The consequences of modernization on attitudes toward children, the functions of the child in the family, and the ambiguities inherent in the desire to have children are reviewed. The approach taken is sociological. The development of fertility strategies by individual couples is considered. Factors affecting such a strategy are analyzed, including the concept of the child as both an investment and a consumer item, the need to develop a special relationship, the acceptance of the obligations involved, the desire for social participation, and the cultural influence of society as a whole. The focus is on the situation in developed societies