What’s your ideal number of children?

[Harriet1237]

I have 1 and would like another at some point maybe in 3 years time when I’ve finished Uni and hopefully working a higher paid job but my DC is 8 now so it would be starting all over again working part time whilst juggling child care. How many children do you have and would you have preferred having more/less?

I would have liked 3, but financially and logistically stopped at 2. They're 9 and 11 now and getting more expensive and time consuming with their hobbies! So I am glad that I only have two although occasionally wish I had a littler one around too!

I have 2. I would’ve liked 3, I see that as the perfect number in an objective way, but my health (while I’m not in mortal danger or anything) isn’t good and my last pregnancy was quite dangerous for us both. I feel like I wouldn’t get away with it a third time so we are stopping here.

I have two and I wanted two!

I currently have 1 and I'm expecting twins.

I'm worried that 3 will be too many, 2 was very much my ideal number.

I have 2 and that is ideal for me. DH and I do most parenting together so I'm rarely dealing with one child on my own, we usually deal with one child each. Age gap was planned so that dc1 was almost in school when dc2 was born. I'd hate to be juggling lots of young dc all on my own, I'm a far better parent working one to one with each child.

I have 3. If finances were no issue I'd absolutely love to have 2 more.

Sadly we are stretched to the limit with money and space as it is so no more babies for me.

Two small age gap this is perfect for us.

When I was growing up in the 70s you only had two but these days it seems that three are the popular number.

I have two and it's perfect. I did think about having three but I'm really pleased I stopped at two. I can give them both so much of my time and attention

I have two. If I had significantly more money I may have had more.

We have 3 but dh and I were hoping for 4 or 5 but miscarriages meant it wasn't to be.
Very happy we had 3, all our kids get on well and turn to each other a lot. We are also a close-knit family and enjoy each other's company. Our kids are currently 23, 20 & 17.
It was definitely challenging when we had a 5 yr old 3 yr old and a newborn. After that I thought "nothing will ever feel hard again after this" and it's been true! The sleep deprivation was the killer at that time, but "this too shall pass".

6, enough to be a large family but not enough to drain the life out of you

This was me.
It worked out fine , I've survived (currently 3 teenagers) but things are more expensive, sometimes 3 is a crowd, need 3 bed holiday cottage etc.
It was obviously meant to be and I wouldn't change it even the early years of 3 under 4.

Three is perfect for me

I have 2, we always said 2 or 3 but never felt like the right time to have a 3rd (youngest is 9 now), I'm actually glad we stopped at 2 because we're financially better off and just having a family of 4 is easier than 5 for holidays, eating out, not needing a bigger house & car etc etc

We went from 1 to 3 with twins too, we had said we wanted 3 anyway but had we gone in singles who knows if that would have happened. It worked out, they're all teens now, get on well. Expensive Uni /driving lessons years currently!

I would have four if I had a lot of time and money

I have 1 and will be sticking with 1! She’s 7 now and life is very easy. I had a miscarriage earlier this year which was horrific and I just can’t do it again.

Helps that most of her friends are one child families so it’s very much the norm in our area.