This article is like those “medical costs in retirement” articles. It looks like a really big number that only a few can meet, but with a little bit of shuffling around and prioritizing things can be much cheaper.
Good point. Elderly people always find a way to get their medical care. As I get ready to retire myself, I've come to realize that these are just scare stories as many people with far less means then myself are getting by just fine in retirement.
It's the same with raising children. The total cost of raising a child is scary when looked at in the aggregate, but when you are actually going through the process of child rearing, you take things one step at a time and always find a way to get food on the table, cover medical expenses, etc. There is no financial reason why couples of even modest means cannot raise a few children.