Aubrey DeCoteau, a 34-year-old Fargo resident, is eager to expand her family. However, she and her husband face significant financial hurdles. Their annual household income of $170,000 is not enough to cover the costs of raising another child. DeCoteau expressed, "We’re just barely scraping by."
Financial Strain of Childcare
DeCoteau’s daughter has severe asthma, leading to numerous hospital trips and missed work for her mother. The couple cannot afford an additional $18,000 per year for daycare on top of their mortgage and other expenses.
Megan Schneider shares similar concerns about childcare costs. After bringing home a premature baby from the NICU, she worries that daycare expenses would outpace her income if she had another child. "What is the point of me working if all of my paycheck goes to her care?" Schneider asked.
Others are hesitant due to the financial strain caused by high childcare costs. Meghan Rodriguez noted that individuals making minimum wage or slightly above may struggle to afford childcare, stating, "It’s expensive!"
Reproductive Healthcare Concerns
Shawn Eiko Brown desires at least one daughter but fears that increased abortion restrictions will limit her access to reproductive healthcare in case of complications during pregnancy or if the fetus is not viable. Brown, who has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), expressed, "I just have no confidence I’ll be safe while pregnant for the foreseeable future."
DD Crawley hesitates about having kids due to concerns about medical professionals taking his pain seriously as a Black man and the challenges of raising biracial children in a society where they may face safety issues. "What world are we bringing kids into?" he questioned.
Binta Wold, who identifies as non-binary, fears that anti-trans rhetoric targeting hypothetical trans/non-binary children will lead to inadequate access to gender-affirming healthcare or physical harm. "The world we’re bringing kids into?" Wold asked.
Environmental Concerns
Climate change also weighs heavily on some minds. Sydney Mecheau cited it as his main reason for hesitation when considering having children: "Will I be able to provide a good life 10 years down the line? It’s existential."
Support Services and Resources
Support services are another major concern among parents interviewed. Shrinking resources for special education services worry parents whose children may inherit conditions like autism or ADHD. Rachel Kowalski stated, "If there aren’t resources available when they need them most…it could set them back even further."
Potential Solutions
President Donald Trump has considered programs or incentives to raise America’s fertility rate, but many who spoke with PBS News still desire more than one child despite these challenges. They cite financial strain, high childcare costs, and shrinking support services as significant barriers.
In response, some lawmakers are proposing solutions such as universal pre-K education programs, like those implemented in Oklahoma this year. However, these programs do not address long-term care needs beyond age five. Additionally, tax credits aimed at helping families pay for daycare are being discussed as potential support measures.
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