If you could change it would you have your kids younger or older than the age you actually were?

[atolly]

What age were you, and would you change it? Just being nosey!

31 and 33. With hindsight I’d probably have started a bit earlier. I waiter whilst I worked on my career, but having kids has totally changed my priorities and I have found that I want to take a different path anyway now that they are here. Also, I’d like to have at least one more and I’m aware that this may be more difficult as I get older.

*waited, not waiter!

First at 31 and would have had her younger so I can have longer with her!

27 and 29 and don't think I'd change it. It felt lonely at times, we missed out on lots socially and found it hard to click with potential new parent friends who were all much older. But I don't think I'll regret it when we're in our 40s with two teens instead of babies.

I was 37 and 41. It was the perfect age for me. I MIGHT have started a little bit earlier so I could squeeze in another one, but probably not.

26 and 29. 11 years later no regrets

29 and 31 when I had DDs which I feel was about the perfect age. They will be adults by the time I'm 50. I'm definitely the youngest out of my mum friendship group though. Most had them between 35 and 42.

I had my first at 23, my second at 30 and my third at 32. Wish I didn’t leave it so long and had my younger 2 in my twenties but we weren’t in a financial position for any more until then!

Pregnant at 38 now and we started trying when I was 37. If I had met my partner sooner (I was 36) we would have tried sooner but anytime from 34 would have been good in terms of career, finances, mental health etc.

First and only at 22 who turns ten this year. Wish we could have had another but biology said otherwise. I wish we had been 23/24 as we missed out on an event the year he was born that we will likely never repeat otherwise love when we had him. He's meet and got to know his great grandparents and his grandparents are young enough to enjoy him.

I was 25, 27 and 29 and wouldn’t change when I had them. We’re early/mid 40s now and they’re all quite independent which is nice.

Partly, it depends when you meet the right person, we met quite young, went through university together, then travelled and bought a house quite young. Some of my friends didn’t meet their partner til they were late 20s so obviously didn’t have kids til their 30s.

31, 33 and 36. Perfect age. Got to have fun first. I was itching at 29 so if anything i would have preferred a touch younger and I would have had more family help for longer. Parents getting too old. In my 40s now and so glad I didn't leave the baby part any later as I think I would struggle with the lack of sleep. Also feel like I have enough time to enjoy getting my own hobbies etc back once the kids get more independant.

30 and 34 and I think that was perfect for me

31 and 34. I’d maybe have pushed back a year or two to save more money first but I have seen too many friends have challenges conceiving to have taken the risk of any later by choice. If you had a crystal ball and knew there would be no issues the financially prudent thing would probably be to wait as long as possible.

I was 26 and 28 and I'm very happy with that. DC are now 12 & 14 and I'm 40.

DH was mid 40s when they were born and late 50s now, he's a bit unsympathetic towards teen drama but that's definitely personality rather than age!

38 and 42. Far too late, and gap too big. I will be too old when they are young adults. Say 30 and 32 would have been better. I had met DH but didn't feel I wanted dc at that point.

I had them at 33 and 36.
Definitely wish I had them younger, but it took 18 months to conceive DC1.

26 and 28 - if I could guarantee the same kids I would have had them a bit later.

37 when twins were born. I wish I had been 10 years younger but infertility got in the way.

My parents had me at 27 and they are young grandparents compared to their grandparents on their dads side who were 40 when they had him.

Career wise though I had them at the right time as Couldn't have afforded them otherwise

18 & 27 I'm now 34

18- unplanned pregnancy, I was way too young

27 I felt was a good age and I noticed a major difference in how I raised both of them

16 and wouldn't change it. At the time it seemed like the end of the world, but looking back... Nope. It worked for me.

I was young and fit and strong and had unending energy to run around after her. Sleepless nights were no big deal because I was used to it, and I had the capacity to do a million things at once.

My large family rallied around me and I had loads of support and help, way more than I'd likely be able to get now they're all older and into their retirements.

I was still able to finish school and have a career.

I'm now in my early 30's with a young teen. Few more years she's off to uni and I still feel young and full of energy and time.

Only downside is all my friends in their 30's are just starting and they're all knackered with newborns while I feel like I'm transitioning into a totally different phase of life.

I had DD at 34, DS at 35. Maybe a couple of years earlier, but I wouldn’t have wanted to have missed out on partying in my 20s. As well as building my career, ofc!

I had children at 22, 33 and 40.

I sometimes wish I had them all closer together, but horrendous HG pregnancies where I spent more time in hospital on a drip desperately trying every drug going (none worked), meant that a) I was too scared and b) It was best to wait until they were as old as possible to minimise any upset that I was either in hospital or laying in a dark room from 5 weeks until birth. My first pregnancy in particular was horrific but I was completely useless with all 3, constantly being sick, right up to laying on the table for the section.

They are all so close, despite the age gap. I look at them and I would have loved to have seen them all little and playing together.

Then again, I love being a parent, so this way, I get to experience it for as long as possible before they are all adults.

Had my two at 27 and 29 which was perfect.

I partied hard between 16-26 then got married and had kids. We've always had a social life, albeit a different one when they were younger!

I'm now 47 with one at Uni and one going next year which is great. My sister is still a way from finishing her school run days which I do not envy at all!

Maybe 2-3 years earlier to give us time to really consider having a third child. Our window to decide on that is now quite small and I think we'll stick with two, but more time / less pressure to decide would have been nice. Had mine at 33 and 36. Time seems to speed up once you hit 35!