How many kids? poll

AmyLaurel89 · June 2011

I was lurking on July 2011 and there was a post from a mom who is 38weeks with her last LO (will be her 4th adorable child) and many other moms were saying this was going to be the last. I'm only on my first so I'm a long way off from this but I'm curious how many kids you ladies plan on. How did you decide on that number? Also, how strongly do you feel about sticking to that plan?

chandwy11 · June 2011

This is our last. Mixed feeling about it because I always pictured myself with 3 but I'm 41 and will count my blessings with 2 healthy babies.

BritClen · June 2011

I want to say this is our last one...before I got pregnant we said this would be our last. But honestly I am not too sure now....I am happy with two but feel like that the girls may want another sibling.....but for now we are waiting at lest a few years before we even think about it

Codi-Bailey · June 2011

We plan on having 2 or 3, God willing. I can see us with 3 children, but if we're satisfied at 2, so be it.

LaComtesse · June 2011

3 then Monsieur is getting the ol' snip snip, so we're pretty sure about that one. I'm one of five, he's one of two, so we know how other dynamics work. Three seems like the right number for us.

globalwife · June 2011

This one is going to be plenty, I think. We weren't planning to have kids so having this one is more than we planned on. I guess we might change our mind one day, but I don't think so.

luvtinyhands · June 2011

I am 34yr and this will be our 3rd. I had my 1st at 30yr and my 2nd at 31yr. I don't have that "done" feeling. So I am thinking about going for #4 when this one is around 3yr. I think 4 will probably be the finale.

valzee · June 2011

globalwife:
This one is going to be plenty, I think. We weren't planning to have kids so having this one is more than we planned on. I guess we might change our mind one day, but I don't think so.

We were really on the fence about having kids, so I know where you're coming from. We're going to see how this one goes before we decide on another one. Definitely no more than two, though.

sunshiny79 · June 2011

Our family is going to sh!t a brick but we're going back-to-back again this time. So we'll have two older ones and two younger ones (if all goes as planned).

So 4 all together, let's hope the next one isn't twins or triplets...lol.

womancake · June 2011

Our plan has always been to just see what happens. We've never prevented pregnancy or actively tried. We just left it up to God/nature/whatever. I'm not sure if we're going to stick with that now that we know I can get pregnant--I certainly don't want Irish twins! I don't know...for whatever reason, I feel like this LO may be it for us, and I'm totally okay with that.

lmjt · June 2011

This will be my last (#2) I was going to have a tubal during this c-section, but opted not to, for a variety of reasons. While I am leaving myself the option to have another, I feel it is highly unlikely that I will try again.

BabySeals1 · June 2011

2 biological and 3 adopted:) I'm praying God enables that to happen! The biological number may change but there are way too many children out there who need homes for me to imagine adopting less than 3!

abozz · June 2011

This will be our second, and if DH has it his way, the last. For the moment I'm good with two, but I guess we will see what happens.

MsCrispy · June 2011

This is our first and our plan is to have two. Both my husband and I have one sibling each, so it just seemed normal to us. I'd prefer not to have an only child and three children seems to be a lot. So two would be our ideal, but obviously you can't plan everything, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if we ended up with one or three.

062307Bride · June 2011

We're hoping for at least 3.

memali26 · June 2011

I am one of 5, DH is one of two, so we've always had slightly different opinions on how many kids to have. I initially wanted 4, but after having DD I've decided 3 is probably perfect. DH always wanted at least 2, but isn't sold on a 3rd yet. We'll give it some time after this LO is born to see where we're at emotionally/financially/etc., before deciding if we're done or not.

lovelyophelia · June 2011

Codi-Bailey:
We plan on having 2 or 3, God willing. I can see us with 3 children, but if we're satisfied at 2, so be it.

Ditto. DH and I are just going to see how it goes. Ultimately, I would like 3, but he isn't convinced yet.

AmyLaurel89 · June 2011

I didn't want to answer my own question right out the gate and it looks like I'm in the minority on this. We feel like 6 is the best number for us. DH is one of 6 and I'm one of 3. I think the 3 thing didn't work for my siblings since its easy to gang up on the odd one out. Growing up, someone was always left out. Anyway, that number gets me some crazy looks from people, and most of the time people say things like "after this one, you'll change your mind" as if children are these little monsters and no one really wants them. Anyway, I was just curious what you ladies had planned.

LauraLovesJon · June 2011

I originally wanted three (this is my third), but after losing Elijah I know I will want at least 4 if not 5. I'm not planning on going on birth control ever again, so when we feel like our family is complete DH will get a vasectomy.

mariposa_atl · June 2011

I would like at least 2, I think. I suspect my husband would be fine with just this one. So, for right now, I am just focusing on this one and we can think about a second when this baby is 12-18 months.

jordinhoran · June 2011

We would like to have 2 and adopt a 3rd.

ermaderma · June 2011

We are probablay going to have 3. I don't think we will be done after 2, but we'll see. However, if I were to win the lotto and didn't have to worry about $$, we would probably go for 4.

melissajoy1985 · June 2011

This is our first... I'm only 25 but DH is 36... I am really really set on 4, and he is reluctant to go to 3 lol.... we'll see what happens, but neither one of us have siblings that will have kids any time soon so our children will be eachothers siblings and cousins.... I'd have 6 if finances and sanity allowed it lol!! I can't wait for a big family!!

lily87 · June 2011

I always wanted 3, I think DH would be satisfied with less. But, we can afford 3- so it is more just his personal preference. But, I could see him being ok with 3 as well. We'll have to see how he does when the baby is actually here. He has been amazing during pregnancy.

That said, with the hyperemisis, this hasn't been the easiest pregnancy. So, it is going to take a lot of thought before I go through that again. But, I am finally at the stage where I can even consider it. In week 12, I would have said absolutely not. If that happens again with baby number 2, then I might forgo a third. But, they say it doesn't necessarily happen with every pregnancy so we'll see.

They will be pretty close in age though- 2 years or a little less...because I will be 34 when this baby is born.

memali26 · June 2011

AmyLaurel89:
I didn't want to answer my own question right out the gate and it looks like I'm in the minority on this. We feel like 6 is the best number for us. DH is one of 6 and I'm one of 3. I think the 3 thing didn't work for my siblings since its easy to gang up on the odd one out. Growing up, someone was always left out. Anyway, that number gets me some crazy looks from people, and most of the time people say things like "after this one, you'll change your mind" as if children are these little monsters and no one really wants them. Anyway, I was just curious what you ladies had planned.

My mom always wanted 6, but they stopped at 5 for a variety of reasons. I often joke with her that I think she's crazy for wanting that many because my one is already a lot of work! But really, it's not crazy at all. If you and your DH feel like you have the ability to care for 6 kids, and obviously you'll have the love for all of them, then go for it. One of the best moms I know has 6 kids, and I suspect they'll go for at least one more. Being from a big family is so much fun

meredith anastasia · June 2011

possibility of one more after this, for a total of 3. I'm not completely sure yet. DH had always wanted 4 but I think he's coming around to the idea of 2-3.

womancake · June 2011

memali26:
AmyLaurel89:
I didn't want to answer my own question right out the gate and it looks like I'm in the minority on this. We feel like 6 is the best number for us. DH is one of 6 and I'm one of 3. I think the 3 thing didn't work for my siblings since its easy to gang up on the odd one out. Growing up, someone was always left out. Anyway, that number gets me some crazy looks from people, and most of the time people say things like "after this one, you'll change your mind" as if children are these little monsters and no one really wants them. Anyway, I was just curious what you ladies had planned.
My mom always wanted 6, but they stopped at 5 for a variety of reasons. I often joke with her that I think she's crazy for wanting that many because my one is already a lot of work! But really, it's not crazy at all. If you and your DH feel like you have the ability to care for 6 kids, and obviously you'll have the love for all of them, then go for it. One of the best moms I know has 6 kids, and I suspect they'll go for at least one more. Being from a big family is so much fun

This exactly. I don't personally want a family that big (at least that's how I feel right now), but if you are capable of caring for that many kids, more power to you! I think it's so sad the judgment that large families get sometimes. Some of the coolest families we know are families with 4 or more kids.

kayak11 · June 2011

We're hoping to have 2-3 children. Our current house will fit us and 1-2 kids, but this isn't where we want to be forever.

tblauvelt · June 2011

This LO may possibly be my one and only child. DH and I have very mixed feelings about having another, but I have to say that if we do get pregnant again it will most likely be by accident. This one was planned but the next one or two won't be as we don't plan on anymore in the moment.

shelley1002 · June 2011

We plan on 2.
We are both the oldest of 3 and decided that 3 is a lot of work, one is always left out/picked on by the other 2.
We also think that an only doesn't always know how to share/interact with others as well as a child with siblings because they never had to. This is definitely not always the case but we have a few friends that fit this description.

mshrader15 · June 2011

We are hoping for 3. I grew up with just an older brother and always wished for another brother or sister. My husband had a brother and sister and thought it was a great dynamic.

shelovesfrodo · June 2011

womancake:
Our plan has always been to just see what happens. We've never prevented pregnancy or actively tried. We just left it up to God/nature/whatever. I'm not sure if we're going to stick with that now that we know I can get pregnant--I certainly don't want Irish twins! I don't know...for whatever reason, I feel like this LO may be it for us, and I'm totally okay with that.

This is our MO too. I come from a family with two kids; DH on the other hand has ten siblings (he gets a lot of flack about it). I definitely do not want to go Duggar style, but while we are young, we want to have several (5-6?), so that by the time I am feeling all old and tired, the kiddos will be old enough at least to wipe their own bottoms. Even though we don't plan on using any artificial BC, DH and I have agreed that, after each child, we'll give ourselves some time to rest and reevaluate before charging ahead with another pregnancy. At the risk of sounding vain, I'd like to at least have time to get my figure back between each one. All that to say, I believe that children really benefit and gain maturity from having plenty of siblings, and that is what we want for our family.

Mrs.K23 · June 2011

I always said I wanted 2 (I am from a family of 3 and along with pp agree this generally does not work for a great dynamic). Lately I've been feeling like I want 4, yup crazy talk, but I don't know it just feels right. We will definitely not pursue that route if we stay in CA b/c that is far too much private school (the public schools here are crap). But if we end up moving to another state 4 may definitely become a real possibility. We will take whatever comes our way though and enjoy the ride as much as we can!

alynjohn · June 2011

I'd like 3-4 of my own, but DH thinks that is too many. We will probably have at least 2 of our own and then start seriously looking into adoption.

I agree w/ PP's that kids that grow up with siblings are typically less selfish and do much better interacting with others.

solsburyhill · June 2011

Our plan is to see how this first one goes ...

We're pretty sure we want more than one, but will decide on if and when to have #2 as things develop with #1. Same goes with #3. There will absolutely not be more than 3 because neither of us want that many. I've always wanted 2, DH has always wanted 3, but we're totally playing this by ear because we no idea what the world of parenting will be like! I also think the sex of #2 will influence if we have a 3rd.

NYChick · June 2011

I really wanted 3, and convinced my husband to go along with that! But I am open to changing my mind in the future. I don't want us to be under a lot offinancial stress/hardship, but I do really love the idea of a bigger family and a house full of kids.

TinaL99 · June 2011

This is our last. I always imagined myself with 2 kids, DH agrees. We're very serious about only wanting 2 and I'm having my tubes tied during my repeat c/s. It's just what works for our family.

beazbadazme2 · June 2011

I have 3 from my first marriage (15, 13, and 11). This baby will be DH's first child. We have been back and forth on having another one after this so Alivia has a sibling closer in age but I think we are okay with just her... I guess we will see since neither is taking any steps towards permanent birth control. Of couse since I am older (35 next Wednesday) and my mother is a fraternal twin, we aren't sure we want to risk twins.

Mrs. Alice · June 2011

I have a feeling like we will have one more after the twins, so 3 total. I want to wait until they are out of diapers, so in about 2-3 years from now? Our original plan was to try one more time if we have 2 of the same sex. Didn't expect a two-for-one deal though!

Melett · June 2011

This is our 3rd and last. I work full-time and couldn't really handle anymore, I don't think. My dh is one of 2 kids and I am one of 4 and 2 just never seemed "right" for me. I had always pictured 3, but after we had 2 and we saw what very hard work going from 1-2 was, we weren't sure anymore...But I still couldn't kick the something is missing feeling, so we waited a while and there will be a 4 year gap between #2 and #3 but we decided to go for it. I am so happy we did although, I am exahusted and am sure I will be for a couple years, my dc are so excited to have another sibling and to help with the baby...When I grew up there were 3 of us and I thought the dynamic was fine. and then my parents adopted my brother when I was about 13..and 4 was nice to, even tho he is so much younger than us..