Why do a lot of people say it's hard to raise a baby?

[cpvr]

A lot of people these days are telling me that raising a baby is very hard and that if I had a child at my current age (17) that I wouldn't succeed or going anywhere in my life. I find this hard to believe because at the age of 13 and 14, I raised my lil brother who is now 4 and turning 5 in July. I just hate how people underestimate someone and try to say they're going to be a failure, when they don't know what you've experienced and know what you're doing..

Sure, raising a baby is somewhat hard, and paying for everything from diapers to Doctor bills, but if you have a job, and making good money, then you should be fine... At my current age, I could raise a child, with my wifey, and we'll be more than fine...

What are your thoughts on this issue? Is it fair that people say this?

[piggywizzy]

I believe it's different for everyone... duh. But I do agree that people shouldn't just give up.

[unicornz]

I think it all depends on your maturity, commitment, ability to put someone elses needs and wants above yourself and a lot of help if you have money. I have seven children which I have spent most of the time raising myself, my first was born a few months after I was 18 and I was single. It can be hard especially if you are on your own but I wouldnt trade it for anything.

[Dakuipje]

It is hard. And believe me you certainly dont want one at you 17th. Im not a dad. But think of it cleaning dipers on itself is hard :P

[cpvr]

I believe it's different for everyone... duh. But I do agree that people shouldn't just give up.
Exactly and that's the point I was trying to give. It's hard but then you get used to it, but if you give up, what will happen? You'll be living some where and it'll be hard as hell to raise a baby there.


It is hard. And believe me you certainly dont want one at you 17th. Im not a dad. But think of it cleaning dipers on itself is hard :P
I do, and changing diapers isn't nothin. It's easy as hell.

[Fly]

IMHO it all comes down to maturity. If you're mature and strong enough to handle a job, raise your young'uns, make time for everyone in the family, are able to SLEEP at night (lol had to write that one), then you should be able to handle it. If you can honestly say "well..." to one of those points, then you should wait for a lil while.

Babies put so much stress on your it's unbelievable. Taking care of a sibling is not the same as your own child. Sounds strange, but it is the truth.

You know that mom and dad are there to take the kiddie off your hands at some point with a sibling. You know you don't have to take care of that child for life (and it is for life, believe me!), and at some point mom will step in and take over the parental duties.

With your own child, well "I wanna go to the movies tonight honey," you say.
"Maybe we can get a sitter for the baby", wifey says.
"Do we have the money?" you ask.
"Umm...well I did get groceries today so...umm..."

The point of that? There is often not enough money to do the things you love to do together. There is alot of times not enough quality time to spend together doing lil things for each other.

Like I said to start with: It comes down to maturity.

[Ian]

It is hard.

Yes, you COULD raise a child, as in keep it alive and well, etc

but what the child will turn out like in 18 years time will let you know how well you did with raising the child. And thats the hard bit

And your brother is only 4, a loooooong way to go still

[TVDinner]

I am over 35, have a good job, work hard, have a great wife, and IT IS still Very HARD to raise a baby. You have to change your thinking on everything in your life - literally everything. if you are willing to do that, then you CAN do it.

[your_annoying_me]

Take it from me, I have been through this, I was born when my mom was only 19 1/2 (my sister a year after me), victor (my father D: ) was 'there' physically, but his friends took all precedence over us (my mom, my sis, and i) so it was really just my mom raising us, and she was at work a lot (we had to live, and in todays society living takes money). They divorced when I was like 7, and within a year we moved in with joe (he hated kids and altho he loved my mom it made it very hard on us kids) then a year ago they separated and now its just my mom, my sister (now 13 but acts like shes 5) and me (now 15).

My mom pretty much has had to raise us since we were born (victor was always too drunk, and joe went in the wrong direction with it), and with her being so young and having to work long hard hours as a waitress to support us it has been very hard on her (she couldnt finish college because she got pregnant with me). On top of that, since my sister refuses to grow up and behave I have to take care of her while my mom works at nights (its even harder during school cause we barely see our mom).

What Im trying to say is wait until you are at least 25 to have the first kid (never have just one cause it turns into a spoiled brat). By waiting you are making it easier on yourself and on the kids (and at 25 your still really young, and i like having a rather young mom cause we can hang out and like the same music). But by 25 you are much more mature and (hopefully) much more set in the world, and have had more time to kickstart your life and maybe save up some money. (kids are really really expensive)

[cpvr]

I am over 35, have a good job, work hard, have a great wife, and IT IS still Very HARD to raise a baby. You have to change your thinking on everything in your life - literally everything. if you are willing to do that, then you CAN do it.
Yes, but that's not entirely true though. Sure, you'll have to change a lot, but if you have the support of your friends, and family members, then it'll be even easier.
All you really need to know is if your loved one will always be there by your side. It's not hard to raise a baby, and I know that for a fact. It's hard one you're the only one and you have to work, work, and work just to make sure the baby never goes hungry.


What Im trying to say is wait until you are at least 25 to have the first kid (never have just one cause it turns into a spoiled brat). By waiting you are making it easier on yourself and on the kids (and at 25 your still really young, and i like having a rather young mom cause we can hang out and like the same music). But by 25 you are much more mature and (hopefully) much more set in the world, and have had more time to kickstart your life and maybe save up some money. (kids are really really expensive)
I understand that, but I don't have anything on my plate. Got expelled from school, and have my GED. I'm not worried about money, that's easy to get for me. The thing is I'm going to raise my baby so he or she doesn't turn out to be like me.

[xAnonymousx]

It might be...

[cpvr]

It might be...
Why is it though? Do you know why?

[xAnonymousx]

Maybe some people aren't really used to alot of work, I know I won't be able to do it, especially knowing the fact that more people is just making Earth worse...

[TVDinner]

Yes, but that's not entirely true though. Sure, you'll have to change a lot, but if you have the support of your friends, and family members, then it'll be even easier.
All you really need to know is if your loved one will always be there by your side. It's not hard to raise a baby, and I know that for a fact. It's hard one you're the only one and you have to work, work, and work just to make sure the baby never goes hungry.

you have to be willing to put something or someone (the baby) ahead of yourself, or on the same level of importance to your self. that was not the same before the baby was born.

[cpvr]

you have to be willing to put something or someone (the baby) ahead of yourself, or on the same level of importance to your self. that was not the same before the baby was born.
Exactly, I already know that - whatever you do, the baby always comes first, correct? That's how I am.

[TVDinner]

same for me with my son. baby (and mom) is definitely first.

[cpvr]

That's how it should be. My fiance, and my future baby will always come first. I'll drop any of my friends any day to see my fiance happy. :)

[MuddSlinger]

Estimated amount of money to raise a child from birth to 18 years of age in the United States currently is about $1 million..

I think that explains a lot on why its so hard to raise a child. Not to mention many other things that are involved in raising the child.

It helps a lot to have a lot of support from your family, friends, etc.

I tend to disagree due to personal experience that you should exactly put your woman/man before yourself.... I do fully agree about putting the child more or less on the same level or a little higher then yourself.

I think I have a good idea how hard it is raising a child. Seeing, I'm a Single Father, with very little to almost no helpful support from my family and absolutely no support from my daughters mother.

Even thou, its hard for me at times, life is good and I wouldn't change my decision to dedicate my life to daughter for anything in the world. I would do it all over again at the drop of a hat.

[TVDinner]

trust me - the money thing is crazy. even in the first 8 months we have seen that. so much money going out for everything.

[cpvr]

trust me - the money thing is crazy. even in the first 8 months we have seen that. so much money going out for everything.
How much money was actually going out? How much did you guys have to pay for formula and such?

[Fiyero]

I was born premature so my mother almost had to buy $30 a bottle for formula which I needed about 2-3 a day. But WIC or some other company thing bought it for her.

[TVDinner]

well that is good that she had help with the expenses...