Pure curiosity as I’m bored …

[Ifyoudid]

If you had to choose a baby at 20, or a baby at 40, which would you go for?

Assuming that you had no issues conceiving either time.

40 …

My twenties were awesome. So much travellling and fun. Also my career really matters to me. A baby at 20 puts everything on hold, and you possibly might not catch up.

I had my kids at 34 and 36.

I had my first at 21 and my last at 36. Definitely noticed the difference with the 3rd. Was absolutely exhausted. With my first I became a single parent when she was a few weeks old (exdh had an affair). Even though single sleepless nights and managing a baby on my own didn't take its toll like my 3rd at 36 when I was in a stable marriage. I think 40 would have killed me off 🤣 Although my friend had her surprise 4th at age 44. Shes been constantly knackered since, she's early 50s now but with a hyper 8 year old and a baby granddaughter 😁

Ive had children at similar ages (22,34, 38). I couldn't choose an ideal age as each has its benefits. Definitely younger for the physical aspect but older for the emotional

1st at 17
2nd at 19
3rd at 22
4th at 23
All with the same dad BTW,about to start uni to become a social worker ( I have epilepsy was a shock when diagnosed and set me back a little ) but by the time I'm 40 ally.children will be grown up and I'm hoping to be living a great life!
I'm 26

40 - because I could buy in help and I'd already established my career.

20 - if I had waited till I was 40 I might not have been able to have children at all, and certainly wouldn't have managed to have more than one (thanks, body).

Lots of energy at 20. I could have actually been the Mum I wanted to be instead of this tired husk.

Turns out my ideal age for having children was probably 25.

20, unquestionably.

Neither. I wouldn't have any!

Definitely 20s …so much more energy! Had my first at 29 and second at 31 …last at 37 …it’s shocking how tired I was at 37 !

20

40 for sure.

In my twenties I yearned for marriage and children but in hindsight (now 38 and just had second child) I had such an amazing time at uni and after uni travelling, making friends, doing festivals, dating, working hard and building my career, saving up to buy a flat and later a house ... now I feel like I can 'settle down' and bring up the children without feeling like I'm missing out on anything (although already looking forward to when they're teenagers and DH and I can go and start travelling again haha)

I had my first at a week past 21, and my 5th a month before 31, so I'd say 20, but I'm not 40 yet. Who knows how I'll feel then?

40, had my daughter at 22 and missed so much of my life will never get my care free 20s back, definitely 40.

I’d have to say 40, from 30 to 40 might be a bit boring for me without but I had too much fun in my 20s and didn’t have a maternal bone in my body til nearly 30

20

Had my first at 25, 2nd at 37, 3rd at 39.

I'm getting my arse handed to me by toddlers 🤦‍♀️

20
More years with them, had my first at 28 and pregnant with 2nd now at 31

20
Had my first at 19 and now early 40s so glad I did. A lot of my friends have not long had their first and pregnant with number 2. Could think of nothing worse this late in life but my personal cut off was 35 anyway regardless if I had kids by then or not.

20, was 21 when I had dd1. I'm now 40 and am exhausted most days and I like my sleep.

I'd really struggle to continue education, build a career and financially secure future for me and child if I had them at 20.

20 definitely! more time with them, more energy and generally better health and resilience. Being relatively young when they’re in their teens so less out of the loop with technology/trends and just generally less of “when I was your age”. Less chance of conception, pregnancy and birth complications. Less chance of disability’s, less fear and anxiety around every mile stone and helicopter parenting, not for everyone obviously but I see anxiety/worrying increase with age

20 . I did and my second at 23 . Yes we were poorer but I had tons of energy and didn't really know I was missing anything. My parents both died young so they knew my kids and my kids remember them . Then by my mid 30s I was able to catch up on my life and career and was completely free by 40 and still young enough to do what I wanted. Almost 60 now and a happy youngish granny .