Reasons why more couples are choosing to have only one child?

Answer 1

In addition to the other answers regarding finances, it could be a biological choice in that simply more children live into adulthood these days than in generations past. Of course no one has multiple children based on analytical thinking or infant mortality rates alone, but maybe in years past they felt the biological need to produce more offspring for the family continuance? Look to the Depression Age - how many had brothers or sisters who died while still in childhood? It was so common almost to the point that most every family had at least 1 child who would not make it. Therefore people in that era tended to come from large families with 4, 5, even 6 siblings. I think as we have better living conditions in modern day (no need to have multiple kids to tend to a farm, sell off to factory work, etc...) and better medicine/health, we live longer and thus do not feel the need to have so many children. I guess it's just my take on innate biological "population control".

Answer 2

I just heard that more families are choosing to have 3 kids (on the Today Show they're saying "3 is the new 2").

However, from what I've seen with family and friends, I would agree with you that people are having 1 or 2 kids. To add to what others are saying - Cost would be the number one factor. With the cost of living increasing by the second, having kids is extremely expensive.

Also - people are getting married later and then having kids. They get married in their early/mid 30's and then have one child.

Answer 3

~The ignorant ones and career welfare families aren't. They're still multiplying like lemmings. It's a conspiracy. They are trying to take over by sheer mass of numbers. The intelligent folk having small families are doing a good thing in the short term, but the herd is swelling. Meanwhile, the money the small families are saving by being small families is being blown in taxes to care for the lemmings and woodchucks.

Answer 4

I'm thinking maybe one of the individuals is concerned with the commitment. Especially with 1 in every 2 marriages failing, maybe they're thinking the worst odds and concerned about child support, etc.

Answer 5

Children are very expensive and in order to give your child the better things in life and maintain a decent lifestyle as a adult you can only afford to have one ( all things considered)

Answer 6

I can answer this one pretty well. I look at other families, or even my relatives and see how they are struggling. I have realized how hard it is to maintain care with multiple children. 1 to 2 children sounds the most reasonable to me.

Answer 7

I think it would be becaue they don't want to waste too much money on the child- it's a great joy to have a child but sometimes you just don't have enough money to support him/her. Also, it's much easier this way- you can focus your attentino on yuor child and provide him/her with all the love possible.

Answer 8

Cost.

Answer 9

The cost.

Answer 10

It's expensive plus it is a big lifestyle change.