What do you consider is a realistic age for having a last baby?

[GlitteringJasper]

Purely based on your own personal opinion?

What age is the 'cut off' in your mind for someone having their final baby?

Really interested to hear views on this!

Am dithering!

I think it is as easy to judge women for having their dcs very young as it is when they are "too old". And most of our attitudes would change depending on whether we had fallen pg accidentally at 21, or struggled through infertility to a bfp at 43 (for instance). People are clearly thinking that too old = whatever age they had their last at+2, or some such formula!

She is lucky to have a loyal and protective friend like you Red

Personally 42...

Thankyou. She's wonderful and I just want her to be happy.

I think 36. The having babies bit isn't the problem, it's the being able to cope with an attention demanding little person for the next 20 years!

I'm 32 and about to start IVF. My ideal cut off point is 35. I wouldn't want to be 45 with a five year old. To me, it would feel wrong (personal opinion, not judging anyone). Life doesn't always go the way you want it to though (if it did I wouldn't be having IVF!).

Early 40s I suppose.

For me personally I want to be done by 40. Purely so I can get have a massive piss up for my 40th. That's shallow and whatever but that's sort of what I'm thinking.

I wouldn't even consider a child at all for a good few years and I am 27. So ideally between 35 and 45 I'd say.

I'm 31, my DH is 32 and our first DS has recently tired one. DH is pretty adamant we won't have another child as if we wait a few years (which would be plan as I couldn't cope with a smaller age gap) my DH had said he'd be too old to start all over again at 35. To be honest I'd be a bit twitchy about trying for a baby in my mid-late 30's too.

I'm amazed people think 35 is too old. I think it's about right to start ! I had an older mother so perhaps that has influenced me.

I realise the risks biologically obviously just in my head I can't sort of make it fit to want to start any you get than 35 IYSWIM

*younger

Thirty-five is TOO OLD!?

If I'd managed to successfully plan my own attempts reproduction it would have ended up being between 32-38 or maybe up to 42.

I had one in my 20s and I think anyone who ever has kids people who do it younger than 30 are INSANE. IN. SANE.

Oh thank god it's not just me then.

Had my last at 44. It was the easiest birth of the healthiest child but I think that's probably enough now.

It depends on the individual, everyone is different and has different circumstances. For me personally, 30. As my son will be 20 when I'm 37. As for the ladies who assume women who have kids young don't have careers. I've been to university, excelled and now have a great career.

45 or so. Definitely not older than 50. It was 28 up until last year when I got pregnant at 29

Based on my current levels of sleep deprivation, pain from blocked ducts and general grumpiness, DS is on a warning that if he doesn't buck his ideas up soon he will most certainly be a last baby unless the next coil fails as well. And I'm 25.

...But he's gorgeous really so hopefully we will have another one. Or two... For which I think the cut-off point would be about 40? The thought of him reaching any older than 16 before we had to start all over again is mildly soul destroying. Ideally about 35 tbh. Before life intervened in its inimitable way though I wasn't even planning to start until mid-30s.

For me, I always had 40 as my cut off point. Luckily I had DD2 at 39 but for other people its up to them. Personally I would rather had my kids younger when I was much fitter but life didn't work out that way.

My thinking was when they are 20 I'll be 60 and I could just about cope with that.

About 40. I'm a new mum at 34 - recently met a nice group of other new mums. We range from 24 to 38. The most competent and confident is the 24 yr old. Apart from biology, I'm not sure age matters.....

I was 35 and 39, nearly 40 and DD2 was definitely my 'last chance' . Having said that , I was reasonably fit and was able to afford a cleaner, my own car etc which made life easier . My Dds are now 29 and 25 and we just managed to see them through Uni before retiring ( me at 60 on my final salary and state pensions!) . It was exactly from choice but it did mean I was well established in a career and able to return to it when DH was made redundant when DD2 was 21 months
My main regret is that if they follow my pattern I will be quite an elderly grandmother

I think other factors such as health, other children, housing and finances are far more important than age. The joy of reaching my (late) forties is not caring what anyone thinks any way. Which will be useful when my youngest starts school just before I turn 50!

Friend adopted an 18m old when she was 50 . Child is now 18 , friend is 65. Apart from when they first had her (I've never seen anyone look quite so tired) I think she has coped fine . It does help that they arent poor though.