The COVID-19 pandemic may have initially caused pregnancy rates to fall. But we’re set to see a surge in births and a baby boom in 2022.
And whose fueling this drive? The Millennials, who are the largest generation group in the US right now.
According to research, the tell-tale signs a baby boom in 2022 was coming began at the end of 2021. The giveaway? Pregnancy test sales were up. Who found out this information? Analysts at the Bank of America and Neilsen. The expected baby boom of 2022 has seen sales of pregnancy tests increase by an average of 13% since 2020.
The Baby Boom Of 2022 Caused By A Baby Bust
When we all went into lockdown, many predicted it would lead to a surge in pregnancies for obvious reasons. Everyone was stuck at home, a lot of people with their respective partners. The assumption was, everyone would turn to their loved one, and in the words of Marvin Gaye say, ‘Let’s Get It On.’ But in fact, the opposite happened.
Professor of social and political sciences Arnstein Aassve looked at birth rates in 22 high-income countries, including the U.S. Based at Bocconi University in Italy, he and his colleagues took data from 2016 through the beginning of 2021.
Hungary, Spain, Italy, and Portugal saw their birth rates drop the most. The U.S. saw a decline of 3.8 percent. However it’s thought because they only had data from December 2020, this could have actually been higher. The effects of the pandemic were also spread across the country which is of course much larger than many European countries.
The study appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. Professor Assave said: “Even though they might have had a bit of a mild downward trend [before], we’re pretty sure about the fact that there was an impact of the pandemic.”
Turning The Corner From Bust To Boom
Molly Stout, MD, MSci, maternal-fetal medicine director at Michigan Medicine Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital looked at health records from Michigan Medicine.
She and her team discovered that there was a 14% decrease in pregnancies between November 2020 and Spring 2021. This decrease was attributed to women putting their sexual and reproductive healthcare on hold.
But as well as that, women were working from home, and looking after their other children if they had them from home. There were also the considerations of changes in finances, and a lack of support, as well as state restrictions.
The study also discovered there was a disparity between Black and Hispanic women, and White women. The researchers found Black and Hispanic women were much more likely to put having another child on hold.
Molly Stout revealed: "Major societal changes certainly seem to influence reproductive choices, population growth, and fertility rates. Usually, we see the effects by modeling birth and death rates, only as the changes are occurring. With this methodology, we can accurately project anticipated birth rates ahead of the actual changes."
According to A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report from early 2021, the US birth rate fell by 4% from 2019 to 2020. To put this into perspective, this was the sharpest single-year decline in almost 50 years. The rate hadn’t been that low since 1979.
This isn’t the first time a drop in birthrate has happened in history. There was a decline in 1918 when there was the influenza pandemic, then in the Great Depression in 1929. A birth rate drop also occurred in 2008.
Millennials And Their Impact On The Baby Boom Of 2022
According to the US Census Bureau, Millennials are now the largest generation in the country. Made up of roughly 72.1 million people, they range in age from 25 to 40.
This is a group that is now gaining more financial security. And as we start to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, they’re preparing to procreate. They along with families who put having children on hold are now set to welcome bundles of joy into their lives.
In fact, more babies are already being born. Births increased in June 2021 by 3.3%. This is the highest level of growth since 2013.
Millennials are also changing the dynamic of the baby fashion industry due to their choices.
According to a Nielsen study, they want to buy sustainably sourced products. They along with Gen Z, but their desire to buy ethical and sustainable products is at the forefront when it comes to their purchases.
They demand clothing that has a smaller carbon footprint, uses artisan methods as much as possible, and doesn’t impact the environment.
Known collectively as ‘Generation Green’ they believe they can do more to help the planet. And they’re passionate about making that happen.
Being a ‘conscious consumer,’ where you are educated about where your clothing comes from, means you use your spending power to buy eco-friendly products. And in turn, your choice to shop sustainably is seen as a way of expressing your identity. And buying fashion and goods that fall into this area. is even viewed as a status symbol.
10 to 12 Baby Lounge uses sustainable and cruelty-free fabrics in all of its products. The Peruvian cotton used in our toys and clothing is eco-responsible and ethically sourced.
Our flannel products are made from Tanguis cotton and our layettes are made from Pima cotton.
Our latest Pima Cotton collection (which has been made from the most durable fabric on the planet) is of superior quality and highly absorbent.
What else is special about it? Both of the cottons have a soft, cozy feel, can hold dye, and are incredibly long-lasting. They also offer incredible value, because they can be washed again and again and look as good as new.
You can shop our 2022 Pima Cotton Collection here now and create a capsule closet for your baby.
Our cashmere baby blankets use cashmere from goats that are given the best care possible. The farm where they live has been in a family for generations and is located in Inner Mongolia. The goats are gently brushed and love the process. They’re happy and relaxed with their maximum comfort a priority. You can shop our cashmere blanket collection here now.
The Nay-Sayers Who Don’t Believe The Baby Boom Is True
However, not everyone believes a baby boom is on the horizon in 2022. Jennifer D. Sciubba, the author of ‘8 Billion and Counting: How Sex, Death, and Migration Shape Our World.’
says this is just people playing catch up. The combination of putting having children on hold and those who were going to have children anyway.
She says: "I would guess that's exactly what those two data points mean: Some people delayed, and now they're done delaying."