Undivided attention ... Kate Grant with her seven-year-old daughter Scarlett, an only child. Photo: Janie Barrett
Kate Grant and Ewen Craig stopped at one child after running out of time to expand their brood.
"Like a lot of women, I got married later and started having children later," 44-year-old marketing executive Ms Grant said.
"I was really very lucky just to have one baby."
Their daughter, Scarlett, is seven and enjoys the advantages of having her parents all to herself.
"Your time is not divided between children," Ms Grant, of Leichhardt, said.
"She gets more one-on-one time with both parents. I stayed with my brother and sister-in-law in London last year. They have four children and my sister-in-law basically yells instructions from the moment she gets out of bed.
"Getting four children dressed, fed and out the door is a minor miracle. So I really appreciate the fact that we do have more time with Scarlett."
Despite being an only child, Scarlett is never lonely with a large group of friends and cousins.
"Now she's started school, there are lots of play dates and sleepovers," Ms Grant said.
"She's got lots of friends and we're pretty social as well so there are always people around."
There is no stigma attached to being an only child as one-child families are now common.
"A lot of my peers are in a similar position," Ms Grant said. "We all started having children later in life so most of us only have one. It's not seen as being that unusual."
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