Are families shrinking?

We used to be a nation of 2.4 families; two parents and two children, but with crippling costs of bringing up babies and salaries being frozen, almost two thirds of parents who have one child, are too poor to have a second.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the average number of children born to married or co habiting couples has fallen. In 1971, couples had on average two dependent children but latest figures from 2009, show that the number of married or cohabiting couples who have one child has risen from 16 per cent in 1972 to 20 per cent today.

The main factor can be attributed to the cost of having a baby; the average bill for raising a child from birth to the age of 21 is around £270,000. This ranges from nappies, healthcare bills, holidays, private education and after-school clubs and finishes with University fees.

Researchers from the Office of National Statistics warn that: ‘The average UK family size could be set to shrink as the cost of bringing up a child spirals to £271,499.’

The report comes as parents in the UK are feeling the pinch financially as the cost of living in the UK is rising faster than salaries. State workers will also find they are set for a two-year pay freeze if they earn £21,000. Petrol costs are also rising, as are the costs of children’s clothes and food – Nursery fees and the cost of childcare in general are reported to be particularly crippling for parents both in London and the rest of the UK.

The research was carried out by insurance firm Aviva and was based on interviews with 1,000 parents with children under the age of 22. It divides the total bill of raising a child - £271,499 into four categories:

Education – which can include childcare costs, private school fees, after-school clubs and University fees amounts to £66,938.

Household services comes next – this includes internet connection, train fares and even a deposit for your child’s first home. The bill amounts to £77,080

Clothing and food – This includes nappies and prams and school dinners! The bill amounts to 69,332.

Leisure – this includes children’s activities, pocket money, family holidays and day out. The bill amounts to £58,149.

Do you think the cost of having children is getting ridiculous? Would financial pressure stop you from having any more than one child? Let us know below!

Last Modified: 21/02/2011

Are families shrinking? families shrinking? financial pressure more than one child Office of National Statistics average number of children raising a child feeling the pinch financially childcare costs private school fees

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Comments

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By rachsmith 6 months ago

we are currently living on just child tax and child benefit since hubbys jsa he claimed jointly with me has been stopped. we still both really want another baby and had been trying. i have the worry that if we carry on and get pregnant my family will think i am selfish because we new the situation we was in. :( our son is 21 months and we have alot of things we could re use only things we might have to buy would be some toys

By Staybee 1 years ago

I only have one lo so maybe I am naive(sp?!) But is it much more expensive having another child??? For example, we go camping on holidays and you arent usually charged per person so that cost would be the same, if you have two children of the same sex a lot of the clothes would be handed down, many of the first toys etc would be used again so is it just when they get older?? Also dont people just budget more if they have more children so shop more carefully for gifts for xmas/birthday?? I may be in cloud cukoo land but surely you just make ends meet for the family size you want (within reason!) - as long as you dont need to move house of course for more space which WOULD make a difference to cost! I think people are used to spoiling their kids a bit and buying loads of stuff new from expensive shops I think is a bit of a luxury anyway that young kids dont appreciate anyway lol!! As long as they are cared for they will be happy :D x

i found it more expensive just because i have 1of each i had a blue pram it was really boyish so didnt want my daughter in it she got a bright pink one :) i cudnt re-use clothes apart from the odd white vest/baby grow! i didnt get to re-use the cotbed either as when my son used it as a bed i didnt store the sides properly & somehow managed to get a huge chip in 1 of the bars so needed a new one! i reused some of his old baby toys ,rocker,walker ect so that helped! holidays isnt much extra for a 2nd child but depends were u go but camping with an extra wouldnt be much more :) i admit i really spoiled my 1st as he was my only one but his birthdays coming up & now that theres 2 of them he wont be getting as much hes got just about all that he asked for but compared to last year he will be on for a shock lol! there birthdays are 3weeks apart so its tough especially as its only a few months after christmas but they will be happy!i have been buying for there birthdyas since the january sales buying bits when i see them & using amazon&play ect ive got alot for my money so yeh i do tend to budget for birthdays & shop more carefully now i have 2, i usually take my sons old clothes ect to the charity shop but have started to sell them now so im learning how to manage & reduce what i spend it all cost so much ££££££! & your right tho aslong as there cared for they will be happy! xxxx

By Nicole1993 1 years ago

I think this might be true as a lot of people are now putting their careers as priority rather than starting a family but I can safely say im one of the people who stil feels family should come first :) - I want around 5 children im thinkin :) or at least 4 :D preferably 2 girls 2 boys. But im happy either way; the more the merrier in my eyes :D xxx

By LucyRuth 1 years ago

I def think when they are little the costs aren't multiplied by the number of kids but as mine get older and I want them to have same opportunities as I had I am finding costs escalating. Getting them all swimming unaided is costing £400 a year, music lessons-1 instrument per child about the same, and university can't see how we'll do it at all-my parents got 3 of us through uni on the wages of a nurse and a maintenance man-my OH has a good profession in education yet we will struggle due to tuition fees. All a bit scary really!

By RikkiHep 1 years ago

By GummyGrin 1 years ago

I can safely say that this article doesnt apply to my family..!
5 girls and we havent yet dismissed having another in a good few years time.... (although seems less and less likely with the recent stroppiness in our house.!)
I dont work (poor me...), but husband brings in a great wage and so happily supporting ourselves.
In my area there is mostly just 1 or 2, but obviously a few with bigger families.
I can understand why people are having less and less children, they do cost a lot of money, and even though as the saying goes 'children want your time and love, not your money', like Staybee said you still have to dress, feed and buy essentials which arent cheap
xx

By ambackhouse 1 years ago

My OH and I are ttc child number 1 and we are finding ourselves crippled this year financially already! It's not going to stop us trying, but we know it would probably be easier if we waited until next year. We've been trying since June 2010, though, so there is no way we are going to stop now, no matter what!
This isn't us being irresponsible and selfishly wanting a baby, its us knowing that it is unusual expenses (3 weddings in July, just for starters!) that's causing the pinch in general.
To highlight a point made in the article, it's not just wages over £21,000 that are being frozen - OH works in local council and all pay is frozen - I work for a local charity and the same story there, too.

By Staybee 1 years ago

we cant afford to have anymore than 2 we can barely afford the two weve got lol if im not saving for christmas im saving for there birthdays! and if were lucky tht year will have lil break away sumwere in the uk!we struggle alot more now we have 2 children and we have 1of each so wernt able to re-use clothes the pram ect! so a 3rd isnt an option at the point in time :(but saying that if it were to happen we would find a way!

By smileyhappy 1 years ago

My family is growing and I would love 4 or 5 children one day but where I live it's Deferantly the norm to have one or two xx

By LucyRuth 1 years ago

We have LOADS of families including us with 4 round here and only one of these 8 or so families is on benefits-most are middle class and the mum doesn't work or only part time but OHs have good jobs. It is nice that people round here don't say OMG when I say I have 4 kids!!

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