Arriving at Rowan Tree Nursery in Edinburgh yesterday afternoon, Alex Hyde-Parker grins as he picks up his first-born Alphonse.

Arriving at Rowan Tree Nursery in Edinburgh yesterday afternoon, Alex Hyde-Parker grins as he picks up his first-born Alphonse.

But, while he is delighted to be a father, he is pretty certain his 11-month-old son will not have more than one brother or sister in future.

He is not alone, with a new study showing that more Scottish families are choosing to have a maximum of just two children.

One of the main reasons in Mr Hyde-Parker's case is money, with the cost of caring for children combined with high property prices in the capital making it impossible for many to afford bigger families.

The 35-year-old IT manager, whose partner, Perdita Barran, also 35, works as a university lecturer, said: "We are thinking about having a second child but I don't think we will have any more than two.

"We both work and not being able to afford to take time off to look after children is an issue. Childcare now is expensive, and we don't live anywhere near our families, they are 400-odd miles away so they cannot help out day to day. "Life in general is expensive, too, especially the cost of housing in the city centre."

The couple, who live in Pilrig, say it is common for other parents to talk about having just one child, for a variety of reasons.

Mr Hyde-Parker added: "I know quite a few people who have just one child and they say that's enough. The first year of parenthood is quite a big shock. Having children is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.

"Lifestyle is also a factor, although I'm not sure it makes much more difference if you go on to have three or four children."