To ask what age you had your DC and whether in hindsight would you have had them earlier/younger?

[EllaBellax]

DH and I are keen to start a family. Keen to hear from others who have been there and done it what they would now consider the 'perfect age' to have DC

I was a proper grown up with my own house at 23

mellon no way are you too old at 41, at dd school I am one of younger mums and I am 41 and youngest dd is now 5. Many of them are well over 40.

My friend is also well over 40 when she had her ds.

Its how you feel, do you have good genes, are you fit and healthy? My older friend is far far fitter than me

18: I should of waited as i struggle with work, debt and has put me off having another

On the other hand my DD is the only reason I have come through depression. I genuinely believe I would not be here if it wasn't for her.

32 with my first, almost 38 with my second. Felt perfect for me (a good age gap too).

25, 28 and 31. I felt very young with the first (pre-empted 90% of my friends by 5-7 years) but recovered quickly and easily from an awful birth and had lots of energy (not that I felt that at the time!). DC3, I took noticeably longer to recover from pregnancy and birth, but as others have said I was much more patient. Feel too bloody old for any more now at 34! seeing friends struggle with starting out now, compromising careers they've worked at for a decade and lifestyles they've become accustomed to, I'm glad we started youngish.

33 for my first. That was bang on. I was (just about) at a stage in my career where it was comfortable and made sense financially.

We delayed having a second because we moved countries when DS was 18 months and for a variety of reasons, it wasn't a good time to get pregnant until we were there about a year. I'm now 36 and have been trying for 6 months with no success. Really wish I was doing it sooner.

37 and 39. I'm now 59 and both are at now at uni. we had 20 years together before DC.
If I could wind the clock back I'd have started at 33ish. No sooner though.

First and last baby at 39. He was ivf so it all took a while. Would ideally have had him at 34ish but we didn't get married til I was 33.

First at 34 (nearly 35) which was perfect for us. Although we're a few months into TTC no 2 and, having just turned 37, I'm getting a bit twitchy and wondering whether I should have got cracking with it all a year or two earlier. If I do manage to get knocked up again then I'll be more than happy with how things have worked out.

I was 22, 26 and 29 - my first was harder as I was the first among my friends to have a baby but no regrets

30- older. Wish I'd established myself workwise.

It's not always that simple as choosing when.

I was 33, then 43 when I had mine.

Not out of choice, multiple miscarriage meant I had no control or choice.

24. DD was a surprise but a happy one. The only thing I wish is that I'd persevered with my PhD as I now feel like that will have to wait until we're done with babies. I'm now 31 and we regret leaving such a gap - but we're having fun trying!

24 and 29.

Felt like I spent most of my 20s being pregnant (several miscarriages before and after) and most of my friends are in great careers and travelling the world.

But it takes so much energy to be on your feet and SMILE ALL THE DAMN TIME that I couldn't imagine doing it 10 years later (although I have absolute respect for those who choose to do so).

I am looking forward to my mid thirties where I will have an 11 year old and a 6 year old, but still be young enough to have some fun

Ooh should add recovery from my c sections was ridiculously easy. Especially with DS1.

Dd at 21, ds at 23, youngest is now 4 and doubt il have anymore.

Don't regret it, maybe wished I waited a few more years.. but overal still with the dad to both kids, have a mortgage etc so everything is fine.

I had my DC at 23, 25, 26 and 28. My DH is a bit older than me and was keen to start don't think he anticipated 4 under 6 though!

The early years were a bit mad but I was young and energetic! I'm 32 now, youngest goes to school this year and I'm beginning to plan some career progression for the next 10 years. Childcare will cripple us if I'm not fairly selective about what I do but that's more to do with the number of DC we chose to have rather than the age I was.

The way I look at it, yes I was probably 'older' than my contemporaries during my 20s but they are starting families now and my DC are more independent. I missed out on nights out, hen does and heavy drinking but that was never really me anyway... I'll be working into my 70s the way retirement ages are going so have got another 35-40 years to develop a fulfilling career! It's likely that I'll be at the younger end of the spectrum when becoming a grandparent and that appeals as well.

31 and 34. Been married for 8 years, financially stable - good jobs. Perfect time for us. The age gap is great too.

I think you make it work, whatever age you happen to be. Completely agree that if you waited for life to be perfect, you'd never have babies!

I did lose touch with school/uni friends in my 20s as we were at such different life stages. But they are catching me up now, we're reconnecting and I'm seen as an expert!

I had my 1st at 33, 2nd at 36, 3rd at 38 and will have my 4th at 41...

I wish I had started at 30...so I would've had my last at 38...but I didn't get married until I was 31 so it didn't work out that way...

Personally I wanted some life/work/travel experience before I settled down so 30 definitely ideal for me...

First at 31, last (4th) at 41. Can't honestly say I felt noticeably different in terms of tiredness etc but I have always had lots of energy anyway. No regrets over when I had them. I am probably more calm now than I was in my 20s. I don't have any support from family but wouldn't have had at any age so that hasn't been a factor.

Pregnant with first, just turned 37. Now is the best age, because I wasn't ready to have them before!

33 and 36 ... in retrospect I would have started earlier and had more! Am 44 now and love that the experiences I'm able to have now I can also share with them. Wish I'd done a gap year overseas when I was in my 20s though. Planning on stalking my kids when they (hopefully) do it to make up for it!

First at 18, twins at 19 and the fourth at 21. I wouldn't have changed a thing! I'm 48 now, all 4 are through Uni and have families of their own. We're enjoying travelling and doing our own thing.

40 and 44. Far too old if you ask me and if I'd known how brilliant it is to have children instead of spending from 32-39 wondering if I'd actually like to have children I'd have done it a lot sooner.

Anyway such is life but at least having them this late means we've got all our socialising, fancy holidays etc out of our systems and we are very comfortable financially.