Is 26 considered young to have a baby?

[Niki93]

Hi. Im 26, been with my partner 4 years now. We bought our first house in 2018, both work full time and we just about get on in life fine. We arent massive high earners, but we arent idiots with money, we prioritise and save up so everything works out well. Without sounding at all egotistical, we’re probably abit more ahead of others in our friendship group in terms of maturity/goals etc. But that’s not to say we’re Any better than anyone of course, we just put our heads together, work well together and work hard for what we have really. And now with a baby on the way we’re deffo growing up even more and starting a new chapter with new priorities. Which we enjoy!

We announced our pregnancy in November. Im due in May. Its my first pregnancy and we’re very excited. Everyones been over the moon for us, its been lush. But, one thing ive noticed a few people mention is categorising me as a ‘young mam’. I didnt really think this was the case. Is it?

Im not offended at all. Im just abit curious. I considered 16-23 young ish. Not 26. I know a mixture of people who’ve had children at different life stages. My cousins 30 and still wants to wait untill she has children which is absolutely fine. Then my mam had my sister at 18 and still managed well untill me and my brother came along a few years later. I thought 26 was more medium average age?

Not really a AIBU questions, just asking out of curisosiry if people would class 26 as young to have a child, or not. :) whats your thoughts x

Young end of normal

I had DS1 at 23, and was shocked that the midwives thought that was young.

I mean I'm 24 and the thought is literally so far out of my zone in the next few years it's scary. Like I'm just getting started on my career and wouldn't try until 31+ but I know loads from the school who had them at 18-22

In my social circle, yes, it's young. But then we all went to uni, most of us had gap year(s) prior to starting our degrees and then did a post grad of some sort. So not starting work until 23/24 ish. Careers to establish so no kids in the first five years at least. I don't think I know anyone from that group who had children before 29/30.

According to google the average age in the UK to have your first baby is 30! So 26 is ‘younger than average’ if you go by the figures. Apparently this has risen quite fast though- a decade ago it was 25.

I’m 26 myself (about to turn 27) and I’d say it’s a real mix out of people I went to school with- plenty have toddlers and even children starting school now, a lot who went to uni have married and are beginning to announce first pregnancies on FB and then there are still many who absolutely have no plans for kids for a good few years.

I'm 20 and I'm pregnant with my first (planned) baby. Not "on benefits or working in primark" which apparently most 17-20 year old mothers do 😂 I'm a university student who will be taking a break, completing my degree then doing my phD, I have been with my fiancé since I left school who is an electrician and I have my own house with him. It's not about the age, it's about being emotionally and financially ready for a child. A 20 year old could be ready whereas a 30 year may not be, completely depends on the person.

I'm 26 and currently pregnant with baby number 2 😁

25 when I had my first and now 27 due my second in March! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I didn't feel too young when we planned to have children, and I definitely don't feel young now 🙈 I think it's all subjective and about what stage of your life you're at. I'm the only one of my friends with children, but then again I'm the only one married and one of the only ones who owns a house. It's one of those funny ages where people can be in such different places.
Congratulations!

I fell pregnant at 17 so no 26 isn't young or old!

It is perfectly possible to have children at 26 AND be a university educated professional!

I had my first at 21, so 26 doesn’t seem young to me. It just feels like somewhere in the middle and a great age to have a baby.

Of course it is, Tor, but it isn't the case for anyone I know!

No it's not young to be a mum. Only some of the snotty MC will look down on you.

I had my first at 19 - definitely a young mum in the playground. This followed three more at 22,29 and 32!

Don't worry op you will be fine!!!

It is perfectly possible to have children at 26 AND be a university educated professional!

Absolutely. I went to university and had a management position in a very competitive industry by the time I had a baby at 27.

It was tough, if I’m honest. And it was lonely at times having nobody else at work in the same position. I was the only one skipping after work networking drinks to do the nursery pick up. But I did it.

And at 42, I am now excelling in my career and I’m SO glad I’ve got teenagers and not little ones.

It's only young I think because we "date" longer these days, stay in education longer and it takes longer to buy a house! Also we have more disposable income to do more I guess, no bad thing. I'm not sure what "class" I am but I'm university educated both of us with professional careers, own our house but were high school sweethearts who married young and had our first in our early 20s. I accept that's very young these days but we've achieved no less than friends who've had children later, we've travelled since having children. I have a few friends who did the similar to us but I know an unusual amount of people who met their spouses in school! It's not the same amongst my colleagues.

@TigerOnATrain
Bit of a judgemental comment.
I had my first at what you would deem a young age. I’ve completed a degree, run my own successful business and own my house outright. So no, we don’t all work at primark and some of us have got lives that have gone somewhere.

Lol @ those talking about young for mc's.
I live in London (some of the time) I was 20 and 23 when I had my 2, albeit 31 years ago, am I middle class? Not sure? My parents were professionals, so is my Husband, my sons privately educated, we own 3 holiday properties, not for rental, maybe things have changed, I know people are leaving it later to conceive, but for a lot of people it's because of waiting for financial stability. Under 35 is the best time to conceive, medically speaking and from a personal perspective I would never change how we did it, I never wanted my children to have old parents and now at 31 and 34. we are still young, the thought of having a 10 year old now is scary, although I would love grandchildren, my 2 sons and partners still like to party, so I wont be a young Nana

Oops, meaning my sons are 31 and 34, we are 54 and 55, my husband was 20 when 1st was born

I don't think it us a young age at all

I'd say 26-30 is a normal age! I'm 20 and so many of my Facebook friends had babies recently aged between 16-20. One even had one years ago at 12.

In my opinion 16-20/21 is young and anything above is normal if you're self sufficient. (Not living off parents etc)

I consider it very young. I don’t know anyone of my generation who had a baby under 30.

@Rubyupbeat

With all due respect, you're talking over thirty years ago. Yes, you sound stereotypically middle class and I can assure you, nowadays, it's very unusual for a middle class person to have a baby when they are 20. Like you said, your children are in their thirties and still partying and not likely to have children soon. That is far more usual in mc circles.

I would say under 25 is a younger mum, 25-35 is the usual age for starting kids, and 35+ is an older mum for a first child.

Yes, it’s young.