What Age did you first start wanting children?

[JoeyBartonHanson]

Was there a moment?

I was about 18 I think when I first felt the urge , I have now 4

For as long as I can remember

19. I’m mid 20’s with no kids and no prospects to have any time soon but the minute that switch flicked on at 19 my heart has aches for a baby and I find it hard watching everyone around me have theirs. I posted about how I felt on MN once asking for advice on how to keep the feeling at bay and had my arse handed to me so I don’t really talk about it any more.

Honestly? Never.

DD1 was a contraceptive failure. DD2 was persuasion by DD1 and my husband.

I love them both dearly and would move mountains for them but motherhood was never my desire or chosen path in life.

I didn't to be honest.
Dp made it clear from the first date that children was a huge priority but I just thought I'd ride it out and see how things developed.
We got to a now or never point 6 years into the relationship and 9 months later ds1 was born 23 years ago.Ds 2 came 3 years after him. Both lads have, and still are a joy.

40
Now 41 and 18+6!

12. I used to think of their names and go through catalogues picking out clothes and toys.

Always wanted children "one day". Was ready at 33. I'm 35 and it still hasn't happened, despite desperately trying.

As I said, I didn’t want children until I was 37. However, both of my children have always wanted children “one day” and have names picked out which have never changed.

I was about 12 - but I waited until I was 28

I went from 'no way' for my teens and most of my twenties to 'could do' around 29-31. At 32 the biological clock kicked in big style.

From the age of five or six, I think. Although I remember going throough a childhood phase of thinking that childbirth sounded awful, so I'd adopt instead.

It usually felt like an instinctive urge rather than a rational decision.

Sometimes during my childhood I realised that I wanted a family of my own. It wasn't "broodiness" exactly, just the acknowledgement that I'd like a long-term partner and children.

I initially thought four kids and a dog. Had two and realised how much work it was, so have stuck with just them and a dog.
DH and I have also discussed fostering. We want to be sure that our bio children will be able to understand and empathise if the child needed extra support/showed some extreme behaviours. I think they're probably about old enough now.

This isn't the point of the thread, but I do know a few couples in their 50s who I think might be regretting not having a family as their parents age and they're on the periphery of their siblings' families. It's certainly not for everyone, of course.

I was 26 when I first held ds1. Absolutely no stirring in the maternal dept until then. He wasn't planned neither were his siblings.
Was smitten straight away. and devoted my life to family, including me of course, I'm no martyr.

Forever, I can't remember a time when I didn't want kids. I always said I was going to have 2, a boy and then a girl, and I did exactly that! My mum says I said that from around the age of 4, along with the fact I was going to live in London (grew up in the West Country), and I do now live in London. The rest of my life has been a bit more hit and miss! But I did fulfill my predictions!

At 40 ish. Had DD when 42

Umm about aged 37. Do had one at 38 and one at 40. Wouldn't have done it any differently!

I never did. Apologies if you only wanted to hear from people who did!

I think I always knew this was something I wanted to do one day. Had a cute little brother and enjoyed looking after him. When dh proposed (I was 24 at the time) one of the first things I said was "I am going to want children, you know?" He looked a little taken aback at first, mainly because he doubted our earning capacity, but then came round to the idea.

I was about 11-12 I think, came from a large extended family, where there was a new baby born every few months.

Had my children when I was aged 21 & 24.

I would’ve liked another one, but both mine were very premature, and I felt I couldn’t risk it happening again, I felt as if I was pushing my luck.

As early as I can remember, by primary school I had a deep urge to have children, particularly loved newborn babies and that increased. Met DH and had 4 of our own. Then seeing friends unable to conceive and with the same yearning I had broke my heart, So I became a foster carer. I look after newborn babies then pass them on to loving family/adopters. I love every minute of it.

I'm amazed at so many posters feeling so broody from such a young age.

28, 29

Pregnant with our first, I'll be 34 when it arrives

36 ish

About 30 was the plan but didn't happen until I was 36. I'm not sure I was ever really broody though. So glad we had him but there was no desire from either of us to have more.

Always wanted children. Felt broody from about 19. Had my first at 21 and was broody again when he was about 18 months old. I now have 3. The broodiness didn't go until after my third.