# Number of children, and when we are done

**How many children do we want, and how will we know we are done?**

How many children you each want and how you decide when your family is complete.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: One; Two; Three or more; Decide after the first. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: during pregnancy.

- Area: Family size and siblings
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: During pregnancy
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/family-size-and-siblings--number-of-children-and-when-we-are-done

## Number of children, and when we are done: what are the options?

1. **One**: You plan to have one child.
2. **Two**: You plan to have two.
3. **Three or more**: You plan to have three or more.
4. **Decide after the first**: You will see how the first goes before deciding.

## Number of children, and when we are done: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

Americans split between two (44%) and three or more (45%) as ideal; no child-outcome case against one

Sources:

- [Gallup](https://news.gallup.com/poll/511238/americans-preference-larger-families-highest-1971.aspx)
- [Falbo, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Falbo)

## What else is worth knowing?

How many children to have is among the most important things for a couple to agree on. Views often change after the first child. Research does not find only children worse off.

## Questions to ask each other

- How many children does each of us picture?
- What would make us want another, or stop?
- How would we handle disagreeing on this?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=family-size-and-siblings&topic=family-size-and-siblings--number-of-children-and-when-we-are-done