Having a child can be one of the most beautiful things you will ever do.  However, it may also be one of the most difficult.  Children, wonderful though they are, place enormous financial, emotional, spiritual, and physical strain on most couples.  More than that, raising a child is a huge adjustment.  You can’t just decide to have a child and expect that all of your and their needs will be magically taken care of.  For most people, being a newlywed is difficult enough without adding the extra burden of dealing with a new life that is entirely dependent on you.  There are some serious issues to consider before you decide to have a child.

In its first year of life, a baby can cost up to $11,000.  That sum only includes diapers, formula, clothing and supplies and doesn’t take into account things like medical and prenatal care or the cost of daycare.  Diapers alone can cost up to $130 every month until the child is potty trained.  Factor in school, insurance and toys and it becomes painfully apparent that childrearing is expensive.  It may sound cold, but you need to review your finances before you make any decisions to see if you can support a third member of your family.  Don’t just assume that because things are going well now that they will stay that way.  Factor in things such as car accidents, on the job injuries, loss of job and emergency fund planning and usage. 

Almost fifty percent of marriages end in divorce.  Of these divorces most happened within fifteen years of the wedding.  One in twelve marriages will end in divorce before the end of the second year.  These are frightening statistics.  Ideally, you want to be with your spouse forever.  However, there are other considerations to make besides just love.  Finances, differences in upbringing and religion, and small idiosyncrasies can break up even the most solid marriage.  Think of how distraught you would be to end up raising a child with someone that you have fallen out of love with or, worse yet, may even dislike.  Factor in your potential differences in disciplining children and it becomes even clearer that it’s best to wait until the marriage shows signs of stability before even considering children.  The last thing you want is to bring a child into a broken home. 

This article is not meant to scare you.  It is meant to give you the facts so that you can make an informed decision.  Only you and your spouse can know if it’s the right time to have a child.  Hopefully, you will weigh everything that has been mentioned in this article and make the decision that is right for you and everyone involved.   

http://socyberty.com/relationships/newlyweds-and-children-why-it-doesnt-work/

http://www.surebaby.com/costs.php