To ask if you think 24 is a young Mum?

[Cleo2628]

just wondering your opinions. I’m 24 with a 7 month old.

No. But then I was 19.

I'm 28 now with three, and we're done.

I like the way we did it, have 'em young and by the time they're grown you've plenty of time to spend with the hopefully millions of grandkids.

The average age to become a first time mum is I think 29? So yes, 24 is young but not that young.

I think that's average as in it is the arithmetic mean; the mode or median age would (I suspect) be different. In my experience, it bifurcates; you get one group of mums who are early 20s (some late teens) and another who are mid/late 30s (some early 40s). You meet very few people who have babies in their late 20s.....

I also think it depends where you live. I wouldn’t consider 24 particularly young. However, in the area we currently live in it would definitely be considered young by a lot of people - I have had comments about my age and I had DD at 28!

Nah, I was 20 back in 1987.

And just in case the Daily Mail is snooping, I had a full time job as a civil servant, a husband and a mortgage.

Biut very interested to hear why neither me or DH would be entitled to any assistance if we lost our jobs to pay the mortgage as we weren't over 25.....

I was 22 when i had my son. At the time i didn't think of myself as being very young but looking back 10 years later and having a more professional job working with people in their late 30's/early 40's who have really young first children, it does make me think how young i really was.

On the other hand, i'm younger than all of my co-workers and I'm the one who hasn't been up half the night with a crying baby/toddler so you have that to look forward to

Nope. I had my first at 18. I was young. 24 is the norm.

Younger than average but not what I think of a 'young mum' being. Had my first at 29 and I now now wish I'd started a bit earlier. We'd like a third but probably wob't be able to for another good couple of years and I wonder if I will want another baby close to 40!

24 seems like a good age to start having children, the more I think about it!

Yes, young to me. Though surely that’s all relative as to who is answering your question?

I couldn’t think of nothing worse than having dc in my 20’s. I was busy travelling and getting pissed up in my job. Had so much fun, had loads of money, and had my first house (on my own) and a flash car.

I’ve slowed down now I’m in my forties with 2dc. It’s now cocoa and bed before 10 😂

It’s young but not ridiculously so.

I had my one and only at 24, and by that time I had been married for a couple of years, graduated from university before I met my DH and was working in an established job. Now a few years on and I’m glad I had a child earlier in life as it’s much easier to go on to graduate study and further my career now she’s at school and quite independent from an early age.

My Mum had me at 23. She had finished college and was married and working when she had me. I'm glad I have a younger mum, it did make me think that I wanted children quite young.

I did exactly what was expected of me in my “social and professional circle” to quote a poster upthread - established a career, got married at 29, waited a few years, had my first baby at 31. I then couldn’t have too close a gap because I had to go back to work for a bit, then conceived far more slowly the second time around so had my second at 35 1/2. I am now facing the realisation that to go back to my full time professional job with two will be the end of me, and I’d really like another, but at 36 and trouble conceiving last time am going to really have to crack on with it if I want another.

There must be loads of professional women in exactly the same boat as me having done things “by the book” and it leaves you a really short window in which to have children, and puts you in a position in which you invest a lot in your career before testing its compatibility with family life.

If I had my time again I’d have had kids straight out of university in my early 20s, then waited til my late 20s to enter professional work once they were at school. I don’t know why women are encouraged to do the opposite.

Yes and no. my much older sister had her first at 24. I thought she was absolutely ancient when she had my niece. But then I got to her age and surpassed it by many years when I had my first.

I would say it is young" I was 23 when I had my first.

If you have to ask, the answer is usually yes.

I do think 24 is quite young. Actually I think anyone under 30 with kids is a young mum. Most people are 30+ nowadays because they want to live their lives before committing to kids.

Not really, youngish maybe but not too young.

No, not at all.

Why?

Nope. I had my first at 18. I was young. 24 is the norm.

No it's not. 24 is at least 4 years younger than the average age of first time mothers.

The Office of National Statistics records this information. You are very welcome to view the latest data: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsbyparentscharacteristicsinenglandandwales/2016

No, but then at 24 I already had a 9 year old and a 4 year old.

I gave birth to my eldest just after I turned 17. I was young but coped as well, if not better than many older mums, especially since my DS has a life shortening illness and needs copious amount of medical care everyday. I have 4 kids now (I'm 31) and when they're older I'll still be young enough to live a little.

I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who had babies that young. There were one or two who started families in their late 20s. Most were 30s. I was 38. So I would find it young.

I had mine at 20 in 2007, And its a fate, sadly DP and i split when dd was 5, I've met an amazing man, 11 years older and I've gained 3 amazing stepkids too! I dont want Anymore and neither does he, I will be in my late 30s and him 50 when we can travel etc.

Yes. Not teenage young, but on the young side.

It is young statistically. It's not 'too young'.