Hellobee Boards Topic: If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?

Hellobee Boards Topic: If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 14:07:42 +0000 Mrs. D on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365737 Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:59:31 +0000 Mrs. D 2365737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ The only way it affected our plans was it calculated into when we would try. I mean. we don't want to pay double daycare, so we took dd school start age of 5, and subtracted 12 months of mat leave (since we'll pull her out of fulltime care), then a further 9 months to our start date of ttc. AKa ,now! pinkcupcake on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365718 Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:38:19 +0000 pinkcupcake 2365718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. im more concerned about the larger costs like saving for an additional college education, another wedding...Those are the expenses I'm worried about. LilSprinkles on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365702 Sat, 21 Nov 2015 12:53:43 +0000 LilSprinkles 2365702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. We are set on how many we want, and more money wouldn't change our decision. Mrs Hedgehog on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365537 Sat, 21 Nov 2015 07:10:26 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 2365537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. I even had no paid leave for a few weeks and still had another. We have a number of kids in mind that will work for us and I refuse to let work get in the way of that. Lilbear on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365532 Sat, 21 Nov 2015 06:56:46 +0000 Lilbear 2365532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It probably wouldn't affect my decision to have a 3rd child, but it would make things so so so much easier on us if I had a fully paid maternity leave! Especially if I was able to keep my health insurance while on maternity leave! I probably wouldn't change the spacing either way. I'm sure we would wait until LO1 was enrolled in the free universal pre-k program, just so we aren't paying for 3 kids in daycare. Mrs Green Grass on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365476 Sat, 21 Nov 2015 00:45:38 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2365476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For us no, but I really would have liked it with the first! lemondrop on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365472 Sat, 21 Nov 2015 00:24:41 +0000 lemondrop 2365472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, there's much more to a third than the benefits. I'm part time these days, so I don't get full leave that I got the first time around and I'm not sure how the insurance is going to be with my husband's job change. On top of all of that and the main reason- I'm so not mentally ready for a third. It will depend on how things are in a year before we decide to slam that door and padlock it :silly: MrsYellowJacket on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365464 Sat, 21 Nov 2015 00:05:05 +0000 MrsYellowJacket 2365464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I didn't realize there was a cap in Canada. Honestly - makes me feel better bc the max wouldn't make a difference compared to my current take home pay. We just saved and my company allows up to two years off unpaid. So I'm taking 6 months. So no - if we had a Canadian type policy it wouldn't change my plans since the cap is low. We'd still have to save up significantly like we are this time around. If there was a "top up," that might change things (maybe TTC sooner than anticipated) sapphire on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365160 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 16:10:33 +0000 sapphire 2365160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, I don't want more than 2. But more leave would be great anyway! yoursilverlining on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365143 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:51:47 +0000 yoursilverlining 2365143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope, wouldn’t impact my plans at all. Even if I got a year off at full pay and didn’t start LO in daycare at all until they were 1 years old, that’s still an additional $50,000+ in daycare expenses before Kindergarten for each kid I have. Maternity leave is such a small drop in the bucket in overall child costs it isn’t something I would take into consideration. I didn’t find that I saved money either while on mat leave because I am not able to stay home for days at a time – I need to be out A LOT (like, every day), which meant lunches out, trips to Target for essentials but ended up picking up other stuff we didn’t need, museums memberships, gas costs driving all over the place, $100 here, $100 there adds up quick, etc. etc. So for me, it wouldn’t be like extra leave pay without daycare expenses would be a huge bankable amount. oliviaoblivia on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365117 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:31:36 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2365117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @LovelyPlum: I'd love that!! mrs.shinerbock on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365092 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:04:43 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2365092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, it hasn't affected our decision about how many children we would like to have. It has affected our decisions about childcare - we've kept on our nanny longer than planned because we would like to have her for LO2. Cherrybee on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365085 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:00:12 +0000 Cherrybee 2365085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I get a full year off but only 13 weeks is full pay, 13 weeks at half pay, 13 weeks at statutory pay (£135pw) and 13 weeks unpaid. I don't think this has affected my family plans but I really don't know how those of you with 6 week leaves cope. gingerbebe on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365067 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:50:48 +0000 gingerbebe 2365067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I live in the U.S. and have a great leave policy for being here (4 weeks before delivery, and 6-8 post birth at 50% pay, then whatever PTO you have accrued with the option of taking it at 50% for twice as long, and the right to take a total of 1 year off (the remaining time being unpaid). I took the full year with my son, will probably take 7-8 months with my second. All this to say, no, it did not and will not affect our decision to have more kids. Pregnancy is and my son's infant days were, absolutely miserable for me and we are done (biologically anyway) at 2. Had I not had the option to take as long of maternity leaves I still would have had 2 but I would have quit my job and looked for something later. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365044 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:39:46 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2365044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, more paid leave wouldn't influence my decision to have another, but I would stay out longer if I had additional paid leave. LovelyPlum on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2365041 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:36:27 +0000 LovelyPlum 2365041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @oliviaoblivia: fair enough! If you're going to be SAH, G and I will have to come visit you and those three beautiful girls! And I can't even imagine daycare for 3...thinking of it for two makes my head spin as it is! erinbaderin on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2364994 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:13:54 +0000 erinbaderin 2364994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm really really lucky in that I'm in Canada, so I get a year of leave, plus I work for the federal government so I get topped up to 93% of my full salary for the full time. That being said, that hasn't affected how many kids we're having, it's just meant that we don't really have to do any planning or saving to cover leave. Modern Daisy on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2364985 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:10:20 +0000 Modern Daisy 2364985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope! After realizing how hard it is - paid leave or not - you still have to deal with tantrums, lack of sleep and the overall expense. oliviaoblivia on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2364983 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:09:33 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2364983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @LovelyPlum: yeah... I'm a few weeks into my third tri.... whoops. In my defense I still have two months of leave left with #2, it's not like giving her two months notice is worse than the two weeks notice I'd have to give her if I were working right now. We've decided for me to stay home for the next couple years. Daycare for three is insane and eclipses my take home. So no leave with #3, but I'll be home. LovelyPlum on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2364967 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:01:47 +0000 LovelyPlum 2364967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @oliviaoblivia: kinda?? Aren't you in your third tri???? :wink: (just teasing, obviously!) It is what it is, you're right. But I hope that all goes well with her. So how much time will you get off with DD3? I also want to add that for me, I don't know that a ton of leave would help with the childcare costs. LO needs a lot of structure, and I am not good at giving it to her. She thrives in school, and I wouldn't want to take that away from her for an entire year, just so I could stay home. So, while I would like more leave for my own health, and it is a contributing factor for when we have more kids, it won't be the deciding factor. Mrs. Oatmeal on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids/page/2#post-2364962 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:00:26 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2364962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It doesn't really affect our plans, to be honest. While yes, we get a year off, the 55% of my salary that the govt pays isn't quite enough to sustain a bigger family, and we definitely couldn't afford 3 in daycare once I went back. If we could afford for me to be a SAHM after, then that would be different. LovelyPlum on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364957 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 13:57:19 +0000 LovelyPlum 2364957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think my lack of leave will change the number of children only in that we'll have to adjust the timing between them, which probably means fewer children in the long run. My situation is a bit different, though, as I'm in the middle of a doctoral program. When I had LO, I was able to take a bit of time off, and then the semester ended, so that was helpful. But I really could have used more time, as I'm pretty sure the stress of it all contributed to the PPD/PPA that I battled for over a year. I could technically take a leave of absence after a child, but then I would not get paid, and I would lose my health insurance. So, I didn't. oliviaoblivia on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364955 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 13:55:57 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2364955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @LovelyPlum: I emailed her yesterday (kinda been putting it off....) And I haven't heard from her yet..... Soooooooo. It is what it is. LovelyPlum on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364952 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 13:50:46 +0000 LovelyPlum 2364952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @oliviaoblivia: I've been meaning to ask you....how did your boss take it when you broke the news? Charm54 on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364920 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 13:14:57 +0000 Charm54 2364920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Freckles: I actually just noticed that today - I got my EI payment and it was about $100 more than usual. That's awesome! looch on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364798 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 11:57:42 +0000 looch 2364798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I never answered! But no, it wouldn't affect my decision. @Anagram: I also think that the NJ soultion could be extended. I would love to see it topped up by employers, but given the direction they are moving with passing more of the cost of health insurance to employees, I don't see that happening. I'd personally love to see more subsidized child care. Anagram on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364797 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 11:57:23 +0000 Anagram 2364797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My factors are a combination of no paid leave, short leave, and cost of childcare. I probably would consider a 3rd if I had a year off with some pay, because then LO 1 would be in free kindergarten. BandDmommy on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364795 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 11:55:57 +0000 BandDmommy 2364795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @regberadaisy: honestly a bigger factor is cost of daycare. For me at least. catlady on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364793 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 11:54:50 +0000 catlady 2364793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. There are lots of reasons we only want 2, and money isn't the biggest factor. Plus childcare is so so expensive here, and the cost of raising kids in general is huge. Getting one paid year wouldn't actually help all that much over the long run. LuLu Mom on "If you had better paid leave, would you have more kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-better-paid-leave-would-you-have-more-kids#post-2364784 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 11:45:05 +0000 LuLu Mom 2364784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @regberadaisy: Same, we want a third but waiting until DD1 is in kindergarten, if we had a year paid I would push the timeline up sooner for sure!