What age would you quietly think is young to have a baby?

[Bebebaba]

Times are changing and first time parents definitely seem a lot older around where I am. Myself and DH are quite young but would like a family. Just curious to know what age MNers would privately think was young, or too young!

Below 30 but age is just one factor there's obviously a lot more things to factor in.

Under 21 is too young. 22 to 26 is a bit young. 27 to 34 is the ideal age. 35 to 40 is OK but pushing it a bit. 41+ is too old.

JMO.

I think twenties is a great age to have children.

under 30yo. I find it hard to think that most people have achieved what they want re career/travel/stability/financial etc before then.

under 20 maybe. i was 23 with my first, now 26 and due my third in may. on the flip side i can’t believe how long some people wait. i remember with my first having this overwhelming feeling of ‘thank god i did this young, i have more years with her’ it makes me sad to think if i’d left it to the ‘average’ age i’d potentially see 7 years less of her life

25 or under is too young imo. I think 30 is about right.

I would say under 25 is young. Anything under 21 is too young imo. Saying that, I had first DS at 21 now expecting DS2 at 27. A colleague couldn't believe I already nearly have 2 kids at my age!

There are quite a few advantages of having kids young - like starting early to mid 20s.

I agree though, it does some people are having babies older these days. A lot I know are 30 and above having their first

I had my first at 22, it's young but not too young like a teen pregnancy, 2nd at 28 and 3rd at 30, I always wanted children by the time I was 30 so I got what I wanted, I was mature for my age and I had a very strong maternal urge and there's no way I could of put it off.

Under 21

I'm really intrigued by the replies saying under 30 and people need to "live a little" before kids. What does that mean? Am I not living a little with kids? What was so special that I missed by having kids in my twenties? Can I live a little in my late 40s when they've moved out and yours are still at school?

Why can't people achieve life goals when they already have kids?

They can. I did. Degree, career, travel, home ownership all came post kids.

I agree! I was 20 and 24 when I had my children. First was born in 1973 and it wasn't unusual. In fact I was deemed to be 'an elderly' mother when I had my second!!! But our expectations were different.

Not better - just different. We didn't expect to have everything, possession wise, before we started a family. I only got a washing machine about 6 months after my daughter was born and had a second hand sofa for quite a long time. It was what a lot of people did. I have never regretted it. I had a lot more energy in my 20's and 30's than by the time I reached my 40's. I've had plenty time, since they became Adults to do what I want to do.

I can see the advantage, though of being more settled, with more money behind you before having a family. But I worry about people leaving it too long and then having difficulty in conceiving. Each to their own - but I would say under 18/20 is probably too young for most people

People are just trying to get to the point where they have somewhere big enough to live and a fairly stable financial situation. For a lot of people, that doesn't happen until mid 30s. Not fancy stuff, just a decent place to live.

I've always had secondhand sofas. Washing machines - not many laundrettes these days and washing machines don't cost very much.

I think austerity has done a lot to push the age of parenthood up. I'd imagine in the 90s there was more of a safety net if things went wrong.

Just posted on another thread i was 16 had my first 18 had my second.
I know shocker.
There both adults now i wouldnt change it for the world.
But wouldnt recommend it either its hard work without support but i did it.

I think the best age to start a family would be in your 20s early 30s but not 40s and 50s.

Completely depends on the person and situation. I don’t think you can declare ‘under 25 is too young’ because it’s not for some people. There’s a big range of ages for when someone is personally ready for a baby.

Im not too keen on threads like these and similarly the ones where posters declare that ‘40 and above is too old to have a baby’ feels very judgemental and like there’s only a tiny window of time when it’s okay to give birth

Under 30

i agree i didnt miss out on anything TBH.
My 2 have moved out now and im loving it im still young and doing fun things.
More confident now than what i was.
But tbh i dont think id want to do parenting in late 40 early 50s.
Just because you become a young mum dont mean to say you cant make it in life.
Im proof of that.

I'm not disagreeing with you at all - but I don't know where the 90's came into it? I was talking about the 70's??

Ideal age is 25 - 35

How depressing.

This

I think under 25 is young but 23 and under seems very young to me.

I started at 28 and felt like I’d waited ages! I was still the first of my friends though.