New research shows that 39% of Irish couples worry more about whether they can afford a baby due to the rise in the cost of living, above the stability of their relationship (34%), or the responsibility that comes with having a baby (32%).
Additional key findings from the research, conducted by Pregnacare Conception and Wellman Conception, include that the optimum time for a baby is 3.5 years into a relationship, and that couples should begin to consider having a baby 10 months before trying, according to the poll of 1,500 adults with kids up to 16 years of age.
Other considerations include whether the house is big enough, how it might affect their sex life, if other friends have started families and whether the house could be ‘babyproof.’ 69% feel there is never a ‘right time’ to have a baby. Of those surveyed, 42% believe it is simply not possible to ever truly be ready to become a parent and the minimum age that people believe someone is emotionally and physically mature enough to have a baby was deemed by the results to be exactly 26 years old.
It also emerged that while 37% take the woman’s health and lifestyle into consideration, 15% believe the man’s health has little or no impact on proceedings. The study found 20% fretted about whether they were fit and healthy enough to have a child. Men were also more worried than women about how secure their job was before having a child (23% vs 15% of women).
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