I saw this article on nbcnews - given the rationale I've seen here on the bee regarding those of us who are one and one, I found it interesting that the article seems to assume that for most families, it's an economic decision. I don't know if we'll have a second or not, but money will be small portion of the consideration, not the sole decider. What say you, bees?
http://www.today.com/money/worried-about-finances-some-parents-opt-one-done-6C10824392
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I'm sure it's a major factor for a lot of people, though not all. There was an interesting article I posted about a couple of weeks ago about America's one child policy. I'll try to find it later.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I already have two but my friends who plan to be one and done are very into their careers and a bit older.
pomelo / 5607 posts
DH wants one for just that reason. He was one of four (with two stepbrothers for a little while), and he saw how hard that was financially. I'm an only child, so I want more, and we compromised on two. He's pretty pro-twins (he is a twin). Partially because then he can get snipped and no more worrying about any form of birth control, and partially because he gets the crazy pregnant lady drama done faster. And, of course, we only have to deal with the costs of one pregnancy/birth (though I assume a twin pregnancy would cost more).
persimmon / 1178 posts
I think I may hide behind the money excuse. We truly can't afford a second, but if we could I would have to consider if I want to give up my body again and do I want to wrangle more than one, etc.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
It's a huge factor for my family. We can't afford two in daycare, period. We are tentatively leaving the door open for when LO is in kindergarten, but we are pretty sure we are done. It's a shame that finances play so much into it, but now that LO is here, I think I'll be just fine with her! 
coconut / 8299 posts
@autumnlove: Same. Most of the people who I know with only one (or plan on only having one) are older and career-focused.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
1st it's because I want to lavish all my time and attention on n one (scarred from childhood)
2nd I just don't have the desire to do this twice.
3rd it's finances. I want to have the option to give my kid everything and not have to make sacrifices for stuff I want.
DH wants two or none at all. So, I am keeping quiet on my desire for just one. There are no guarantees for the first or the second.
pomelo / 5628 posts
Money isn't a factor for us and wouldn't be unless it was an extreme hardship.
pomegranate / 3383 posts
The economic factor doesn't play a part at all in our decision-making although we are undecided at the moment.
It really has to do with how we feel as a 'complete' family and the kind of lifestyle we want to live.
pomegranate / 3231 posts
I am worried about our ages. When this baby is born, my husband will be 38, and I will be almost 37. I can't imagine having kids less than two years apart. Do I really want to be 39, 40 or even 41 when I have my second?
We will see how the first one goes and then decide. I always thought I would have more than one kid but I didn't know it would take me so long to meet my husband!
ETA: Finances are less of a concern, but lack of personal time/space certainly is!
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
Money is definitely a factor for us, especially DH. Not the only factor, but not a small one. We're one and done for now but the door is still open for a second. We've shelved the decision for now and reassess where we are in a year or two.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
We're probably going to be 2 and done mostly because of money. My mom wanted 4 kids but stopped at 3 because of money. I'm already a SAHM so we live off of one income. DH said that we could think about having more if I got a job.... but for me I'd just be sad to have a baby that I'm away from all day long.
apricot / 469 posts
Not sure if we are one and done as we are leaving the option on the table for revisiting in a few years but for us it would be partly money, but career time and marriage time are super important to me and another baby would strain that to some extent, plus I don't love the pregnant and tiny baby phase so I would have to judge if I wanted to do that again. So finances would be a small part of the equation for us.
bananas / 9227 posts
Money isn't so much of a factor for us, but lifestyle is. DD is a handful as is, but we'll see how we feel when she's older. Age is also a factor, but I'm honestly ignoring it for now. But AMA aside, I don't think I have it in me to do it all again.
pear / 1570 posts
money is not a factor in the way that we cannot 'afford' to have two. having two would mean that other things that we would like to do as a family would be put on the back burner because there are things that are important to us like retirement and house.
it is scary to think that for a famiy of 4 (where we live) would be $40 to take to the movies and that is WITHOUT any concessions.
i was looking into taking LO to the county fair and while it is free for him now, as a family of four and ride tickets it would be about $70 to get in the gate and buy a wristband for both kids. that is without any snacks, souveniers etc.
i worry about helping them with college because student loans are a HUGE burden for us.
i'd like to help them with a down payment for their house.
i know these are 'extras' but they are important to us.
pear / 1743 posts
Money isn't a factor in whether we have two, but I think it's probably part of the decision to make two our cut-off point. I think if we were to be one and done, factors like age and difficulty of pregnancy would be far more important.
pear / 1664 posts
Money isn't a factor for me. We can afford plenty but feel it would vastly reduce our quality of life (happiness). Just our family dynamic. We aren't really in to little kids, I hated pregnancy and birth, and as an only child myself I see no problem with being one.
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