Childlessness facts for kids

Not having a child is called childlessness. This means a person or a couple does not have any children. Since the 1970s, more people have been childless. There are two main types: when people choose not to have children, and when they cannot have children.

Choosing Not to Have Children

Sometimes, people make a choice not to have children. This is called voluntary childlessness. It is also known as being childfree. People choose this for different reasons, such as:

• They simply do not want to have children.
• They might feel they do not have enough money to raise a child properly.
• They might feel they are too old to start a family.

When People Cannot Have Children

Sometimes, people want to have children but cannot. This is called involuntary childlessness. There are several reasons this can happen:

• Infertility: This means a person is unable to have a baby naturally. It can be due to many different health reasons.
• Loss of a baby: Sadly, some people experience the death of a baby. This can happen before, during, or shortly after birth.

Images for kids

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  Childlessness at the age of 30

See also

In Spanish: Carencia de hijos para niños