In your opinion...

MMcLean05

How many kids is too many?

My opinion is, if you can afford them, they are well taken care of, and each have their own needs met... As many as you want.

Personally I want 2, and I'm pretty sure that's it! But I love big families. 

Kimmy1836

It depends. I really feel like once it gets to the point where you can't spend quality one on one time with each child in some way everyday...then you may have had too many. You shouldn't have so many children that you are leaving some 'parenting' of the younger children to the older children. (Did that come out right? haha) Case in point of that: the Duggars. To each their own though.  

allyandpat2010

 

Its a choice for every family to make. Lifestyle, finances, health can all play a part.

We thought we may want one more but decided the other night that #4 here will be our last. My DH said "I want to enjoy my wife a bit!" lol

LCB34

If you can afford and love a bunch of kids have a bunch. I totally respect the Duggars as they are financially supporting their children. They are also raising repsectable young adults. I personally would never have more than 2.

BeckyTheEngineer

After watching my neighbor take care of 5 (her 3, BIL's 2) I think that is too many.  The oldest was 6, youngest was 2 months.  They all needed car/booster seats, and getting around was practically impossible.  Maybe if they were spaced apart it would be easier, but dealing with 3 in diapers is a lot.

metzy144

We want to have 4 or 5 and honestly I think any more than that is too many.

lraymeremtp

Kind of reitterating here, but if their needs are met, ie. financially, emotionally, like most of you said, then by all means, procreate!! But I only want two, that way I can spend the quality time I would like to with both of my children and my DH! (of course if DH had his way, we'd have a football team!!)

allyandpat2010

LCB34:

If you can afford and love a bunch of kids have a bunch. I totally respect the Duggars as they are financially supporting their children. They are also raising repsectable young adults. I personally would never have more than 2.

I love the duggars. The only thing I am iffy on is alot of the older kids are bearing the responsibility of the babies. We just get the camera and editors view on things.

huntington79

I think that is hard to judge. How many kids is too many for me? How many is too many in general? What's good for me, may not be good for others. The Drugger (sp?) family - the one with 18 children on TLC - seem to be perfectly happy and able to provide for all of their children. That would be too many for me - but it works for them. I came from a big family (8 children). Some would say that's too many, but too many for what? Society? Your own personal comfort? For my mom to give birth to? I just don't see how anyone can answer those questions for anyone else. I love all of my brothers and sisters - and can't imagine life if any of them weren't around. We weren't wealthy, in fact we had to be quite careful financially - but we were happy and provided for. 

So, I agree with you - as long as you can provide for their needs (I'm talking about basic needs - I'm not talking about designer clothes, or everyone having their own bedroom/bathroom) - have as many as you want/you're able to.  

Kateysomething

On one hand, if you can afford, nurture, and provide for them, it is your business.

But, on a gut level, anything over 5 makes me

Soon_2B_MrsM

I absolutely love big families too! I would like to have about 4 kids but we'll see how it goes!

sage08

As long as each are taken care of and you can support them then it's up to each family. I want 2 and my husband is thinking 3... lol

I have 4 brothers and 4 sisters ages range form 32-13 yrs. and my husband has 2 sisters and 4 brothers... big families have pros and cons... there was always someone to play with or talk to but it was always loud too ! lol We both think our parents did a great job however, we don't think a big family is for us. But for those who want a big family go for it more power to ya !

jko123

We're stopping at 2...but there's issues influencing that decision. DS has a heart defect and there's always the possibility of a repeat, DS and DH have a chromosome depletion that our genetics counselor can't seem to give us any information on and there's a 50% chance of a repeat in that with any other babies, and I'm a c-section momma. They told me that VBAC isn't an option because my pelvis isn't shaped right for child bearing and I'm not sure how many c/s you can safely have. Plus, with the medical bills we've racked up we can't afford as many as we would have liked to have had! I think that as long as you can afford them, have them if you want 'em!

kayteatrudeau

Any more then two is insanity for me.

mexicolombiana

allyandpat2010:

LCB34:

If you can afford and love a bunch of kids have a bunch. I totally respect the Duggars as they are financially supporting their children. They are also raising repsectable young adults. I personally would never have more than 2.

I love the duggars. The only thing I am iffy on is alot of the older kids are bearing the responsibility of the babies. We just get the camera and editors view on things.

yup these were always my thoughts.  I actually enjoy watching the show, but didn't mama Duggar even say something goofy once like, my babies are my buddies when they are babies then move on to another buddy (meaning one of her older daughters?)  Does anyone else remember this?

allyandpat2010

kayteatrudeau:

Any more then two is insanity for me.

HAHA come to my house!

orienae

I'm really torn on this, I love the idea of big families and they seem like a lot of fun; also, who am I to judge if you can love and care for them properly?  However, I also feel that there is a certain point where we as individuals have to say how many natural resources do I get to take just so I can procreate? 

kg_08

I think it really depends on the family. For DH and I, he wants 2 and I want 3. Absolutely no more than that because we wouldn't be able to handle it! But then I have a friend who comes from a family of 12 kids and they have all had a full and wonderful childhood. I say the parents are the only ones who can really make that decision.

shipoopiisforme

one of my good friends is about to have #8. her older kids definitely help to care for the little ones but it's not as if they are left alone to parent them, in fact the oldest daughter often cares for the younger kids not at her parents' request but because she loves to. she actually only wants to babysit outside of the home now so her parents have been paying her to be a mother's helper because they don't feel she is quite old enough to be left alone with the youngest ones.

i would love to have 4 kids but so far mh is only sold on 3. however we have to see how we do with these 2. and since i have been on bedrest since 16.5 weeks it may be unreasonable for us to have another biological child, but we had always planned on adopting to grow our family as well.

i think as long as children are cared for and loved what does is it matter how many a family has? some people made the point that there isn't enough time for individual attention with larger families but watching my friends with 4,5,6,7 and 8 kids i know that that is not true. every single one of their children gets love and individual attention from their parents.

opheliacantswim

orienae:

I'm really torn on this, I love the idea of big families and they seem like a lot of fun; also, who am I to judge if you can love and care for them properly?  However, I also feel that there is a certain point where we as individuals have to say how many natural resources do I get to take just so I can procreate? 

This is a big factor for me.  We live in a world with limited resources due to our high population and consumption--and lots of babies equals lots more little consumers.  Family size is, of course, a personal decision, however, based on lots of factors.  I just know that, for me, if I desired a big family (which I don't), I would adopt after having two of my own. 

sleepingbeauty825

Lurking because 0-3 is boring... I would never have more than two. I feel like any more than that is multiplying, and that bothers me (for myself). If we wanted more children after having a second, I think we would consider adoption. I agree with PP though, if you insist on having lots of children you should be able to support them. Living in Utah though, I don't side-eye any amount of kids; I'd look like a maniac if I were to.

JhawkCE

I'm one of 6 and I love it.  My parent's wore themselves out, but hopefully they wouldn't give any of us back

 A lot of people looked down on my parents for having so many kids, and they treated us pretty shabby at times.  Many of those people are eating their words as we're all pretty successful (not trying to be an a$$ or anything) but their kids....haven't met their expectations to say the least.

 

FemmeNat01

I think, if you cant afford the kids you have already then you have NO business having any more. If you can afford 6 (and you're sane enough to have 6), then go for it but if you can barely afford 1, please dont have more.

mechanicsgirl

I agree with what you said.  In, for instance, the Duggar's situation?  I think that's far to many.  You have your children raising your children.  That's not fair.  Only have as many children as you can provide for/care for/give your individual attention to on a daily basis.

Aliliv

I can only speak for myself and we are definitely stopping at 3.    We can afford more financially, but we just don't want more.   We actually had planned at stopping at two.

For me, I want to be able to financially support my children - I don't mean for whatever they want or want to do, but being able to provide adequate clothing, food, shelter, and be able to start them out in University.    I definitely want to be able to afford piano/music lessons, though - that's pretty important to me:)

I do think that it is irresponsible to have more children than you can adequately support, though......

Aloe0l

I think we will have at least 3 to 4.  DH has 3 sibilings, and I only had one who was 7 years younger.  At times I felt like an only child and wished I had a brother or sister closer in age, but, what can you do?  

I think its fine to have a big family, and as long as the kids aren't being neglected by the parents, there is nothing wrong with older kids helping out.  I did it ALL the time with my little bro, and there were only 2 of us. 

Of course, we'll also have to wait and see what happens with #1 before making any final decisions!! 

Lizzie65

We probably will only have two, but I don't care how many kids people have if they can take care of them financially and have enough time to spend with the children.

christiecrofford

I work with a man that has 13 children and he has one of the most loving and close families I have ever met! All his children are total sweethearts, too. It takes major responsibility but I think that it is definitely a personal choice that should be made with careful consideration.