What constitutes a 'young mum'?

[NotFromAJedi]

Just wondering what people's opinions are.. nothing meant by it just curious really! Equally so what age is considered an 'older' mum? Considering girls can get pregnant incredibly young (biologicaly speaking) is a young mum 15? 18? Early twenties? Perceptions around this will differ likely due to cultural differences or upbringing (e.g. If you had young parents). Equally so the average age for first time mothers had increased dramatically through the ages- what used to be seen as older may very well now be the most common ages to start a family- what do you think?

[Sixisthemagicnumber]

I think under 21 is a young mum and over 40 is an older mum. I know quite a few people who had babies when they were under 18 and I would consider that to be a very young mum.

[Mummamayhem]

It depends where you live in and who you associate with. I'd say under 21 but I had my first at 27 and was considered young, most of the mums in the baby groups I went to were at least 10 years older.

[Sixisthemagicnumber]

To add: age doesn't really matter. What really matters is that the mother is for and healthy enough and the mother and father have enough money and enough stability to raise the child adequately.

[lavenderandrose]

I'll be at least 37 when I have my first.

Many of my school friends will be grandparents around then.

[WindwardCircle]

I have young parents, DM was 16 and DF were 18 when I was born, but I tend to think of under 25 as a young mum, and under 20 as a teen mum.

[PerspicaciaTick]

When I volunteered with our local Children's Centre, the young mums group was aimed at women under 24. I suspect the organisers hoped that having a slightly wider age range would help the group to share experiences and support each other better.

[OhDearToby]

I had my dd1 when I was 23 and was definitely a young mum in my area and amoung all my friends. I didn't feel young though so the label frustrated me a bit.

To me under 18 is very young. Under 21 is young. 21-35 is average and 35+ is older (for a first baby).

[SerialCerealKiller]

Under 23 is young, over 35ish is older imo.

[WindwardCircle]

A friend of mine is currently pregame with her fourth at fourty one. She was horrified to discuss that medically she's considered a geriatric mother.

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

Round here (South East, fairly affluent area) most women at are least 30 when they have their first child. I suppose I would consider someone under 30 a fairly young mum, and under 25 or so would be unusually young. Not that it's a value judgement, it would just be unusual and would stand out to me.

[Niklepic]

I had my first dc at 17, my second at 25 and my third at 32. It was only after my third that I felt I was around the same age as the other mums at baby groups etc, most of which were there with their first dc.

[Wishiwasmoiradingle2017]

I worked out I have had a dc in 4 decades!! Dd at 17 in the 80s,
3 x ds in the 90s,
4x ds and 2 x ddin the 00s,
And a ds in 2014 when I was 43!!
So both ends of the scale and a hive of interest by Joe Public and medics at both ends!!

[angiekk]

When i had my first. I had written in pen, read pen 'geriatric mother' across the top of my notes. I felt so old. I was 24

[MorrisZapp]

Geriatric mother starts in early thirties doesn't it? I was one at 38 anyway.

To me, mid twenties and below is a young mum. Late thirties and beyond is an older mum.

[NotFromAJedi]

six you're right the age does not matter it's just interesting to see what the general consensus is, specifically as people belonging in either the young or older categories often have unwarranted stigmas attached to them.

[BeanBabies]

I'm 20 and most people seem to treat me as a young mum or are surprised when I said I'm pregnant (and it was fairly planned - 1 month before we decided to start trying again as we took a break) but I don't mind it too much.

I'm happy I'm a young mum - more time with my little ones and I hope I can keep up with what will be trendy and cool when they're older!

[RosieposiePuddingandPi]

I agree with pp, the general consensus here seems to be under 21 is young, over 40 is older. However I've just had DS (our first) at 29 and of our NCT group of 6 ladies I'm the youngest by 5 years. I still feel like a 'young mum' but I feel young in general!

[TheFirstMrsDV]

The government considers 'young parents' to be mothers under 20 and fathers under 25.
Which is a bit weird.
That means when we were having our first DD my OH would have been considered 'scheme-worthy'

When I had DD I was 25 and 25 was the average age of a women having her age for a first baby at that time (early 90s)
I think it would be considered 'young' now but not 'young' as in 'ooh we had better keep an eye on this'.

[Gillian1980]

I had my first at 35 and was classed as a "geriatric mother" and had loads of comments from professionals about being old for a first time mum 😕

[NotFromAJedi]

gillian I really hate that people feel the need to comment on something so personal. In the end we'll never get it right- we're either 'too young' and seen as immature and 'throwing our lives away' or we're 'old' and 'should of planned kids earlier' to be still at a good age for gc!! Does my head in- don't think I can ever recall judgement being passed on anyone's DP