Ideal Number of Children to have?
 

My girlfriend and I were talking about this and we both agreed on two- because an only child wont have a sibling to play with, three would leave a middle child, and four or more is generally too many. any thoughts?

2.5 definately!

ok..I've always gone with 2 also..but I want a girl first then a boy

nothing wrong with being a middle child - on most days, I think I turned out ok... I have two siblings, I never played with either of them... Don't have more than one kid just so you think they'll have playmates...

Ideal number of children? none - -but a dog would be nice... :D

more than 1 but less than 4. i guess that leaves 2 or 3. yeah...that sounds about right.

At least two, no more than ten. I don't know why ten, but that just seems like a top limit to me. Oh, and I'm a middle child, it was ok, not great, but ok.

I agree with maleficent. The wife and I have agreed that the ideal number for us is zero. However, if we were to adopt, I guess it would be two.

None. A cat is better.

my mom had 4, and I am the oldest. I have 3 younger sisters, and the middle one has all of the classic middle child symptoms, and we have agreed that we do not want that kind of drama.

I'll have to go with zero, Alex.

I'd say 1 - 3. I've always wanted to have at least one kid. I think I'd make a good dad. It's a bit of a scary thought though...

None, with occasional visits from the nieces and nephs...



/hugs his doggy

Two. And the older one should be a girl so she can babysit her little brother or sister.

i am glad so many of you arent having children. maybe the impending world overpopulation wont be so bad afterall.

Hmmm...I think there are plusses and minuses to each number.

Zero:
Plus: No college tuition! Freeeedooooom!! Also, good for an overpopulated planet.
Minus: People keep bugging you about when you're going to squeeze one out.

One:
Plus: Kid gets undivided attention, never has to experience sibling rivalry. Also good for an overpopulated planet because it's less than the replacement rate.
Minus: Potential for loneliness, spoiled bratness.

Two:
Plus: Each has someone to play with, whomp up on. Replacement rate of reproduction = zpg.
Minus: Two college tuitions, sibling rivalry.

Three:
Plus: Middle child disrupts balance of power, provides real-life sociology laboratory.
Minus: They now outnumber you.

Four or more:
Plus: Now qualify as a "big family."
Minus: What are you, a breeder?

None for me. At least for planned children.

I'm the youngest of three. It seemed to work out okay. As for me, my ideal number is Zero.

Ya 2 would be nice I'm a middle child it hasn't really changed me, I'm still screwed up just like my bros;)

But when I talk to my GF she says we should have had another, but I think 2 kids by the time your 20 is a little crazy:eek: I got a 5 year old daughter so a son would be nice. :thumbsup:

but 3 wouldn't matter to me but 4 is pushing it!

It depends on how much their goin' for on the black market.

2, preferably a daughter then a son, but any combination of gender would be fine with me

Gary Larson says 2.5

Thats what a buddy of mine wanted...then he ended up with 3 daughters..hes going to have to buy a shotgun to keep the boys back!

There is only one smart choice here, IMO.
That is "none."

Replace yourself in this world, don't add to the problem; no more than 2.

I had one...no problems with being spoiled or bratty or being lonley

i'm a fan of none...

Lurkette, You rock! :lol:

either one or none is my choice...

Nah, it just means that the Muslims, Chinese, and Indians will out-breed us.

None for me. The middle child thing sounds a bit dodgy to me, i am 1 of 3 and the middle child is/was perfectly fine growing up, its how you raise em, but id rather not bother :D

My dad is like.. one of 14, I think. That's understandable because my grandpa has an ego that's far too big for the tiny island he lives on.

I'm one of 3. My family turned out fairly well.

I think I want a maximum of 3 kids if I ever do settle down.

I would say two...
more than two and you are contributing to overpopulation.
One to replace each of you when you die.

I have 2, one is 14 and one is 16 months... very far apart has been great and currently trying for #3

Some people seem to want at least 2, one of each sex, to satisfy the egos of both the mother and father.
This is particularly noticeable when you see a family of three, with 2 girls and a boy or 2 boys and a girl. Now everyone is happy!

I am one of those how would say 0 and get a dog or two. Dogs are cheaper an more loving

Dogs don't live as long, though.

they also don't become teenagers :D

I wouldnt say more loving.. there is nothing better in this world when your kids tell you they love you!!!!
When my little one runs up to me saying mama mama and throws his arms around me and I get a big kiss from him I melt everytime.
Even my teenager has ways to let me know how he feels.... I even cried yesterday when he told me he made the JV Football team at his high school
Very rewarding!

Hubby and I have always wanted two. We both come from families where there were only 2 siblings. Now though? We are content with ONE. We don't regret any of the trials to give birth to her or the cost to raise her so far. I know it gets even more expensive after puberty but we haven't gotten there yet. We adore our little girl. BUT we don't want anymore. One is enough. I REALLY do not want to go through 21 hours of labor again. Hubby really does not want to go through a week of sleepless nights due to prelabor. I REALLY do not want to go through another c-section either. ONE is plenty in light of just those problems.

I have a home day care and enjoy it quite well (minus that month of January when cabin fever hits me BIG time) and it gives her lots of kids to play with. She has learned to share quite well in my opinion. She also still gets the one on one attention that every parent wants to give their child. I HOPE that she doesn't become spoiled from being an only child.

Um, what other configuration of 3 kids is there? Your logic assumes quite a bit I'd say. ;)

3 boys or 3 girls. :)

I would say two, but my wife didn't want to have any more after the first one. That was one of the most bitter arguments we'd ever had, and it's probably the only thing I cannot quite forgive her for. (She's a great woman, but it's just a very painful issue for me.)

So my advice is to settle this early if at all possible.


[Edit to be more honest] I didn't provide as much support while our daughter was a baby as she needed. And we started late, so at this point it's fairly academic... Still, it hurt. A LOT. So try to avoid this kind of contention if you can.