How old is too old to have a baby?

45. With a life expectancy of 80, you can still be around for a reasonable portion of your child's life.

However 41 hits the note of not being in your sixties when they're in their teens... My mum was 42 when she had me.

I'm one and done at 35.

Probably 40. The thought of perimenopause and a baby or toddler isn’t a good combo.

I wanted mine before 30 as well. Had my second 2 months after my 30th birthday. Now at 45, I feel the timing is perfect. My nurturing hormones are dipping, however they don't need as much nurturing now.

I m soooo glad I didn't have another at 39/40, when I felt a bit broody. I would really not like to be facing into 10 years of primary school picks ups and parties. I ld hate to be hanging around in kids party centres now.

I had zero family help, if you have a lot of support, then it's easier at any age.

I was 35 and 38 with mine, which is about average where I live. Pregnant first month trying both times. Ideally I'd have had them earlier but I didn't meet my DH until I was in my 30s.

35 for me. That pregnancy was a right slog.

You take what life gives you. I wanted kids young but didn't meet DH until later in life. So I 'very had mine in my 40s and yes I wish I was younger.
There are advantages though like not being totally skint and generally being more relaxed about everything.

I had all mine before I was 30, now mine are in teens and 20s and I'm early 40s. health wise I'm glad I had them then because a health condition I have now diagnosed in 30s means I am often exhausted. If I was fully healthy I'd have a higher cut off like 44 maybe , lots of people I was at school with are just in toddler stages now and some of them find it tough but others are loving it .

I think nature will decide to some extent what too old is. I'm perimenopausal and my periods are very erratic and I think it would be very difficult to get pregnant again for me (mid 40s).

I was 35 and 38 when I had mine. I was too young to have them in my 20s (immature and financially unstable). I am too old to have them in my 40s (after 2 high risk pregnancies I would worry another one would kill me and leave my babies without a mother).

For me, it isn't the age you have them that you need to think about so much as the age you will be when they are a teenager and you need to pick them up at 1am from a party, or the age when you need to help fund university fees, or the age you might want to retire and travel the world but can't because you still have children to support, or the age when you might have grandkids but be too old to run around with them, or the age they will be when you need care or die.

I think it's very personal decision and base on individuals unique circumstances - though think evolution average cut off dates do make sense risk wise for most people.

I didn't want them past 35/36 - but then I'd had as many as I initially wanted by then-( we could have gone on but decided not to for a variety of reasons). If I hadn't would probably have considered later ages.

In DH family one of his parents is a twin to a real outlier pg ( very post 45 ) to point posters on here insist it much be a covered up teen pg - except there were no teens in family to cover for at the time and twins are very much in family mould - menopause struck that maternal line very late and pg was high risk and was considered usual at time. They had a happy childhood and parents said they kept them young - DH just remembers them though his parents had him very young which obviously helps with that.

I had mine at 36 and 39.

I hadn't wanted babies until I met DH and my DSD. We got married on the basis that i didn't want kids. He said that was fine; he already had his daughter.

We used to have her every weekend from about 6 on Fridays until late Sunday evening because her mum worked. I'd never spent any time with kids - career girl all the way. DH worked half days on Saturdays so DSD and I spent time alone.

I gradually learned about children. We played together and I read her stories. She was seven and the most darling child. After a few years I realised that I'd like a child of my own.

So I told DH I'd changed my mind and he just gave me his slow smile. He must have seen it coming.

I'd left it late. We agreed we'd try but if it didn't happen we'd let it go. No IVF etc.

We started trying to conceive at Christmas and I was pregnant by Valentine's Day. It was amazing, and three years later we had our second child.

I would strongly recommend having kids later. I didn't get desperately knackered (though tbh both of mine were chilled out easy sleepers like DH) but I had endless patience and having thoroughly enjoyed my single life I never resented the limits imposed on me by small children.

My relationship with DSD went from strength to strength. I'm a step grandma now. Her DM wanted her to leave school at 16. I had higher hopes for her and my family helped her get her degree financially. In one sense I owe her my babies and she owes me her degree. I feel we're both lucky.

I wanted all mine by 30 and so I had them all by 29 and sterilised. I appreciate that's early by most standards. I have a friend trying to conceive at 42 and I think it's too old. I'm 37 and it's the last thing I would want right now.

46 probably - I assume you mean for a woman. If adopting/ using egg donor obviously later

I kept telling my daughter I was too old for another baby from the age of 36 just after I had my 3rd child. Now I'm.42 and pregnant by accident and I feel seriously too bloody old!

43

Ideally I wouldn't have had any children past 35 but Mother Nature and recurrent miscarriages soon put paid to that . I was 37 when I had my 2nd. I'm now 40 and part of me wants another but I don't think I can roll the dice again .

Getting pregnant at 35 was my own personal cut off & I had my 3rd a month before my 36th birthday. My mum had me at 42 (which was pretty unusual back then).

I’m 37 and about to have my second (and final). Feel fine about it.

I think if you’re getting into your late 40s it’s running the risk of being less wise, imo. Much depends on your health, fitness and how much support you have around you, but if you’re (say) 48 there’s no avoiding the fact that you’ll be parenting a teenager in your sixties and that’s going to be difficult. You’ll also be entering the years where you’re more likely to need care and support just when your kids are in their twenties and very unlikely to have the emotional or financial resources to offer that support.

That said, so much depends on other factors. Victoria Coren Mitchell has had her second baby at 51 which I would usually consider to be a risky prospect but she undoubtedly has the means to pay for any support or future care she needs without it being an undue burden on her children, so there is unlikely to be a problem on that front.

I always wanted children before 30 but didn't meet my DH and get married in time...had DD 30, and no 2 on way I'll just be 32. Not sure if we'd like a 3rd but I'd want to be under 35 (also as DH would be 40 when I'm 35!)

I had my first at 25 and personally wouldn't want any past 35 as the risks go up then. If I was older than 35 and didn't have any children I'd probably feel differently though.

Had my last at 41. Wouldn't have wanted to go much past that. Biggest drawback is ageing grandparents

64? Deffo too old

I had mine at 26 and 29. My sister had hers at 36 and has just turned 40, trying for a second. You couldn't pay me to have another one now, but we're a totally different stages with our existing children.

Personally I think 45 should be the cut off for both men and women.

Well, if things go as planned I'll be having my first (and quite probably only) child at 40/41 as we're currently trying. Physically I'm healthy, but I haven't felt ready mentally until now. So let's see!

I honestly think your body knows best. When your periods stop, you're too old. If you're still fertile, it's fair play.

After forty, there is a higher likelihood of serious disabilities or special needs. Whether you feel able to cope with that possibility is, of course, a matter for the individual.