Here’s how I think about it:

If a couple has two kids, they only replace themselves after they die. 
If they have three, there is a “profit” of one. Population wise, this would likely be canceled out by couples having no or one child, but it’s still growth in the context of that nuclear family. That’s my baseline goal as far as number of kids. 

I was an only child so my stretch goal is four or more if I can. I probably won’t be able to have more than three, though. I’m not too tore up about it; I’m more focused on enjoying and doing the best for whatever number of children I’m blessed with. 

 This is beautiful Eryn 🫂🫂💜 and totally agree xx will be grateful if I can even get one baby 🫂 also the process will be really fun 😂🫂 

 Good baseline, but there are other tragedies to consider.
Anything that causes death before those kids can grow up and have families of their own. Accidents, sickness, etc.
Not fun to think about it, but part of the math.

3-5 seems like a healthy minimum just from the perspective of maintaining the population.

“Too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.”
-Mother Teresa