Has anyone decided not to have more DC for environmental reasons?

[KlingybunFistelvase]

Just that really.

DH and I were about to start TTC DC2, but we're having a rethink ATM. One of the big factors for me is carbon footprint / impact on the environment. Wondered if this is something other people considered when deciding whether to try for a second / third / fourth?

Yes, it was a factor for us. Though I think the biological urge to have children is very strong: we're stopping at 2 for several reasons but climate change is one of them.

Yes, absolutely. We felt it would be irresponsible to have more than 2 DC when the world is already suffering from so much over-crowding. And yes, I do feel judgemental towards people with large families, just like I feel judgemental towards people who drive massive fuel-guzzling cars or who drop litter...

Elderly relative was offended by this and said that it was our 'duty', as the 'right kind of people' to have a larger family, otherwise the country would be flooded with ill-educated, poor people with low moral values! Eugenics anyone? I've also been at a very Catholic wedding where the married couple were lectured on their Christian duty to have lots of kids and raise them all as Catholics, which I found a bit shocking.

And actually not just environmental but also political reasons. Most people don't pay enough tax to cover their cost to the system, especially with more than one child.

My fil said he doesn't believe in climate change, and doesn't really care about it if it is real because he's had a nice life and will be dead.
We were so shocked when he said it we asked if we could record him saying it to show our children if we ever have any and he did.

"Environmental" can encompass many things. I like to feed my family nourishing and high quality food. That's an environmental choice that we can afford by not having too many DC.

We are stopping at 2. Overpopulation is a concern of ours, not the main one, but definitely a concern. I think a lot of people scoff about it but it actually is A Thing.

I stopped at one because of environmental reasons. Satisfied my broodiness but also a awareness of the bigger picture.

And my only is incredibly happy, satisfied and fulfilled being an only, with no desire for siblings.

You would stop at one because you don't pay enough in for any more dc?? That is the silliest reason I've heard.

I think 2 is a good number to cover each parent. Having the choice meant I could go for dc2 and yes part of the reason was for dc1.

I'll be honest and didn't think of environmental factors when considering dc. But I don't feel overly guilty for my 2.

I mean a child would rather have a sibling

I was an 'only' child and I wouldn't rather have had a sibling actually. But obviously you know best

We're sticking with 1 child, and though it is not the only reason, environmental impact and overpopulation is a contributing factor to this decision. We never wanted more than 2, much because we feel it could be selfish and ignorant of us to take up so many resources, when the world has so few. I'm not trying to say people with more than 2 kids are selfish and ignorant, but that's what it would feel like for us to have lots of kids despite what we know. Sorry if this is badly worded, I get a bit defensive when people say mean things about small families. There is no right or wrong for each person, we're just trying to do what is right for us, and that we feel will benefit the world as a whole as well. :) In my opinion, 1 or 2 children should be enough for anyone and everyone.

Thanks all for comments. It's interesting to read other people's thoughts on this.

Slinky what a monumentally rude thing to say. However as an only in a family of many onlies I know very well that it's one of those issues that people feel free to share their opinion about however rude and inappropriate.

I would emotionally like 2 or more although I doubt we will as DH isn't keen. Our main concerns are the flipside- we can't get into a school, can't afford a bigger house, can't access healthcare we need for DS publicly. We're really seeing the impact already, London can't cope with the current population levels. So yes, it's then doubly scary to think what the consequences could be in the future when you start seeing shortages of more resources.

I was/am an only child, and the last thing I ever wanted was a sibling, believe me!

Interesting about people's feelings about larger families.

I've always found it very ironic how acceptable it seems to be to voice negative judgment on single child families but not on larger families.

In an ideal world I think 3 looks quite fun. And then I think of people I know who have 3 children at the massively oversubscribed local school that we can't get into because year by year the catchment has shrunk to 200 odd metres.
I do struggle not to think their choices are selfish because my son will be directly disadvantaged by their choices. And that's just one easy example, let's not think about the pollution levels and the other infrastructure issues and, soon, the water and food issues maybe.
Oddly, we seem to know a lot of 3 child families. Seems an increasing trend although no idea of actual stats.

I don't thing you should base the number of children primarily on environmental reasons. You should have the number of children you want and this will be affected by the time you have to spend on bringing them up, money, resources and what else you want to do with your life, as well as fertility issues. Unless you wanted one child in the first place, you will always feel you have given something up.

There is no point stopping at one in order to save the world because that will not happen and no one will thank you. If it would make you happier to have two or more, then do so, and bring them up to be aware of their environment, and the people and everything else in it and to make it a better place.

If you are happier having one, then do that. A lot of people are brought up as an only child and have very happy and fulfilled childhoods with fulfilled and happy parents (my DH was one).

I have 4 dcs ultimately just because I wanted to (and can afford it) but I do feel quite guilty about it actually. My sister also has 4. That's quite a lot of children just between us and is quite scary to think about!

Yes, it was a consideration for me.

Me and my partner have spoke about this before although I absolutely loved my pregnancy,birth and just everything about having a new baby the thing that puts me off is the society nowadays

It certainly isn't an ideal world to bring a child into at the moment. I swear I'm not being melodramatic when I say I think Donald Trump will have a terrible impact on the world, he genuinely scares me.

Agreed Bobby - I wish I didn't!

I wish I didn't age agree is what I meant there. Sorry, wasn't very well phrased.

Similarly, you hear a lot of people saying 'i'm worried about the world I'd be bringing my child into' etc. I wonder if those thought processes ever seriously put people off having dc?
Yes, me. And judging by recent events, I don't feel that I made a mistake. I'm a terrible worrier as it is and, by all accounts, having children magnifies that a hundredfold.

No I didn't give it a second thought when I had my second and third. I find it quite amusing that some of you have sat there with your global political and environmental head on whilst making this choice. Each to their own.

Fwiw an only child friend of my mum described his lack of Sibling to her as a type of abuse but that was down to the nature of his parents really, not to being an only child. I guess it's as valid a comment as any of the lone children who are perfectly and entirely happy though. It can go both ways.

You find it amusing? You do know this isn't some academic theory; this is happening now. We are going to have to deal with quite the shit storm in our own lifetime according by the sounds of things. It's likely to be even harder for our children. I don't really see what's funny about it.