Can I Afford To…

As a parent, you have some big decisions to make, so how do you make sure you don’t sell yourself short? Sasha Gonzales finds out what you must consider when you decide to upgrade, have baby No. 2, quit your job to be a stay-at-home mum, and more.

… HAVE ANOTHER CHILD?

You and your spouse might be ready to be parents again, but you should think about the sacrifices that you and your family would have to make.

Dr Lim Boon Leng, a psychiatrist at Dr BL Lim Centre For Psychological Wellness, says you must be sure that you have the time and energy to devote to your new child, especially in the first few years of his life. “Your personal time, your job and your time with your other child might be affected as a result,” he explains.

“You should also decide if your first kid is physically mature enough; if he’s at least three or four years old then he might not need that much attention and you’ll have more time to see to your newborn.”

Dr Lim says that once you’ve considered these factors, weigh them against the joy of having another child and see how you feel. It’s also a good idea to talk to other mums who have more than one kid – learn from their experiences and ask them if they have any regrets.

There’s also the financial cost of growing your family. If you still have your other child’s clothes, books, toys, milk bottles and strollers, then your new baby could probably reuse them.

Otherwise, you’d have to spend a good amount of money on these items right away. On top of that, you’d have to factor in insurance deductibles, hospital bills, diapers and childcare services.

According to Freddy Meindertsma, a senior financial adviser with a financial advisory firm, having another child can cost around RM55,000 a year, excluding delivery and prenatal charges, or more than RM1 million over 20 years, excluding inflation.