40% of families have only children - so where are they all?

[bobbybobbobbingalong]

Well that's the NZ figure - but where are all these only children? I know 2 (and Bob).

Message withdrawn

I know one couple in the US who have chosen to have one (due to age and finances); I know four or five here in London, and most of them (us included) have one due to infertility or age. Maybe the stats are different in the UK? Anyone know? And, do the stats in NZ apply to families who are definitely not having any more, or all families at any given time?

Its probably based on families with an 18month old, who have not had a chance to have a second child yet.

We're still closer to 2 but dropping in the UK, say the stats . From your friendly neighbourhood data geek.

Ds is an only child, age 13.5m

Dh is an only child

Our neighbours have one Son who is age 8

Another neighbour have one Daughter who is age 4

My Niece is an only child, age 5.5

mummytosteven has just one, I think she wants to keep it that way... otherwise she's end up with an annoying MN name (he is only 2 though!)

I was an only one and hated it, but that's because my parents are complete loons... so it was probably a good thing they only subjected the one child to their weirdness tbh!

My SIL has just one.

My friend has just one.

Another friend swears she'll never have another, but think she will!!

I've just one. But hoping for another.

DH is an only and would be happy for us to have just one.

my nephew is an only child.
his parents' entire focus is on him - his mum even works as a TA in his class at school so that she can keep an eye on how their little darling is treated!

I appreciate they're completely extreme, it's like some caricature of growing up as an only child.

Does anyone think it is 'weird' to have an only child? I sometimes get that impression from people. Dh is an only child and Im glad in a way, so annoying family members to deal with! lol

Nah it's not weird at all!

Oh good!

My dd, who's 4.75, is an only child - and who will be staying that way! Partly because of my and dh's age, partly because I didn't want children at all until dd turned up, partly because she is all we need - our family feels complete. It's not weird - no more than having two, three or more is weird. What would feel weird to me would be having more when having just dd feels right.

Me and DH are both onlies. I was perfectly happy that way but DH was lonely. We've one at the moment.....but we will try for another.

I know lots. 6 or 7 of dd1's friends are only children. they are all aged 5-6. some were only children by choice, some by fertility problems, a variety of reasons.

lots of academic mothers have just one child, deliberately. uni nursery here is full of onlies.

Dh is an only child. At the mother and Toddler group I go to there are about 5 3 year old girls all only children. One is through choice, one mum is going through IVF, one is a single mum.

DD is an only child and always will be. I know of at least 4 other young children around here who are, and are likely to remain, only children - all around DD's age.

I also know afew adults who are only children too - all perfect;ly happy and well adjusted too. Well, a couple are a bit odd but....

dd is (currently) an only child.

dh is an only child

it keeps Christmas cheaper

DS is an only child and will remain so

it depends whether the stats are worked out per child bearing female or women who've already had a child.

We have friends with no children, 1 child, 2 children and 3 children, but i'd guess the average between them all is 1.5 children!

There are 2 in our street. I'm not trying to be contentious, honestly, but both of their mothers thought that 2 would be too much hard work. And I quote...both also have girls, and think they are very lucky as boys are too noisy. You kind of get the picture...

Yes - that give me a v strong picture - Paolosgirl. But mostly of people whgo can't possible comment on statistics without commenting on the general character of people who have one child.

Does anyone answer a q about how many pople have two or three children and feel compelled to add comments about their general parenting?

General character, Blu? No - just of the characters of my neighbours.

I agree Blu. I find it very odd how people are more than happy to give their thoughts and "observations" on famillies with an only child 9and also fo those with much larger numbers), but not the same for those who have 2 or 3.

It was asked earlier if it was weird to have an only child? (I know this was said NOT to be controversial BTW). But no one would ever say is it wierd to have 2 children, would they?

Weird? I don't know about that, but I do know about my neighbours views on children, and boys in particular.

I couldn't care less how many children you care to have...but I do know that my neighbours have questionned my choice to have 2, and expressed pity for me because I have a boy.

But I guess that we can all jump to conclusions, can't we?