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So, you've been with your partner for a while now. You've taken vacations, you've moved in together, and you both feel confident that you're in this for the long haul. First up, Congrats! It's always great to find your soul mate. But what's the next step of the process? Marriage, maybe but with modern relationships being about more than a big day and a sparkling jewel on the finger, perhaps having a child is the actual demonstration of love and affection. Are you ready for a baby, though? You might be if any of these signs sound familiar. 

You Are Planning How to Decorate the Nursery

If you've got a spare room, or are at least looking for new places with an extra bedroom, you might be doing a lot of research about everything you need to buy when expecting a baby, even if the expecting part hasn't happened yet. 

Planning to decorate the nursery is a clear sign of being ready for a baby. It shows that you're open to making a significant change, and you're prepared to put in the work when required, and creating a nursery is hard work. 

You Get Jealous of Other Moms

It sounds like a cliche, but being jealous of other moms walking down the street with a stroller is a crucial sign that a baby could be in your future. 

This isn't bad jealousy, though, and it's really closer to envy than anything else, but that swell of emotion you feel when you see strangers and friends playing with their little ones means that you won't be satisfied until you have your own bundle of joy. 

You Feel Financially Comfortable

Financial security and comfort is a huge part of having a baby. You need to be able to feed another mouth while also finding your monthly income reduced as you'll start lowering your hours before you give birth. 

If you feel financially able to have a child, there should be nothing holding you back. Of course, you'll need to consider the budget and what you can afford to pay for before you go ahead with anything too concrete. 

You Are Satisfied with Your Career

Modern careers are far from what they were in the past. While your parents and even their parents found a job straight out of school and stayed there for the rest of their lives, most people don't fall into their dream career until much later, and this can contribute to never feeling ready for a baby. 

However, once you reach that position where you feel satisfied and comfortable, you can start to think about motherhood. But before you do, it's important to check your company's maternity policy to find out how much time you are permitted and whether your partner can help out. 

You Have a List Of Baby Names

Most people have their perfect baby names stored away in their minds, but if you keep finding yourself adoring new names that you come across, then perhaps it's time you put them to good use. 

There's always a problem somewhere, though. You might have the perfect name in mind, but one of your friends just named their dog the same name, so it's back to the drawing board. Hopefully, you'll have enough names that there's plenty to pick from, and don't forget to ask your partner for input. 

You Have Had Serious Discussions With Your Partner

Mature relationships require serious adult discussions about significant changes. While you might have spent the early years of your relationship joking about having lots of babies, you will need to sit down and have a serious conversation. 

If they are happy to start trying for a baby, then jackpot. You can begin planning out the next nine months and hopefully enjoy a bright future together. 

You Are Looking At The Best Schools 

You want your child to have the best education possible, and while it might seem a little premature, it's useful to know about the best schools in the area. 

But what about if you can't find excellent schools in the area? You might need to move into a new home at some point, so if you have the freedom to go anywhere, there's plenty of spots to choose from. 

You Are No Longer Bothered When People Ask 

Whether it's your parents, your partner's parents, old school friends, or strangers off the street, getting asked when you're going to have kids can get frustrating. People rarely understand that not everyone's life revolves around being a parent, and you have likely told them you would get to it in your own time. 

However, if those questions no longer bother you, there's a significant chance that you're ready for kids, and aside from the joy that comes with being a parent, you can also feel happy you'll never need to answer any more questions. 

You Are Ready to Give Up Your Party Lifestyle

The party lifestyle is fun for a few years before, during, and after college, but most people can't keep it up forever. When you're young, though, you believe the party will never end, and you'll be raving forever. 

However, there will come the point where the idea of going out and getting back late (or even early next morning) fills you with dread. You don't want to do it. You want to be responsible, and becoming a parent will make you responsible. 

You Know It Just Feels Right

Ultimately, though, you'll know you're ready because it just feels right. We have stages in our lives, and after school, work, and finding the one, having a baby is the next logical stage of our lives. Even if you've never considered yourself mother material, your opinion may change as you get older, so even if you don't feel ready just yet, you might sooner than you expect. 

The Next Stage

There will come the point in everyone's life where they are ready for a baby, and while there are plenty of factors that can determine how ready you are, the real sign is that you are no longer terrified of the thought of having a child. Regardless of finances, space, and the endless hours browsing baby equipment, you're ready to take the next step in your relationship.

*This is a collaborative post*