What would you say is 'too young' to have children?

[erja]

Just a curious question. I always see threads about what's too old, what about too young (if you think there is a too young)? I see some people saying 23/24 is 'too young'.

I'm a young mum myself so not meant to cause any offence to anyone either, I'm just interested in people's personal views on it.

It's more about a persons personal circumstances, maturity and ability to raise a child than an age..

Personally I couldn’t imagine anything earlier than mid to late twenties assuming you met your partner young.
I guess I just think you leave university at 21/22, go and get a job, probably aren’t really settled down for a while and financially stable. I would imagine 26,27 is the absolute youngest it would have been feasible for me.

@Bigonesmallone3 yes, that's exactly my view so completely agree.

I was 22 when I had my first, 23 when I had my second and 36 when I had my third.(will be 38 with #4)
Looking back I was far too young the first time around.

I met DH at 19 and we had DD when I was 27. At no point did anyone suggest I was too young, although we were married and own our home. I would have thought teens would be too young but again depends on circumstance and maturity.

I had DD at 21 and I would advise her not to do the same tbh. I love being a mum and have given it my all, I am capable and competent, but I would have liked to have had a bit more of a life of my own before having her in retrospect.

@Cookit
Do all mother's need to go to uni before they reproduce?

In my world under 28 is too young. The under 30 years olds were in a massive minority for first babies.

I met DH at 20...got married at 26, first Dc at 27 didn’t feel too young

In your late teens/early 20s your relationship isn't likely to last as you are still growing and maturing as a person. Of course this isn't true for everyone but I don't know many relationships these days that last at that age. Mine didn't - I had DS at 22 and I am not with his father any more.

Being a young mum is all I've ever known though and I couldn't imagine having a baby in my 40s just as I'm sure a lot of people couldn't imagine having a baby at the age I did. There are pros and cons to having children at any age really.

I had my DS when I was 20. Never thought I was too young. 😌 The course I’m doing at university is a course where plenty already have children and are going back into education. It helps to have a good DP and support network I imagine.

Under 16 is too young.

I had my first at 16, which I wouldn't recommend to anyone but I think it's more about when they're ready mentally and financially. Not that I was, certainly not financially but I think I was mature for my age and I coped well for how young I was

Depends on the person. I can think of a very lovely 6 year old boy. His mum was 17 and dad 20 when they had him. They both work full time, have bought an ex council house, got married, and now have a second on the way. They are also excellent parents to their boy.

My NCT group first time mums were 38, 38, 36, 35, 34, 34, 33, 32, 29.

The two 38 year olds went on to have second babies. The 36 and 35 year olds had two more each. One of the 34 year olds stuck at one. The other had another. The 33 year old had one more. The 32 year old had two more. The 29 year old had two more.

Speaking from experience I would suggest that somewhere from 27 onwards at least would be best.

I had my first at 25 and second at 27, deffo don't think I was too young either way around. People telling young girls to wait til they're in their 30s to have babies is ridiculous. I'm pretty sure if I hadve waited til I was 30 I wouldn't have my son and possibly even my daughter cause pregnancy is so hard on my body!

I think anything earlier than mid- twenties, but then maybe I’m too London and surrounded by middle class women who don’t have kids until 35+ in my views....to me it’s not just about having a partner a house and finances etc but not giving up the selfish years too soon

@bibbitybobbityyhat that was SUCH a lot of information to type out that completely didn't answer the OP's question at all 😂

Under 25 is too young.

i had my first at 15, second at 22, and third at 26. i was definitely too young for my first but i felt ready by the time i had my second - but that was probably because i had already experienced it and knew what to expect. then again i live on an estate where you’re unusual if you make it to 21 without having a baby!

I'd say 16 and under mainly because of school though. I know plenty young mothers who are amazing as well as older mothers too.
I had my little girl at 24, we had been together for 7 years at that point and got married when she was 16 months. In our experience it was a lovely time to add to our family and felt our relationship was solid although I know this isn't the case for everyone.

I fell pregnant with my first child at 17..
10 years later me and his father are still very happy together, own our own home, have two cars, he has a very well paid job which he put a lot of effort into training for, I have a part time job, we had baby no 2 in 2017 and baby no3 is due in 5 months.
I wouldn't change a thing about my life..

I had DS1 at 23. I didn't feel at all young at the time. It's very much an individual thing.