deciding to have a baby?

Question

i am 18 and i want a baby very bad what are some things invovled with having a child please help me make this major decision

and also please do not post an answer if you can not spell and if you do not know what you are talking about i need help not smart butt people

Answer 1

lots of money, time, good parenting skills, and maturity.
I was almost 23 when I had my baby, and I feel now that I was a little too young. Not because I am immature or lack parenting skills--I have read every book, I have a degree in Family Psychology which entails a lot of parenting/child development classes, and I am told by many people that I am a good parent. I make time for my daughter, and I handle her very well.

But occasionally, I still want to go out and just hang out with friends. I have always always always been the "mother type" who loves kids, etc. (You know those dolls you get in high school parenting/health classes that you have to stick the key in when they cry? Yeah, mine made me want a baby. I am that kind of person.) Furthermore, I was never very social, so it's not like I gave up parties every weekend or a very exciting life. And I would never trade my daughter for any of that, but sometimes I feel like I should have traveled more and experienced more before settling down. I wish I would have finished all the school I wanted, and made the most of that education. All these trips to Europe and opportunities at school you can get, I can't go on because I have a baby and she takes all my money. :)

I am not trying to tell you only the negative stuff. There are PLENTY of positive things. But they are all things that could have waited 5 years. I could have all those positive things AND have traveled and done more things for just me, too.

So that is my advice to you. Good luck! :)

Answer 2

Hi! I had my first baby at 18, so I know how it affects your life first hand. My suggestion would be to get your life situated first. Finish college and make the best life you can for your child. You can not imagine the strain you will be putting on yourself if you have a baby right now. Just think about the things that you can not do with a child. You can't go to college and live on campus. You will have to pay daycare to go to school. There are so many possibilities in your life right now at 18. Give yourself some time for you without having a child to take care of. Enjoy yourself a little!! My son is now 9 and I am 27. I wouldn't change having him, but if I could have finished school first...I would definately choose to do that. You will be able to give your baby so much more. I still have not finished school, so please think hard about this. There is no way to describe all of the complications that you will encounter by having a baby at 18. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Answer 3

First of all, you're 18 and shouldn't be wanting a baby yet. This is your time to go out and have fun- babies are not always fun. They can be very frustrating. They will consume all of your time. You will not be going out with your friends. Count on not being able to go to the movie theaters for a year or so. Your days will be filled with dirty diapers, making bottles, baby baths, crying for reasons that you'll just have to figure out by trial and error, and a whole lot of lost sleep.
Babies are cute, yes. They are a joy, but you've got life ahead of you. Go to college first. Get a good job. Settle down and have some time with the one you plan to be with forever and be happy to spend time with each other as just a couple- because once the baby comes, there won't be much of that for a long time. You'll have many wake ups at night (ever three or so hours at first) and baby needs your attention all day. You'll be lucky to find time to eat and bathe, let alone socialize. Don't forget all the cleaning too!
Oh, and then there's the money issue. Babies are expensive! Diapers cost $6 or more for a 56 pack- and they can use up to ten a day. Formula costs $10 a can, and that will be gone in a week. They grow out of clothes quickly, and those aren't cheap. Don't forget the toys, crib, blankets and other things you'll need to keep baby safe and comfortable.
You're 18. Go live life for a while.

Answer 4

I am sure that no one wants to be a smart a** but since you are asking complete stranger to help you make this major decision you are getting the answers that you deserved
first of all should you not perhaps discuss this with your mom or a family member that cares about you and will tell you the complete truth (I also have a feeling that you did talk to your family about this but don't like the answer that you were given so now you asking complete strangers)
Well since rudely telling people off
I will tell you this I don't think you are mature enough to have a child
because having a child take a lot of patient and the understanding to let certain stupid comments roll over
That been said
it take a lot of patient , lots of money, lots of Love
you need to be totally unselfish
If you could do that then Good luck

Answer 5

I had my first at 16 and second at 17, and believe me they arent cheap and you will not have a life for oh 18 years, if you cant afford a sitter you cant work or go anywhere and all the "friends" that you have now will not be your friends at 3 am when the kid is crying and you cant get the baby to stop, and they wont want to get spit up on so if you still want to I guess that nothing we say will make any difference. I would suggest that you wait a few years and go to college and have a career and find a husband to help support you, not financially even though that would be nice but emotionally, because it is HARD!!!!

Answer 6

Look everybody on here is saying your only 18. I had my first child at 18 he is 7 and I also have twins that are 4. I'm 26 this year I've been doing it solo for 7 years the father is the same for all 3 kids but we just can't live together. I work full time I earn over 75k per year I only finished school at year 10. I work in retail I started at the bottom and worked my way up to where I am now. So if you think you are mature enough and strong enough then I Say go ahead and do what you think is right. After all you are the one raising the baby not any one of us.

Answer 7

As odd as it sounds, the first thing I would consider is how much money you have to take care of this child and how much help you will have.
Most people probably won't tell you this but if you have enough money to live comfortably while staying at home to take care of your baby, your whole experience will be much, much better. Money is such a HUGE factor when planning a baby.

Secondly, you have to consider if you will have help taking care of this baby other than the baby's father. If you plan on attending college or working, you need someone like your mom or boyfriend's mom to take care of your child so you can focus on school/work.

You will hear everyone tell you what it's like to take care of a baby but NOTHING is better than actually taking care of a new born in real life. Find a way to take care of a baby for more than just one day. Nothing can prepare you for the sleep deprivation you will have while taking care of a new born.

Finally, going through pregnancy and child birth is a very miraculous thing- but it also sucks. I feel very blessed to have the experience but I hated being pregnant all the way through my third trimester and birth was no fun either.

Answer 8

personally I don't think 18 is old enough to be having babies, I don't know you personally, but most 18 year olds are not emotionaly mature for that kind of responsiblity and some one else usually get the job of raising the baby like a mom or grandmother. Babies cost alot of money and it doesn't stop at babyhood you have to financially take care of them until they are of age to do it themselves. You should be in a solid relationship having a baby by your self is not fun (my husband is in the military and is away alot) You need a steady good paying job, a house of your own, not your parents. At 18 years old you should be thinking about what kind of career you will have and what college you want to go to going out w/ friends. You can not have those things w/ a baby, yeah you could end up w/ an awesome career and all that, but I would guarentee it would take alot longer if you have a baby to take care of.

Answer 9

When you are ready to devote your life 24/7 to the new human being who relies entirely on you to take care of them. When you are ready to wake up at all hours of the night whether or not your tired, because that doesnt matter. When you are ready to give up most of your free time. Because you still have to go to work, then you pick the baby up from the daycare or babysitter, then you could still go out i guess IF you can find and afford another babysitter for the night. You need to understand that its not like babysitting someone elses baby, yeah theyre cute, you like holding them, but try holding them while they are throwning up all over you screaming at 3 in the morning when you have to wake up at 6:30. At 18 as far as im concerned you need to enjoy your life, you get it one time, its not a joke, youll get older, that child wont go away. If you just wait a few years, youll be content you lived it up young, Then, make the decision to have a baby, it will be alot more satisfying than losing those young years, for something that can most definatly wait!

Answer 10

There is a lot involved with having a baby. You will not only be bringing a person into the world, but you will be responsible for feeding, cleaning, nurturing, and caring for it. But, it's one thing to be told what's involved, but nothing is going to actually prepare you for what it feels like except for when it happens to you. It is the most wonderful scary thing that will ever happen to you.

I had my first baby at 18. I know you weren't asking for advice if this was a good age or not, but I suggest you wait, just a little while. Give yourself some "selfish" time. Take trips, pamper yourself, go to college. I never once regretted my oldest, but if I could change anything, I would have timed her just a little later. You have time. :)