Is it really that common to be a grandparent in your late 40s?

What a load of rubbish. I have a degree and a very well paid job. I choose to have my kids young, my eldest being born when I wss just 23, 1 year after I left uni. I wanted them when I had the energy to enjoy them. I also knew that they would be adults when I was in my 40s, which meant I could then go and travel (an ambition of mine)and work up the career line without having time out for maternity leave. Which I have done. I am also young enough to enjoy any grandchildren ai might have.

My sister was a grandmother at 34.

Sounds a bit grim. I suppose depends on demographic but my circle are mostly like you, forties with small children or teens. No grandchildren thankfully!

Very common where I live. My best friend has 4 grandchildren, and she is 48 (became a grandmother aged 44). My other friend became a grandparent at 40. A few of my work colleagues also have grandchildren, and they are also in their 40s. I choose to have my kids in my 20s. My youngest was born when I ws 29.

49 yr old here. Had DD at 24 yrs old, unplanned pregnancy. I've been mistaken for her older sister before. I'm very young looking!

I wouldn't assume anything these days. I have friends who have had their first children in their early 40s. It's like assuming overweight women are pregnant. I'd rather keep my mouth shut 🙊

40s is a funny age when it comes to children/grandchildren.

I'm 47 and have a 5 year old - I've never been mistaken for his grandmother.
One of my close friends became a grandmother at 41 - I don't think she'd get mistaken for his grandmother either 😆

In my 5 year olds class, there's some mothers who are late 30s/early 40s and others who are mid - late 20s (who could potentially be grandmothers in their mid 40s). So it's a mixed bag.

When I was 34 (before I'd had any of my children) I met a grandmother who was 34!

There are social, economic and cultural factors that influence the age people have babies. People from lower income backgrounds with less access to education tend to have kids young.

My neighbour had a baby at 45 and everyone assumes she's the grandmother.

I made my mum a grandma at 47.
She was 26 when she had me and I was 21 which is young. My eldest is 21 next month and I can't imagine him becoming a dad yet. I'd like to think I would be mistaken as the mum though. Haha.

It's obviously unacceptable (and social services will/should have been involved at least) but it still happens. I know a 13 year old with a baby.

Yes this happened to me, I had Dd at 42, mostly with shop assistants funnily enough, I remember one saying ooh lovely to have them for the weekend but lovely to give them back isn't it, I just said
She's mine actually' but as she grew my Dd would say ' she's not my grandma, shel's my mummy' she was very proud 😅

I think there is a post earlier on from someone who knew a great grandma aged 39.

A random stranger asked me if my baby was mine as I have brown hair and my baby is blond. Some people say such weird (rude) stuff 🙄

And no 47 isn't obvious grandparent age! :)

A woman I knew at my local bridge club had her third child at age 48

The poor child. Mum will be almost 70 when the child turns 21

It was surprising to hear someone on this thread knows of a great grandparent at the age of 42. To achieve that requires them and every successive generation giving birth at lower to mid secondary school age, so must be exceptional.

A woman I knew at my local bridge club had her third child at age 48. My mother was 40 when she had me 47 years ago.

I was 12 when my little brother was born, and I'd frequently be mistaken for his mother 🤢 I don't think I'd assume anything really, maybe based on my own experience and how unnecessary it felt to me that people would comment on it

Personally none of my friends are grandparents and were late 50s, however, when I taught teenage parents many grandparents were in their 30s. I had a great grandmother who was 48! Had her son at 16, he had his daughter at 16, and her baby was born when she was 16 (in the group I taught)

I think it depends on where you live, certainly where I come from a lot of people my age (47) are grandparents, including me.
I was 24 when I had my eldest and he was 21 when he had his daughter.
i do get called mum by people when I’m out with her (she lives with me) but I put them right.
I personally don’t personally know anyone of my age that has babies.

I think the stereotype of Gen Z as basement dwelling, barely employable virgins who will never afford to buy a house plays into this.

Most people I know in their 20s are professionals with mortgages but you'd never know that via media.

Depends on how you looked: if you looked professional and educated, no; if you looked like you lived your life on benefits, yes.

It can't come as any surprise to anyone that if you have a fertile window between teens and 40s then some middle aged women might be grandmas and some might be new mums. What bubbles people live in.

Had my eldest at 21 and became a grandma at 44 and often had people assume I was the mum. Have to say I was quite flattered 😂

@AnxiouslyAwaitingSpring
I've never heard of anyone being a grandparent younger than 50
och away, stop your nonsense.
I don't know anyone who had a child in their 40s, I do not live in a deprived area.
One of most expensive streets where I am is full of couples in late 20s/30s with young families.

I had my dd at 44 and never felt old once. Lots of mums our age around. I’ve never been presumed to by her grandmother either. Love being her mum, it feels very lucky and a privilege x

On average areas with lower average incomes will have a smaller proportion of mothers with degrees. And it's pretty standard to equate lower average income with more deprived. That's all.