Expanding Your Family in 2020 and Beyond

This lovely family had their 8th baby in the water at Health Foundations!

Expanding your family can be a big decision or maybe even a surprise! Whether you are growing from a family of three to four or more, here are some questions to ask yourself while planing.

Can we afford it?

Sometimes we can forget the initial and long term costs of a child because we get used to our finances the way they are and have been for a while. The average cost of a child until the age of 18 is $100,000. If you are a working parent, you can start doing research about how much your childcare will increase with the addition of a new baby. For some families, they choose to have a larger age gap to save on childcare costs. Sometimes, a family may choose to have a parent stay home because it can be more cost effective.

Age Gaps

Thinking about age gaps between your children is important to do if you can. Some choose to have their kids close together to stay in the baby stage because they are used to it. Others choose to wait a few years for various reasons. Waiting can mean adjusting to sleepless nights and diapers again. There is no “right” answer and a lot of pros and cons to both. When kids are close together it can be very challenging to have a toddler and a baby. On the other hand, a larger age gap can mean more of an adjustment for the older child.

Living Space

Living space is another thing to consider. If you have a smaller home, is there a room for the baby once they are in their own room? How would your other child feel about sharing a room? You can certainly get creative with space. Or maybe you specifically chose your home for a larger family. You will want to think of your vehicle as well. Will it comfortably fit your growing family?

Your Relationship with Your Significant Other

There is no doubt that your relationship will again shift and change just like it did with your first baby. With two or more children, it is all about sharing the responsibility of kid and household duties. It usually means one parent tending to the new baby and the other parent tending to the older child.

Although these questions to ask yourself and your partner are important with planning to have another child, it is true that there really there is never a “perfect time” to have a baby. You make it work! But planning ahead can help with an easier transition.