To ask what age you think I should ideal to have children

[thedaywewillremeber]

I had my first in my early 20’s I wish I had waited till I was at least 27. My friend who had her children late 30’s wishes she had hers the same age I had mine. Aibu to ask what age is ideal to you?

I wish I had started earlier than I did (30) as then I would probably have had more than two.

However, I did have a wild and fabulous time travelling/working overseas during my twenties which I look back on fondly

I had my first at 31. Pretty good time IMO but if I went back I might have started 2 / 3 years earlier to give me time for a 4th but circumstances weren’t really great 2/3 years earlier

Had first at 30. Not bad timing but I reckon 28ish would have been even better.

I was 35, my husband 40 due to infertility. We were 29 & 34 when we started trying which would have been our ideal. I felt we were a little later in life particularly for subsequent children and husband's age.

Beginning of 30s. That gives you enough time to study/party/travel/work/save/maybe buy a house/grow up while still being young enough to have multiple kids.

Purely anecdotal but all women I know that had children age 23 or younger regret their timing later in life (sometimes much later but still). Or they never really grew up and find themselves quite helpless at middle age (looking at you MIL, taking a bus or talking to a bank employee isn't scary).

Too old and you have less energy and higher chance of fertility problems or less kids than you desired.

I think 27-32 is a good age to start, id go earlier the more kids you plan to have!

Late twenties/early thirties.

I was 25, accidental pregnancy, wish I had more time to sort my life out, get on my career path, buy a house, spend more time just me and my partner, etc.

I’d say early 30s. Then you’ve had your twenties to yourself to go to uni, build a career, travel or anything you want. I think that’s a good time to be ready to settle down.

I have 3 Born when I was 30-35. It was right for me on balance but it depends on a lot of things, there's no ideal, pros and cons for all options. A lot of people's planning goes awry - a friend I met at antenatal was having her suprise 4th at 44 having had 3 children in her early to mid 20s (same father, still married) and admitted ruefully that they'd been saving and planning for early retirement and travelling in their late 40s/ early 50s but couldn't bring themselves to consider not going through with surprise dc4. They're late 50s/ early 60s now and still working with teen dc4 mid GCSEs.

I had DS at 22, I should have waited until I was financially secure but in hindsight I'm glad I had him young, I wouldn't want to be running around after young kids in my 40s.

I had m

I was 27. I wished it was a couple of years before as I felt too old.

It’s never the right time...

Based on how my life, I’d say early to mid 30’s as by then we’d already had lots of fun and had bought a nice house, were in a good place in our careers etc.

27-30

I had my first at 33 and my last at 42. I spent my twenties earning a Masters degree, buying a home and traveling.

Probably before you've established a career?

I don’t think there is an ideal age. They are pros and cons for all ages.

Ideal? Probably around 29-34 but I wouldn't judge those who have kids before or after that.

28 - 34

42. Great age for me. I was fit and full of beans, had had a great time in a career I loved with lots of travel. Secure housing and lots of equity, so stable in the face of financial shock. Salary finally high enough for childcare.

It means I am not getting much let up now I am relieved if intensive day to day childcare, but needing to attend to elderly parents. But my responsibility free years just happened at different times.

There is no objective ‘ideal time’. We are of childbearing capability for a long time, but we all have very different circumstances and priorities.

I don't think age is as important as making sure you have achieved what you would like before having children.
If everything goes to plan I am hoping to be pregnant this year at 27.
I graduated with a professional degree at 22, bought a house at 23, got married at 25 so it feels the right time for me but that doesn't mean it would be right for everyone. There is pros and cons to every age.

I was 27 and wish I'd waited until my 30s but my husband is older so it wasn't really an option for him.

I started trying when I was about 28. Didnt have my first til about 30.
Every child has taken time and plenty of complications in between. I keep thinking if I'd started maybe 2 or 3 years earlier would I have had less eventful pregnancies? Would I have completed my family by now?.
Last year started trying again fell pregnant but then had miscarriage.
Due to kids events havnt started trying again until this month and now I'm 37 trying for my 3.

I want to say 30-32. But I lost my 6th pregnancy in October at the age of 21. I'd never have a baby if I waited to my 'ideal age'

@WatchingWithDisinterest ❤️