Most newly married couples today plan to have only one or two children, compared with three or more back in the early 1960s. The reasons for this shift include a trend toward later marriage, more emphasis on careers for women, more effective methods of contraception, and the rising cost of rearing and educating children.
There are some very clear benefits to having a small family;
Each child receives more parental attention and educational advantages, which generally raise her self-esteem.
Children in small families, especially first and only children, tend to have higher school and personal achievement levels than do children of larger families.
The financial costs of maintaining a household are lower.
It is easier for both parents to combine careers with family life.
The general stress level is lower because there often are fewer conflicts and less rivalry.
There are some trade-offs, especially in one-child families. When all the expectations, hopes, and fears are focused on just one child, parents easily can become overprotective and indulgent without even realizing it. The child may have fewer opportunities to meet other children or to develop a sense of independence. She may be pushed to overachieve, and she may receive so much doting attention that she becomes self-centered and undisciplined.