For those of us who have never had a baby, raising a new child might not seem like that much of a big deal. But if you plan on having a child anytime soon, you're in for a really rude awakening! While babies can be a real blessing and a wonderful addition to the life of you and your spouse, they also bring many new, demanding responsibilities that many parents just aren't ready for. If you can't already tell from the sheer number of people who enter their toddlers into beautiful baby contests, most parents seem to think that their little one is the most special, unique child ever to be born. And while all babies are truly special, they also come with special needs that you need to brief yourself on before becoming a parent.

First of all, don't plan on making any big exciting travel plans for the first few years after your little bundle of joy comes along. Taking a baby along for a special, expensive getaway just isn't feasible until they've gotten old enough to at least enjoy the sights and sounds along with you. And even if you were to happen to win a huge vacation sweepstakes and get a free trip to Europe, how could you possibly bring an infant along with you? That would be unfair to both the baby and you and your spouse. And if you don't feel comfortable with leaving your little one with a babysitter for a week, you would probably be better off either selling the tickets or giving them away to a family member instead.

Another aspect of having a baby that not many parents anticipate is the feeding activities and scheduling. Babies don't tend to stay on the same eating clock as adults do, and you won't find any little ones who are willing to wait until the prescribed breakfast, lunch and dinner schedules that you do. More often than not, your baby would much rather get up in the middle of the night to cry for a bottle, or wait until you and your spouse are in the middle of a nice meal to demand another feeding. In fact, your child probably will turn up his or her nose at pretty much any kind of food you are good at making until they are well into your teens. Even if you are a champion chef who has won numerous recipe contests, you aren't likely to impress a picky toddler or middle school student much.

So take our word for it that you need to think long and hard about whether or not you are really prepared to have a baby before you take the plunge. While babies are one of the greatest gifts you will ever receive in your life, they require a lot of hard work and dedication that not a lot of new parents ever really expected. You will certainly make a great parent someday, but make sure that day is right before you start trying for an addition to your family.