life.

Pregnant with my second baby at the moment. Everyone's circumstances are different. Money was so far down the list of concerns when deciding to have a second child that it barely factored in to it at all.

I exclusively breastfed for both. Nappies were expensive but I shopped around and often left the kids bare bottomed on dog pads in the house because I was convinced letting their bits ‘air out’ was good for them lol. Childcare was ok - 3 days a week = 600ish a month & I had an understanding employer who allowed me to keep baby with me during work.

So basically with ft wfh I was earning £100kish per year, which I doubt would have been possible in OP’s time.

You're obviously wrong. Women have babies in famines and war zones.

I think it’s irresponsible to have children if you can’t afford them (in your current circumstances, I know things change) and that will be at different times for different people.

Same applies for having additional children, and children close in age because that’s the cultural norm.

Babies and young children can be very cheap, the huge cost is childcare. You can have one parent work part time around the other or use free hours or get UC help with childcare. It is likely to affect the pension or career of the person not working full time of course, but that is what many parents do.

The reasons for women having babies (lack of contraception, religious reasons for not using contraception) in war and famines are not really relevant here. I don’t believe that the majority of British women would have babies in these conditions, unless they were already pregnant of course.

I’m not really sure what the point of this thread is really. Every generation has some reason why it’s a ‘bad’ idea to have children.

A whole generation not having children isn’t really an option. Who’s going to keep society going when you’re old?

Plus realistically prices are only going to get higher, with the exception of childcare where the government have actually listened.

We’re another family who breastfed past 2 and used cloth nappies. We spend a lot on childcare but we also choose to work full time. We knew what the childcare costs were before we had children.

Really @Flimflamma - there are only so many childbearing years. Women being bombed by their own government in Syria kept having babies, women in all sorts of horrific circumstances keep having babies. Because the urge to procreate is strong, and hope transcends most other emotions.

Pretty sure that British women aren't immune from that, globally speaking. I mean, it's not like we stopped having babies during the two world wars.

interested to know if the price of nappies is really £2-4 in the Uk?! We are in France, pack of pampers in big supermarket is €17!!!! You can buy them cheaper online in big packs but still not £2-4!! Tin of follow on formula (12mo-3yrs) here is about €9-10 for just average brand (nestle).

Free childcare starts much younger and for longer - for my dc it was 15 hours a week term time from term after they were 3. Not taking into account I had twins which I hadn’t budgeted for. Children are expensive but a choice.

Population is plummeting so someone needs to have babies 😅

I just don’t know how threads like this are helpful. I know kids can be expensive. I am willing to make compromises elsewhere to still have a baby.

Of course they should, children are an expense like anything else.

I breastfed and used cloth nappies, one set of 24 did both kids and sold them 6 years later fir more money that I paid for them. I quit normal work until they were at school and we lived on one salary renting a small house. It can be done but you won't have the same lifestyle eg no phone contract, no gym, no overseas travel, one old car.

Are you in a similar position as you were when you were getting 80% of your childcare costs paid for?

Pampers are fairly expensive although you can usually find offers if you shop around. Aldi nappies are around £3.

And to be fair in 3 children I've never bought any milk, and bought 1.5 sets of second hand nappies supplemented by disposables. Only used childcare for the 3rd, got 30 free hours at 3 and majority paid for by tax credits for the rest.

They're more expensive now, growing all the time, developing interests etc.

No one cares x

tax credits used to pay 80 per cent of my childcare...

Imagine just for a moment your wages covered 100% of the child care and when their care was over you still had that money in your pocket.

The government is robbing woman blind and we bend over and say thank you.

I can't really afford my kids. But you just make it work. And I'm good with money. But if most people had that thought there wouldn't be much of a population. Only rich people can really afford them

While many from this thread clearly don’t care in general women are having less children and some choosing not to at all. Finances will be a reason for some of them.

I listened to a great video where some women said they didn’t want to perpetuate a cycle of poverty. With AI, climate change etc the demand for people is only to sustain a ponzy scheme and ensure there is always cheap labour. Let the rich create their own working class or use AI.