Do either you or your boyfriend have any desire to further your education with college? If so, I would strongly advise you to wait until you have college out of the way. You say you both make good money for your age now, but are you doing what you want to do for the rest of your working life? The amount of money isn't everything and it means squat if you are miserable at the job. It is harder to make those career changes when you have a little one to think about. What I mean is, you can't just quit your job and look for another one when you have a little one to feed and clothe. Figure out now what you want to do with the rest of your life and make those preperation first, it will give you a happier family environment in the long run. And what about insurance benefits?

If everything I have mentioned above is taken care of, then what you can do now is start a saving account for your future baby. Think about how much college costs now and think about what it will cost 18-20 years down the road should your child decide they want to go to college.

When the baby comes, do you want to take a long period of time off work to stay home with your child? This savings you start now, will also help you to be able to do that. That is one thing I regret is that I wasn't able to stay home with my girls when they were little. I felt like they were raised by the daycare. If I had it to do over, I would have been a stay at home mom. I still miss out on stuff that happens with them during the school day (like parties or assemblies) because I have to work. My girls have asked me before, "Mamma, how come you can't ever come, other moms come." Talk about make me feel an inch tall. I feel bad every time I have to miss stuff with them. I will never get these opportunities back. The only consolation is the fact that they know that if I didn't work, they wouldn't be able to do the extra activities that they do (like dance, cheerleading, soccer, softball, etc.) They do appreciate those opportunities and I am able to be very involved in that stuff with them which they love.

I hoped I helped.

I really hate to jump on the "Let's beat up on Hollywood' bandwagon but I feel I must. BEING PREGNANT IS NOT GLAMOROUS!! I really think maybe subliminally you might think getting pregnant is cool and trendy and whatever but it's really not. And the only reason I'm even going this route is because it's the only reason I can think of why someone your age would want to get pregnant. I mean you see all the celebs wearing cute maternity clothes and showing off their cute baby bumps and what not but that is so not real life. I can't find cute maternity clothes to save my life. In fact, the only people I know that would wear some of that stuff are too old to even be pregnant! And baby bump? My 'baby bump' is slowly growing into an unmanigable baby mountain!


Honestly,wait until you can enjoy it more. Wait until you can afford to buy the really cute maternity clothes and the newest baby gear. Being pregnant and having a baby should be fun, but how much fun is it going to be when people give you dirty looks and assume you were just an irresponsible teen who got knocked up. (I'm not saying that's how it is for all teen moms.) I hate to be blunt but that's really how it is.

i have to say, i disagree with buttercup 21, because i do know where your coming from.
I haven't got children, nor am i currently pregnant, but i do really want to be (i'm nearly 19).

My advice to you is to research all the costs in your area. Make sure that you can pay for all the obvious (and some of the not so obvious) necessities right off the bat (on one salary). Make sure you know what day care is going to cost you. Find out the cost of diapers.
Consider how you want to raise the child. If you plan to co-sleep you may be able to save money with some of the furniture.

Also, make sure you and your partner talk about how you both want to raise the children, because nothing would be worse than finding out that you're pregnant and only then finding out that your views on raising children differ completely.

Only once you have really made sure you understand all the costs and everything should you consider having children.

Hi! I am kinda in your same boat, as far as getting my life on track before having a baby. I have been married for almost a year! And my husband and I are dying to have a baby! But I am 20 years old and just finished up college. I have to find a good job so we can be financially stable. My husband has a good job and makes good money but I wouldnt like to put all of the burden on him. So I suggest to you to get a good job, finish school if you already haven't, and if you plan on going to college, GO! go first! Get it out your way so you will not have to worry about it when you have a baby. I want to buy a new car before we have one, so if you have wats or needs like that get that first. But no one will ever be financially stable to have a child. Everyone will struggle but at least you will have your feet on the ground. I wish you all the best! If you have any more questions I will help you!

Hi, I was 15 when i had my first son Dominic and if i was gonna give advice it would most certainly be to WAIT! I had the help and support of both my partner and my parents and it was still loody hard work and you feel you must work even harder just to prove wrong all the stereotypical people there are in the world! I was then sensible enough to wait 7 years before i attempted to put myself into that situation again and so was 22 before i had my second son Jacob, with the same help as before life was much easier! and so i continued at 25 to have my 3rd son Mackenzie! As if that were'nt enough i then had my fourth son Lewis last March and I am currently expecting baby number 5!! This is most definatly my last as it's a girl which is what i've been waiting for and i now feel that i have done my bit for queen and country! Like I say though i would reccomend waiting till your 20's I'm lucky ive been with the father of all my children for 15 years in total and we've been married for 3 years but it could have been so very different best make sure you know what you want and who you want and make the best first go that you can, hope that helps a bit!
bobbi xx

Being a parent isn't just about becoming pregnant and delivering... it's about all of the unexpected stuff that comes up after you bring your baby home. Have you thought about how you will provide for basic necessities beyond feeding, clothing and diapering? What if something terrible happens and your baby is born with cystic fibrosis or down syndrome? How will you handle this, how will you be able to financially support and emotionally nurture all of thesee additional responsibilities. Not to mention the number of days you and your partner will have to take off work because your little one will get sick and they can't go to daycare.
I was a mom at 18 and I had a wonderful support system. I was able to put myself through college and become a nurse, but my child suffered for it. I was focused on getting through college in 2 years so that we could have a life, and we do. We are much better for it now, but I missed 2 very important years of his life and I will never forgive myself for it. It's a catch 20-20. He's 11 now and an amazing little boy, he doesn't remember me being gone a lot when he was 4 and 5, but I do. How much more amazing is it that you can be a college graduate, have a stable job with insurance and a savings account - with no debt and bring a little one into the world. It's stressful enough raising a child, don't add the other stressors that you can take care of before you have a child.