Don't get us wrong — we don't think everybody should have kids. In fact, there are lots of people we expressly think should not breed. But for those of you who would make perfectly fantastic parents but are just not sure if you're ready for the sleepless nights and diaper-changing days — this list is for you. Here are 45 reasons that having a kid right now is a great idea. Forward it to a couple of friends and start planning playdates. — Gwynne Watkins
1. Splitting It 50-50
Maybe your dad never changed a diaper, but when you become a parent, you'll be expected to share the load equally. Which, in the end, works out best for everyone.
2. It's Saturday Morning All Over Again
Between classic kids' shows on DVD (like Sesame Street: Old School and Schoolhouse Rock) and revivals, like the new Electric Company, you can re-live your childhood favorites while you watch your kids fall in love with Bert and Ernie.
3. Perfectionism Is Overrated
According to a 2006 study, parents are spending significantly more playtime with their kids than ever before — and sacrificing housework. Sounds like we're getting our priorities straight.
4. Hand-Me-Downs
If you have parent-friends, they're probably dying to give you their kids' old bulky swings, toys and clothes. If not, free stuff abounds on Craigslist, Freecycle and local parenting groups.
5. A New Era
By the time the baby's born, there's a 2 in 3 chance that a woman or a black man will be President of the United States for the first time. And if not, it's almost certain to happen in your kid's lifetime.
6. You Can Share Mix CDs
There's plenty of music that spans generations, but it's even easier to find common musical ground now that indie musicians like They Might Be Giants, Stephin Merritt and Kimya Dawson are releasing children's albums.
7. Technology Is On Your Side
You can buy a breast pump the size of a stopwatch, a video baby monitor, a pocket-sized digital camera and a dozen other impressive gadgets that will make your parenting life that much easier or more fun.
8. Meet Cute
Being a parent opens you up to a whole new group of friends. If your social circle has been closed for a while, it's almost like dating again. Shy? Check out Babble's Ning community!
9. Parents Just Do Understand
Your parents have done this before, and even if they're too far away to be go-to babysitters, you can still call your mom for advice. You may even start to like her more.
10. You Can Stop at One
Or two, or three. But no one expects you to have more than that — unless you're Angelina Jolie.
11. There's Always a Worse Parent In the News
No matter what you do wrong, you'll always be able to point to Britney's latest fiasco and say, "Well, at least I didn't do that!"
12. Diaper Options
Gone are the days of safety pins and fabric squares. Cloth diapers are easier to use and prettier than ever (see reviews here), and even disposables can be environmentally friendly (go with Seventh Generation.)
13. Heelys
Face it, they look like fun. And you're too old for them. But your kid won't be.
14. Maternity Leave Is More Humane
It's still nowhere near where it should be, but the Family and Medical Leave Act is still a huge improvement over the don't-let-the-door-hit-you-on-the-way-out Leave Act.
15. No More Sailor Dresses
With cute maternity clothes widely available (and cheap! try Old Navy and H&M), pregnant women can actually dress like grown-ups.
16. The Interweb Is Always On
Have a teething question at 3 a.m.? Log on and get 5,000 suggestions (we promise, not all of them will be mean). Beats your mom's dog-eared copy of Dr. Spock.
17. Gwen, Halle, Salma
Every celebrity you've ever had a crush on is a new mother. Have a baby now and increase the odds that their kids and your kids will wind up BFFs.
18. The Lousy Economy
There's nowhere to go but up!
19. Safety First
The kidnapping rate is at an all-time low, every playground is ergonomic and organic food is everywhere. It's never been safer to be a kid.
20. Even Government Leaders are Doing It!
Think your high-powered appointment to the cabinet of a lefty government or, say, second term as a state governor means you'll have to opt-out of pregnancy and motherhood? Think again! Spain's thirtysomething defense minister and Alaska's governor will soon give, or have recently given, birth. The former to her first, the latter to her fifth. Sure, it might mean hiring a nanny or two, but in our post-judgment parenting world, that's okay too!
21. You Don't Need to Opt Out
Between advocate groups like MomsRising and books like Amy Richards' Opting In, the backlash to the Caitlin Flanagan-fueled "opting out" trend has officially begun. Working parents, feel guilt no more!
22. But if You Want To, That's Okay!
Stay-at-home moms and dads no longer need to feel isolated, thanks to the network of web communities and meet-ups that offer support. And if you're seeking a compromise, new telecommuting jobs open up all the time.
23. Accounts of Your Sleep Deprivation Are Highly Exaggerated
The first couple weeks may be a sleepless blur, but in all likelihood, your baby will be taking five-to-seven-hour snoozes by the third month.
24. Your Baby will be 18 in 2027
That's the year that the FBI file on Martin Luther King and the Elvis Presley autopsy reports will be released. The kid will never know the meaning of suspense!
25. Small Change
Every new parent dreads changing diapers, but they soon learn that it's ridiculously easy — and only occasionally smelly.
26. Get a Load Off
The scale can be scary during pregnancy, but a large percentage of that weight is the baby and surrounding fluids — meaning it will be gone by the time you get home from the hospital. As for the remaining weight, a lot of it can be eliminated by calorie-burning breastfeeding and plain old naps.
27. Photo Sharing
Whether you use Flickr, Shutterfly, Picasa, or one of the dozens of paid sites specifically for parents, your distant family and friends can get an up-to-the-minute look at your offspring.
28. Who Needs a Partner?
More and more adults are choosing single parenthood, whether through sperm donation, adoption or other means. If you've been waiting for Mr.-or-Mrs. Right to walk through the door, remember that you have a choice — plenty of loving families consist of just two people.
29. Bringing Sexy Back
You may have to deal with more interruptions, but having a baby does not mean the death of your sex life. In fact, after that mandatory six-week post-baby hiatus, adults-only time often feels really good.
30. Sleep Cycles
Young babies need frequent naps, so they tend to conk out every two hours or so — giving you a few minutes to get other things done (or catch up on your own sleep).
31. You Won't Become a Stepford
Being a good parent doesn't require moving to a suburb, taking up a golf habit or doing lots of baking. For all the flak this generation gets about "indoctrinating" their kids into hipster culture, it's really just about being yourself — and letting your kids be themselves, too.
32. No Phase Lasts for Long
Whether it's nighttime crying, gassiness, a dislike of baths or something else entirely, your baby will probably be over it in a few weeks or months. Some annoying phases end so quickly that you'll miss them when they're gone.
33. You've Never Been Smiled at So Much
A baby's "real" smiles start at around five weeks, but she'll probably make occasional smiley faces from the start — sometimes when passing gas, sometimes in her sleep. Also: your baby will be the funniest person you've ever met.
34. You May Be Jaded and Cynical . . .
But your baby's not. Watching him interact gleefully with a ceiling fan may just give you a whole new appreciation for the little things.
35. Blame It On Baby
If you tend to be a little on the late side for social events and really hate having to iron, guess what? Now you have a built-in excuse for tardiness, slovenly dressing, and a whole host of other things. "Sorry, but with the baby and all, it's practically impossible to [fill in the blank]." Hell, you'll even get to leave boring parties early!
36. Two Words: Halloween Candy
It's way less embarrassing to scarf down copious amounts of candy when it was given to your kid. By eating most of it yourself, you're saving your offspring from OD'ing on sugar (not to mention saving yourself some cash on dental bills.) Plus when you didn't pay for it, there's no calories, right?
37. More and More, Adults Play with Toys
From Xbox 360s to Iron Man action figures, there is a really good chance you and your kid will be into playing with the same things.
38. Matinees Are Still an Option
Many movie theaters around the country have special programs that allow parents to bring infants into the theater. So you don't need to worry about missing out on the latest flicks.
39. Yes, You Can Still Eat Out
Did you know that many infants will sleep through the clatter at a restaurant, allowing you and the dinner companion of your choice to enjoy a decent meal in peace? It's true, we swear.
40. Drink Up
Even if you are breastfeeding, you can occasionally enjoy a glass of wine or two, as long as you wait the appropriate amount of time before feeding baby again. And if you want to have a few martinis, there's always the pump-and-dump option.
41. Curl Up With a Good Book
A baby gives you an excuse to reread your favorite books from childhood. So when you check out Ira Sleeps Over from the library, you'll feel like less of a dork.
42. Shopping, Without the Pesky Dressing Rooms
Clothes shopping is such fun . . . until you try on an outfit and realize it makes you look like an asymetrically shaped hippo. When you buy clothes for baby, you get the joy of picking out cute rompers and pretty patterned dresses without the bad aftertaste of a negative self-image. And there are lots of great baby clothes out that aren't covered in pink hearts or blue racecars: like this one-piece from American Apparel in every color of the rainbow.
43. Trashy TV is Now Educational!
It can be trippy (Yo Gabba Gabba), silly (Bunnytown) or plain awesome (Jack's Big Music Show) but kids' shows have come a long way since we were the little ones glued to the screen. Yeah, yeah, we know, TV is evil and all, but if you're going to indulge, you may find yourself enjoying some shows as much as your child does.
44. You're Never Too Old
We're going to live forever — for sure until we're 120. So, like, thirty is the new teen pregnancy. Eighty-year-old new grandparents will be the norm (and with those brand-new knees and hips, they're practically teens themselves!). So as long as you're not that sixty-seven-year-old Spanish woman, you'll never have to worry about being the oldest new mom in the world. You'll even live to see the grandkids graduate medical school — maybe kick in some from your retirement to pay for it.
45. You Know More Than You Think
You can buy instructional DVDs and parenting manuals by the dozen, but the results will always be the same: the #1 expert on your baby will be you.
Contributors: Ada Calhoun, Gwynne Watkins, Jen Chaney, Madeline Holler, Kelly Mills, Amy Kuras, Brett Singer, Cole Gamble