As a solo mother of a toddler, I have absolutely no regrets (“It’s not just ignorance that stops us having babies. It’s also poor relationships”, Comment). In fact, I’d love to give him a sibling. But with no family close enough to provide “free” childcare and no government help, a monthly childcare bill that is triple my mortgage means that adding another child to our family will have to wait until my son reaches school age.
And, since I had my first at 38, having waited to conceive while I saved up for fertility treatment, a maternity leave that is basically unpaid and a childcare bill that I knew would exceed my disposable income, my fertility may not hold up long enough for a second baby. Genuinely affordable, actually full-time childcare would do far more for the birth rate than telling women about their biological clocks… trust me, we can all hear those ticking!
Alison Smith
London NW2
