Nikki Reed is sure that she and her husband, American Idol finalist Paul McDonald, want kids, just not any time soon. The 24-year old Twilight star told People that she thinks “it’s a mistake for people to get married and then just [have kids right away]. I feel like it is the pressure of the family making them do it. We want to travel and be able to fly on an airplane without a baby and just have freedom.”  Of course, the couple’s busy schedules are also major obstacles keeping them from having kids right now.
How do you know how long to wait to have kids after marriage?
Cupid’s Advice:
It takes careful consideration, planning and commitment to decide to expand your family and have a baby with your partner. Before you make this huge decision, make sure these things are in order:
1. Happiness: Before having children, ensure that you’re not only largely happy with yourself, but also completely happy with your marriage. Many people think that having a baby can fix their relationship, but if you’re not already happy, it will just create more problems.
2. Support: It takes more than two people to raise a child successfully. If you’re considering having kids, make sure that you have a solid support system in line. Friends, neighbors and relatives can all help you when you need it and are all essential to being a good parent.
3. Finances: Most of all, a couple needs to make sure that their finances are in order. With an extra family member, you and your partner will need to buy everything from a crib to food, and these expenses won’t go away when your baby becomes a child. Try to commit to at least 18 years of bills before you can even consider starting a family.
How did you know it was time to start a family? Â Share your experiences with a comment below.
