How Many Kids Is the "Right" Amount? Let’s Talk About It.

I recently came across a stat that stopped me mid-scroll. It showed the average number of kids per family over the years:

👶 1950s: 5 kids

👶 1990s: 3 kids

👶 Today: 2 kids

Naturally, I took this question straight to The Motherhood to get the real tea. Do families actually have fewer kids now? Or is it just that we’re too tired to have more?

Here’s what the regular moms had to say:

📊 Current Kid Count (a.k.a. What's in the Playroom?)

• 25% have 1 child

• 56% have 2 children

• 15% have 3 children

• 4% have 4+ children

  
  

But wait! The story doesn’t end there...

26% said they plan to have more!

29% are still undecided.

So those numbers? They're not set in stone. Just like bedtime routines.

💬 Why Did You Have More (or Fewer) Kids Than You Thought?

I asked moms to share their reasons for changing their original "ideal number"—and the responses were as real as it gets:

• “Surprise!” babies: Enough said. (😂)

  
  

• Changed minds due to not wanting a big age gap. By the time they were ready for baby #3, it felt too late.

  
  

• Wanted 4–5 kids but postpartum mental health struggles, relationship stress, and career challenges shifted things. “Can we actually have it all?” she wonders.

  
  

• Loves kids, not pregnancy: One mom wants more but is exploring other paths to grow her family because pregnancy was not her vibe.

  
  

• Blended family win: Planned for two, gained two bonus step-kids—now her family feels just right.

  
  

• Always dreamed of 4—it was tough with 2, but she and her partner thought, “Why not?” and decided to go for #3.

  
  

• Fertility challenges: A mama dreamed of a big crew, but life had other plans. She’s now joyfully content with her smaller family.

  
  

• One and done, and happy about it: “Does a kid really need a sibling?” she asks.

  
  

• Wanted one, but changed course: Another mom thought she’d stop at one, then decided her child did need a sibling.

  
  

🧠 So… Let’s Discuss:

💭 Do children really need a sibling?

💭 Is it selfish to limit your family size to pursue your career goals?

💭 Can we ever truly feel “done” when it comes to kids?

Parenthood is never one-size-fits-all. And honestly? Sometimes it's more like one-size-fits-none. Whether you have one child or five, planned or surprised, born or blended—your family story matters.

So tell me:

👇 How many kids did you think you’d have—and how many do you actually have?

👇 Have your reasons shifted along the way?

Let’s keep the convo going in the comments!