How many children would you have if money wasn't an option?

[Lsquiggles]

I have a 5 month old DD and recently had a discussion with my partner about how if money wasn't an issue we'd probably want 3 or 4 children but due to the expense and the fact we have a 3 bed house we will most likely settle on 2 children, 3 at a push.

Would you want a large family if money/living capacity etc wasn't an issue?

4, seems a nice even number. I know quite a few people with 4 and the dynamics seem to work well.

2, 3 at a push. I hate being pregnant. I also like a relatively quiet house.

No, Hyperemisis x 2 pg, emcs, uterine rupture and crash section all really put me off any further pg or childbirth. We had dc2 largely so DC1 would not be an only child.. she is very much loved, but I have had a single second’s broodiness since she was born 8 years ago. Money wouldn’t have stopped up having more, but other things did.

Hmmmm the money no object part would be used toward help, cleaner, babysitter, schooling etc.....Also if I didn't have to work while suffering from terrible sciatica , so I would st I would have had four.
I have two both are terrible sleepers, we don't have family help and so if money was no object I would pay to make life easier.
So maybe part time roles for my husband and I, cleaned, nanny so we could go out whenever we chose. Private school probably as DD does better in smaller classes due to learning needs.

I'd have loved 4, always thought I would have 4, but my marriage ending when my 3rd was a baby put paid to that.

Since then I've had a really tough time as a single parent (well no tougher than most single parents, and easier than many others, I'm sure and it's infinitely better than being still in an abusive marriage😕) and I don't know how I'd manage with 4.

In a way I suspect I refused to accept the reality of my marriage as I was so sure about having several children, close together. I find it hard every day to give each enough time, support, be a good parent, 4 would have been harder again. But I still think there's a baby out there I 'should have had'

I have two, I’d have loved four and it’s purely for financial reasons we haven’t had more. But then I look at them and my family is complete.

4 or 5, or even 6....... if we had millions and didn't need both of us to work more than part time.

However we would have had to start 10 years earlier to manage that!!!!

So we will stop with 2 and be happy :)

In an ideal world I'd have loved four. We could just about have managed it financially, but physically & emotionally I'd have struggled and I knew when I was at my limit. Three has been perfect for us.

I'd stay at 2 too. I like the family dynamic we have of 2 adults and 2 children. I struggle to keep up with the current school demands of time and effort and remembering non uniform/ fancy dress/ take something special to school as it is.

oh dear lord wait til that one is 2-3 yo before you decide whether to have any more

i have two and that's plenty. i would maybe have a third when both of these little asshats are well into their school years but at the moment i can't imagine wanting another one! money is not a factor in our decision making, my sanity is.

also, I'm one of four and always felt starved of parental attention.

There's part of me that would have loved to have 3 or 4 children - I came from a large family and loved that sense of a full house at family get together a. (In reality they'd all gone off to college by the time I was 14).

But I'm glad I didn't. My XH only managed to be faithful for 7 years after my first was born. I couldn't imagine doing it all on my own with 3 or 4. And I have also had an amazing career which I can't imagine I could have done with more than two. So in the end with my 2 DC my cup runners over. Money ain't the issue.

Money wouldn't be the issue really, it's giving the attention to each child that's needed.

I'm pregnant with 2nd baby and I'd love more children but I find pregnancy really hard. I have hyperemesis, the thing that makes me most sad right now is that I can't give my DS more trips out and more activities as I feel so rotten no matter how much I push myself.

Four

and I'd love to be a SAHM with a twice weekly cleaner!

If I had so much money I could outsource cooking and cleaning them 3-4 kids. I don’t think time would be as thinly spread once you eliminate daily chores

Just the one, he’s 10 months and I’ve never felt broody in my life. He’s all I need and want.

Time is more important than money so whilst you need to be able to provide for your children in terms of financial costs, their emotional needs are important to. I don't think you can give 4+ children the time and attention they need and I say that as someone from a large family.

Always wanted 5 but was blessed with 3. Had to have gynaecological surgery so there was no chance of any more. But health and money no object I'd have had 5.

3 and if I was younger 4...

I would still only have the 2 I have!! There’s not a hope in hell I would it all again (pregnancy and birth that is) 🤣

Probably 6.

4 seems to be popular.
I would always have wanted 4 in an ideal world but for various reasons we didn't get started early enough. If I had started earlier I would have enjoyed 4, but practical only if I had enough money not to work a lot. I find going to work a lot harder than being at home with the kids. I think I could meet all their needs if I could pick them up straight from school, so they only did clubs and activities, rather than childcare. You get 3 extra hours a day with them!

I've two and they're great. But if money was no object at all ie can afford a cleaner, gardener, excellent childcare etc I'd have 4. I'm one of 4 and I really love it.

I have always wanted 2 children and still do (I have one and I'm hoping for a second).

Money has nothing to do with it. I think it's unethical to have more than 2 children, 3 max. I doubt that's a popular opinion but there it is.

Infact I would just have as many as it took to feel like I was finished 😂. Turns out I'll only have 2 because money is a major factor but I don't feel finished.