If you are in a long-term relationship, the topic of kids has probably come up at least once. This topic is something that even new couples talk about and even those who are single may sometimes wonder when its the right time for them to have kids. Whether or not youll have children is one of the biggest decisions youll ever make and what you do decide has a lasting impact on you, your child, and your current (or future) partner. Because this decision is such an important one, its necessary to spend the time truly determining whats best for you.

If you have decided that you do, in fact, want to have children, whether in a relationship or not, the next question you must tackle is when is the timing right for having them? If you are in a relationship, then this question is something you must talk about together and agree upon if you want to ensure the least amount of stress on your relationship.

There are several factors to consider when deciding on when you should start having kids, many of them have to do with where you are at in your personal and professional life and some of them have to do with where you are at in your relationship and where you see your relationship going.

Firstly, you should think about where you are at with your personal life. If you are in a long-term, committed relationship where both of you are ready to have kids, then its probably good to go ahead and start trying. If you want to be in a serious relationship before having kids, then look at your current partner and determine if you could see yourself with them long-term and raising children with.

Then, think about where you are at professionally. Are you comfortable with your job or do you have lofty professional goals that will require you to work long hours and travel? If you plan on having kids, you should at least be prepared to cut back on hours a bit in order to spend time with your family. Though you can have a successful career with children, it will require you to spend a bit less time at the office and more time at home or at school functions.

After considering your personal and professional life, you can then start making decisions on when youd like to have children. Though there are many other factors that come into play, these are important things to start looking at before you decide to have kids.

No matter what you decide, the most important thing is that you are comfortable with your decision and that your partner is as well (if you are in a relationship). What is right for you isnt whats right for your friends or family members, so make sure you are taking into account your true feelings when deciding when to have kids. Children are a lifelong commitment so its critical that you make your decision for the right reasons that you are comfortable with.