During the Great Depression, the U.S. fertility declined
from about 3.5 to 2.3, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease
Control. The same thing happened in the 1970s as Americans struggled with a
recession and oil crisis.
With the current economic downturn, some couples are thinking twice before
getting pregnant. Workers are losing their jobs, companies are cutting
benefits, and the cost of raising a family is increasing.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2007 report
called “Expenditures on Children by Families,” families spent anywhere from
$7,830 to as much as $17,500 a year on each child, depending on the child’s age
and the family’s income level.
And if you think diapers, car seats, cribs and other nursery
items are expensive, just wait. Parents actually spend more each year as
children get older, the report shows.
What do you think? Should the economy affect childbearing?
Should couples planning to have a baby or more children reconsider given the current
financial crisis affecting many Americans? Do you know any couples who are
waiting until the economy gets better before having kids or getting pregnant
again?
This blog is intended to provide a forum for parents to share knowledge and resources. It's a place for parents young and old to combine their experiences raising families into a collective whole to help others.
