Many pregnancies are unplanned, but if you have opportunity to decide when you want to have a baby, how do you go about making that decision? How do you know when it is the right time to start a family?
Often the first factor that people consider is money. Can you afford to get pregnant? Can you afford diapers, baby clothes, gear, child care and other costs associated with having a baby? The answer is not black and white because the costs of having a baby can vary so much from one family to the next. For example, if one parent does not work, the cost of childcare will not be an issue. If you already have one child, having a second may not cost very much at all, especially if you have good health insurance. On the other hand, if having a second or third child will require upgrading the family vehicle or moving into a home with more space, significant costs could be involved.
Another thing to consider is how a new baby will change the family dynamics. How well will your toddler adjust to having a new sibling? Are they ready to share mommy and daddy with someone else? What types of developmental milestones will your older child be going through when the new baby arrives? You might consider postponing for a few months if you know your older child will be potty training.
There will always be reasons to postpone, and if you keep putting pregnancy off, eventually it will be too late. Strike a balance by choosing a few specific goals that you want to meet before starting a family or expanding the one you have. You might decided that you want to pay off your credit card first. You might save up and purchase a van. Or, you might move into a bigger place and get settled before getting pregnant. There’s nothing wrong with taking some extra time to prepare.