A childfree couple believes that the plummeting fertility rate can be attributed to the “costs of childcare and the scaremongering on social media.” Hannah Bird, 25, and her husband Charlie Camper, 25, who identify as DINKS—dual income, no kids—are focusing on travel rather than starting a family.
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that the fertility rate in England and Wales has reached its lowest level since records began in 1938. The average total fertility rate (TFR) was reported at just 1.44 children per woman in 2023.
Hannah, a travel blogger from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, expressed her views on the current trends. “I believe many couples are choosing not to have children primarily due to the high costs of childcare and the alarming narratives about women’s work ethics circulating on social media,” she said. “There’s definitely discrimination in the workplace against mothers, and social media reinforces that perspective, which deters me.”
She noted a significant shift in priorities among couples, stating, “People are more inclined to invest in experiences rather than childcare expenses. We want to enjoy life and explore new places while we still can.”
Recent research from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies highlights that feelings of unpreparedness, along with the rising costs of housing and childcare, are contributing to millennials opting against parenthood.
“It’s become more affordable to travel than to raise children,” Hannah continued. “A typical night out in the UK can cost as much as a short getaway to Italy, prompting us to spend our money more wisely.”
The couple has traveled to 16 countries just this year and plans to visit six more in the upcoming months. Their adventures include skydiving, skiing, and snorkeling, and they emphasize that they are in no hurry to have children.
While they currently do not plan to conceive naturally—largely due to Charlie’s genetic heart condition—the couple has initiated their IVF journey after receiving their first referral in February. “We decided to start the process now, given that the waiting time is estimated to be two to three years,” Hannah explained.
Government statistics indicate a growing trend of women having children later in life. For instance, only one in five women born in 1997 had their first child before age 25.
Earlier this year, the couple enjoyed their honeymoon by visiting countries such as India, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Brisbane, Japan, and Hong Kong, followed by trips to France, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Luxembourg, Spain, Hungary, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia—all within nine months.
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