Opinions - ideal age to have yor first baby?

[Violakins]

Just curious really... I’m pregnant with my first in my early 30s. Before this point, having DC was not an option for me as I’d not met anyone suitable, nor was I financially stable enough. My youngest sister however is 24, married (her DH is early 30s), own their home and earn very good salaries. She has recently told me that they are TTC as they feel that now is the perfect time. It seems so young to me, but it got me thinking, what is the ideal age to have your first?

The ideal age to have children is when you are mentally and emotionally (and financially) ready to hand the rest of your life over to putting someone else first.
Meeting someone else who you love and who feels the same about you is a bonus

Everyone is different.

I have been mentally and emotionally ready for a baby since I was 26. Started trying then and it took us a lot longer than anticipated. We now have a 5 month old at 31 years old. She is lucky to live in a financially stable household and ill only have to work 2 days a week after Mat leave which wouldn't have been an option when we were 26.

There's so many factors surrounding being ready. You just have to go for it/

Personally, I think mid 20s is a great age providing they are financially secure and emotionally ready.

Years ago I remember reading that 27 was the ideal age from an all round perspective. A couple of years doesn't make much difference though (I would say that, I was 29 hee hee).

I daresay the 'ideal' age has gone up a bit now with people settling down later but I don't pay too much attention to reports like that, everyone is ready at a different time.

I think about 27-32

Early 30s is probably ideal if everything else is in the right place. Gives time to establish careers, buy a home and have lived but also time if there are fertility issues. I was 27 (unplanned) but much younger than the local average and have been mistaken as much younger. We bought a flat in London, were married and earned well, I was a SAHM, but all the other mums were at least five years older, many ten years plus, so I felt out of place and struggled to fit in. I still do but I’m back at work and can escape. Despite that I didn’t feel particularly young and was just as capable at that age as I would be almost ten years later now.

I think 25- early 30s.

I was 25 for my first and done by 27.

It was the right time for us for several reasons, we were financially stable, we wanted DC and most importantly there's a history of early menopause in my family.

There is no universal right time. It's a how long is a piece of string question.

It's also one of the things which often doesn't go to plan - I know someone who had her children young aiming to travel and enjoy a healthy relatively youthful early retirement - she had 4 kids between the ages of 23 and 27 and she and her husband had pension plans in place to allow them to retire comfortably in their mid 50s as long as they both worked full time til then - the kids were all teens when she had an unexpected unplanned pregnancy at 40, and she and her husband couldn't bring themselves to consider abortion so they started the baby stage again in their early 40s and will still have a child at school in their mid 50s, even though the first child will be over 30...

I had DD at 34 and although we were financially ready I feel I was too old physically. A large part of the reason we're not having another is I feel far too old for pregnancy/the newborn phase. Before having her, I thought 40 was my personal cut off.

I think it also depends on how many children you want and age gaps. I had my first early 30s and thought it was a good age but by the time we were ready for the second I felt a bit old

I'd say when you feel emotionally ready too. I've been with DH since i was 17. We had 7 together before TTC our first, we moved out together, went on holidays, learnt to drive, got our no claims up so it was cheap enough. Started our lives together. We got married at 21.
We was ready for the next part of life, we've always been home bodies, we don't party, drink, go clubbing, whatever you want to call it. We're like minded and have always been very settled. We has DS at 25 and it was the right choice for us. If dates work out accordingly we'll have DC2 just before my 27th birthday!
We are not well off and have no qualifications, we were never going to be able to afford to buy a house, moving in together at 19 means we can't save a deposit, we're as financially stable as we can be and are good at living on a low budget. Minimum wage type jobs are the only ones we've ever had in different retail settings. But we do okay with a good budget plan in place and DS is loved and happy and perfectly loved after and healthy!

I was 31 for my first and that has worked out well for me (although I'd have liked to start TTC a bit earlier if DH had been up for it). Mainly because I had progressed well in my career by then, making it possible for me to take several years as a SAHM and be still able to return to a good job.

Very early 30s. Twenties spent developing yourself your career and travelling then a baby while you are still relatively young. Bar the odd outlier basically everyone I know that has had children has done this.

I was 28 and second at 31. I think that was ok but feel under pressure to decide about third because I want to be done by 33.

I personally think 27-32

Before 27 and you may miss out on your ‘youth’

After 32 and your body gets older, and you’re older for all the later stages. For example, when your child is 18 you’ll be 50.

But it depends on the person! I’ve seen t down well at both young and older ages. I also think t depends on how many children you want - if it’s only one, it matters a lot less than 4

I was 27, health and maturity wise it was fine but not great career wise (because I'd done a 2 yr masters and then was still entry level at work) In my case it would have been better to be younger or a bit older I think, but most people are more sorted with work by 27!

There's a big difference between your body being physically ready and you being emotionally/financially ready. I think I read that physically the best age is between 17-22 but for obvious reasons most women are much older than that when they have their first. From my own experience I would say the earlier the better, providing the finances add up. I am nearly 40 and cannot imagine having a baby now, I tire easily and have lost a lot of patience the older I have got.

For me it would be about 30 as I think it's really important to have lived a bit, seen the world, enjoyed each other and enjoyed having no responsibilities.

Oh for the luxury of choice.

I had my first baby at 25, because I was in the same position as your sister and it felt like the right time. I was really glad that I did, because DH and I have subsequently both developed fertility problems, and have just had to undergo IVF for our second child, and it has taken four years to get pregnant (we're now 31 and 35). So I'm very glad that we had DS when we did! That said, our financial situation is now different than when we had DS, we sold our house to fund fertility treatment so we now rent, and we have different jobs so earn less!

23-27. You have more energy. Your body is generally better adapted to the demands. You are still much more used to life changing and are more flexible to cope with that. I honestly think the older you are the harder it gets.

I think early 20s means you have missed as a pp said, your youth and also lack perspective for your children of a similar age. 30s,meant I buggered up my career. I'm in my 40s now and feel ancient. There is no good time.

I had my first at 20, second at 26 and third at 35. 26 was easiest both mentally and physically. Third was hardest, but financially best. 35 was my absolute cut off- I'm 38 now and couldn't do it again!