If you had the ability to determine the perfect age for your children to become parents, what age would you choose?

[YouMayHaveToSettleForLess]

If you're open to entertaining a hypothetical scenario, and if you had to make a decision, what age would you hypothetically choose for your children to become parents?

When they’re settled in a loving relationship with a home and some level of financial security. We had that by 25 so having dd1 at 26 was great and dtds at 29.

Lots of our friends are having dc late 30s and early 40s, and they’re happy but they didn’t have that in their 20s.

Mid to late 20's.

I had mine at 29 and 32 and I think it was the Perfect age. I had had plenty of fun and built my career a bit but had plenty of energy still.

But round here (leafy village near London ) most have their babies much later and some mums looked down on me like they thought I was some kind of teen mum. (Admittedly I had a youthful complexion but i was also a pretty experienced professional if they'd taken the time to find out -not that it should matter, but it clearly mattered to them). Thankfully there were some other lovely mums of every age who became lifelong friends.

But depending where you live, these days you can be made to feel like a very young mum

Never this world is not a safe place anymore

32-35. I have actively advised DC to get a solid higher education, travel and have fun and get established in a career before they have kids, if they want them. My DC was unplanned in my mid 20s and I have many regrets. They’d have had a much better start in life and more opportunities if I’d been older and more established.

30-35

We started trying at 36 and it took a while

Between 25 - 31, depending how many they want to have. So, 30/31 fine for just one, but to get started at the earlier end if they are planning more.

There's no perfect age. I'd say when they are in a relationship which is emotionally and financially stable, where they both want children in the here and now (not hypothetical future) and that they honestly see enduring. Might be in 20s, 30s or 40s 🤷

28-32 for a man, 20-25 for a woman.

I’m very bitter about having been raised to think the best time for a woman to have babies is in her thirties, because unfortunately my ovaries stopped working when I was 32.

One of the most successful women I know had her children age 19-21 and then did university etc afterwards. I think that makes so much more sense dor women, if they can find a good partner early on.

This is funny speaking as an ‘old person’ as years ago I would have said 25-30 but now I would say hang on or don’t bother. The world is shitty right now and I think if I was of reproducing age now I couldn’t bring a child into this carnage.

32 - 35

Depends when they meet a decent partner.

20s …..definately no older

I would say 30-35.

To me it's old enough to have gained some good life experience, yet still young enough to be active with their DC while young, and have a decent life after their DC grow up.

While I do want grandkids I would advise never.

Early 30s
I was 26 when I had my dd and think in retrospect I wish I’d waited another 5 years or so.

30, you have had a good run at the foundations of career building and when the kids leave home you’ll still have some life in you. I had mine in my late 30’s and I am permanently knackered (Obviously thats just me, there are mums older than me bouncing around happily while I drag myself around).

25-28 so that I can be young enough to support with childcare, still working but potentially look at partial retirement to help DC and give DGC the memories of time with DGP when young. Wouldn't want to be too old to run about after them.

Its more about circumstances. When they’ve been with their partners at least 5 years, lived with them for at least 3 of those years, when they have good careers, good salary and their own house and savings. And had plenty of fun and ‘selfish’ times.

So probably not before 25, most likely later to have all that in place.

30

young enough to have a second without feeling rushed, but old enough to have established a career

28. I had mine late and wish I'd had them earlier.

Mid twenties to mid thirties. Anything younger and I feel it’s difficult to already be in a fully committed relationship, fully financially stable etc. Anything older and there’s slightly increased risk of health problems. So I feel like this age range is ideal, though a few years either side wouldn’t really matter. I had my first child at 25 and plan to have my last biological child by 35. Would love to foster/adopt later on if I’m in the position to do so.

Late 20s for women, mid 30s for men (who have the luxury of not having to worry so much about a biological clock!)

30ish. Selfishly so I may be still alive and young enough to enjoy them (I'd still be over 70 though).