Are You And Your Partner Ready For A Baby?

Pexels (CC0 License)

 

Don’t lie, there are times when you are overcome with the urge to have a baby. You and your partner see friends or people on the street with their kids, looking like one big happy family. You may be reaching the point in your life when you think it’s time to have a kid, but are you ready? 

Too many people rush into this decision before considering if their relationship is actually ready for another human being to come along. Being a parent is no joke - it changes your life dramatically. If you’re not ready for this, it can lead to all sorts of problems. 

What if the tension of having a baby gets to your relationship and tears it apart? Now, you have to deal with a child custody lawyer while still looking after this small human being. Even if your relationship holds, are you in a good position to provide the best life for your child? 

There are many things to consider, so here are a few key points that may help you decide if you’re ready or not:

What is your financial situation like?

As a couple, how are your finances holding up? 

Do you currently have enough money to cover your bills with relative ease? If you barely have enough money left after paying your bills, how will you cover the extra costs of raising a baby? We’re talking about an extra few hundred dollars per month at the very least. 

For some couples, this is simply too much. You are not in the right financial state to afford a baby at this moment in time. Work on saving money or finding better jobs to earn more until you can financially deal with having a baby in your life. 

Do you have any experience looking after anyone or anything?

It is very unwise for a child to be the first thing you ever have to look after other than yourself. Yes, there are plenty of examples of first-time parents who take to it with ease and are amazing. 

However, if you've never had this responsibility before, it can be really hard to adapt. Think about maybe getting a dog or family pet beforehand, as something of a trial run. Or, offer to babysit for friends or family to get a taste of what it’s like being a parent. 

Are You Mentally Prepared And Educated On The Matter?

At the end of the day, you have to be mentally ready for this kind of commitment. When people think about having a baby, they only think about the good times and they completely disregard all of the work that comes with it. There are many instances in which parents aren't ready and find themselves in perilous positions. They eventually find their way out of the struggle due to learning with experience, but they put themselves under a lot of unnecessary stress along the way. Your future children will be wonderful but it will be a journey that you all have to endure together. Learning about parenting is vital. You may find yourself in the world of adhd parenting or being the parents of an autistic child - so it's wise to educate yourself on the kinds of outcomes that are possible. Of course, these outcomes are equally as wonderful, but some might provide more work than others. If you are completely educated and mentally prepared for what's about to come, you will most likely be in the right place to have a child.

How long have you been together?

Finally, how new is this relationship?

Have you and your partner been together for years, or did this love flourish out of nowhere a few months ago? Of course, there is no rule on when two people should settle down and have kids. However, if your relationship is relatively new, rethink whether or not a baby should even be a discussion right now. Sometimes, you get carried away in the honeymoon phase of a relationship, which prompts you to make rash decisions. A baby is no joke, so please think this over seriously!

After reading through these points, do you think you and your partner are ready for a baby? If not, you’ve just saved yourself a lot of stress. Go away, live your life, and then come back to the discussion when you are ready for it.