![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/130\/590x\/secondary\/5038175.jpg?r=1698572376760\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Would-be parents now consider their finances to be more important than the state of their relationship when deciding when to have kids, a study has found.<\/p>\n
The optimum time for a baby is seen as three-and-a-half years into a relationship, and it should be deliberated on for 10 months before trying, according to the poll of 1,500 adults with kids up to 16.<\/p>\n
But with the cost-of-living soaring, couples now worry more about whether they can afford a baby (39 percent) than the stability of their relationship (34 percent) or if they are ready for the responsibility (32 percent).<\/p>\n
Other considerations include whether the house is big enough, how it might affect their sex life, if other friends had started families and whether the house could be \u2018babyproof\u2019.<\/p>\n
Some would simply think about whether they were ready to give up nights out and if they could quit smoking.<\/p>\n
But 69 percent feel there is never a \u2018right time\u2019 to have a baby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It also emerged that while 37 percent take the woman\u2019s health and lifestyle into consideration, 15 percent believe the man\u2019s health has little or no impact on proceedings.<\/p>\n
The research was commissioned by vitamin brands Pregnacare Conception and Wellman Conception, which have teamed up with Dr Lauren Rockliffe, a pregnancy health coach and health psychologist to provide tips for couples hoping to improve chances of conception.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr Lauren, from www.bloomwellpregnancy.co.uk, said: \u201cIf you\u2019re trying for a baby, there are various lifestyle factors that can affect fertility for both men and women.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s therefore just as important for men to consider making healthy changes when trying to conceive, as it is for their partner.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking these changes together can help with motivation and make them easier to stick to in the longer-term, which is important, as it can take up to three months for some lifestyle changes to affect sperm quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/130\/590x\/secondary\/5038178.jpg?r=1698572376811\")
<\/p>\n
The study found 20 percent fretted about whether they were fit and healthy enough to have a child.<\/p>\n
Men were also more worried than women about how secure their job was, before having a child (23 percent of men vs 15 percent of women).<\/p>\n
But of all those polled, 42 percent believe it\u2019s simply not possible to ever truly be ready to become a parent.<\/p>\n
The minimum age that people believe someone is emotionally and physically mature enough to have a baby was deemed by the results to be exactly 26 years old.<\/p>\n
And on average, respondents had their first child at 27 and three quarters, according to the OnePoll.com figures.<\/p>\n
More than one in 10 (14 percent), however, don\u2019t believe they thought about it long enough before taking the plunge.<\/p>\n
While 23 percent don’t feel they were as fit and healthy as they could have been, when preparing for child number one.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Vitabiotics, maker of Pregnacare Conception and Wellman Conception, said: \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to think about when bringing a child into the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s not just about wanting a baby, but also about being physically, emotionally, and financially prepared to give them the best start in life.<\/p>\n
“Clearly it is essential to be in the best shape possible.”<\/p>\n