Wellness 0

3 Signs You’re Ready To Have A Baby

By Nicole McCance @nicole_mccance · On November 10, 2014

How do you know if you’re ready to have a baby? Based on my experience helping couples and families in my practice, here are 3 key signs you’re ready to be a parent.

1. You’re ready to sacrifice

You’re not just ready to have a baby. You’re ready to invest in something that’s not you. You’re okay to give up intimacy with your partner for a little while. You’re ready to lose sleep and some of your freedom. For women, you’re ready to experience the physical trauma of childbirth.

2. You’re ready to be wholly responsible for another life

Your child will be the only thing in your life you can’t quit. You can quit a lot of other things in your life, but your responsibility for your child is constant. Parenting is a responsibility 100 percent of the time. As a parent, you’re responsible for nourishing your child’s physical and personal growth. When you think about being a mother or father, you’re ready to take on the responsibility to grow your child and help them lead a happy, healthy and productive life.

3. You’re confident in your relationship and your partner’s ability to parent

Do you have faith that your partner will be a good parent? Do you have faith that you’ll want to be with your partner for the rest of your life? Are you okay with your partner being in your life, in some capacity, for the rest of your life? When you’re a parent, you will remain connected to your partner if the two of you were to divorce. Are you confident in your partner’s ability to be a good co-parent? Will your partner help change diapers? Will they stay up for you if you need to catch up on sleep?

If you’ve been thinking about having a baby, ask yourself these questions and take inventory of your relationship. If you’re truly ready to be a parent, you’re also ready to be with your partner for the rest of your life. Really think about the stability of your relationship if you’re considering parenthood. Having a solid, supportive relationship with your partner – one that you’re comfortable bringing a vulnerable human being into – is absolutely vital to your readiness to be a parent.

Nicole McCance

Nominated, RBC Women Entrepreneur of the Year, Nicole McCance M.A. is a fully licensed Psychological Associate. Her services are covered under extended health care and she is licensed to diagnose mental disorders. Nicole is also an author of the best-selling book 52 Ways to Beat Depression Naturally. She has over 9 years of formal university education and has completed a certificate program in trauma and recovery from Harvard Medical School. She has a M.A in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto, a B.A. in Criminology and a B.A with Honours in Psychology from Carleton University. Nicole owns Nicole McCance Psychology, which has over 10 counselling locations providing both individual and couples counselling across the GTA. Over 120 individuals and couples receive counselling every month through Nicole McCance Psychology. She has been providing counselling and assessment services for the past 10 years across North America and in Russia. She has been a frequent contributor to media outlets such as CP24, CTV News, CTV National, Global TV,City TV, CBC News, Rogers, CBC Radio, ABC Spark, E!, the Toronto Star and Canadian Living. You can visit her website at nicolemccance.com.