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?

27 & 30 when I had my children and it's worked out perfectly for me.

I would say mid 20's.

I was 28 and 32, it was a good age for me. I always wanted 3 so I think I've got time for one more.

I’m shocked so many people are saying such young ages. I don’t know anyone who has had a baby under 30, most are much older than that

Had mine in my 40s. Would have liked to have had them in my early 30s but did not meet my husband until I was 39.

The research on the topic I've seen has the age range with the best outcomes, least short- and long-term risks to mother and child, and other ideals at 24-34. Highest risks at under 20 (or, when ages are divided further, under 16, followed by 16-20), then followed by over 45.

I had my first at 19. I have thought it would be better if I'd started at 24 in some ways, but then my children would have had less relationship and experiences with some of our relatives who've since died (or none at all) and I've benefitted from being out of the having little one stage of life by 30. It's all a balance of potential risks, responsibilities and benefits. Even having some health repercussions from my choices (and in having multiple kids even with the then recommended gap of 18 months between pregnancy and TTC (this has now moved 12-18 in some places)), I'm pretty content that it worked out. With the knowledge I had at the time, our choice has worked out well.

I had mine at 26&27.
I'd be earning a lot more now if I hadn't. But we are planning our semi- retirement for 10-15 years time... When we will be late forties/early fifties with grown up children.

I started my family at 25 and am just about to have my last at 34. Was a good age for me as wanted a big family. I don't think I could have fitted them all in if I had waited until my 30s to start.

Surely this is down to the individual and your life choices and priorities. I had DS at 34, I went to uni, my career is flourishing, we owned and had renovated a nice house in a nice area, with great schools, I travelled a lot with friends and had a couple of very interesting but not career jobs in my early twenties, then got together with DH and we travelled, socialised and had a whale of a time. We then got married and then had DS which is exactly the order I wanted to do things in. However if I wasn't career minded, hated travelling, didn't want to be married, had no desire to own a property and was an introvert who didn't much like socialising my choice to wait until 34 would probably have been ludicrous.

I've also never had any desire to have lots of children and see pregnancy as an unpleasant means to an end

Somewhere between 19 and 40ish. I had mine age 22 and 26. Happy to have plenty of life coming out the other side hopefully.

35 and 37. Ideally would have had them early 30s but I didn’t meet dp until then-married at 33 then took us a while ttc

I am glad I had my four all by age 30.
My career wasn’t really established until after I had them. But looking back, I think it was an advantage to be a junior engineer while pregnant, breastfeeding, with toddlers etc. The amount of time I took off work, I would not have been able to do if I had been more senior/higher up as the need to be available becomes more critical. It also meant I didn’t lose ground career wise because entry level is entry level!

20 to 35.

I was 28,32,36 when I had mine. The 28 was a bit young as most of my friends hadn’t had kids and I did have quite a lot of envy when I saw them all off enjoying their luxury lives. I think I should have done 32,34 and 36 but it worked out fine.

Had mine at 29. I think 27 - 30 ideal for your first if everything else is right. Id like decent age gaps.

I've just had my first at 34 - I was the one who wanted to wait a bit until I'd got a little more established at work. Screw that, should have started earlier - I reckon mid-late 20s is a good time, with time to build a career uninterrupted afterwards

I had my first at 27 and want to have my second at 30. This was definitely on the younger side within my friends; 2 years on and I’m still the only one whose had a planned pregnancy. Everything else aligned though so we thought why wait? I was also the youngest to meet life partner, professionally qualify, buy a house and get married.

My parents were 40 & 42 when they had me and based on my experience I absolutely did not want to be an older mum, I love the idea that as I’m entering my 40s I will be finishing the primary years rather than starting from scratch. I was also conscious that with my parents health problems, if I waited too long my kids might not get to meet their grandparents or at least not get any quality time. I grew up without grandparents and didn’t want the same for my kids.

34-40. I'd have been happier having them 30-36. I feel too old and by the time they leave home we'll both be too old to catch up on all the stuff we still wanted to do. Probably sound selfish.

I had my first at 28.
Depending on life in an ideal world I'd say younger maybe 25 but it isn't feasible if you want to build a career too.
It is pretty shit for women.

I think early thirties. I had mine at 34 and 36, which is bang on average for where I live.

I had all my children by the time i was 25...
Now im 32 I work full time and I have time for me, and them wouldnt want it any other way :)

I wish I had met my dh earlier. I think between 25 and 30 is ideal. I was 30, 32 and 35.

I always imagined I would have two close together in my early 20s then a second pair in my late 30s, that's what I planned anyway but the death of my first partner put paid to that! But I had my two in my mid/late 30s and that was totally fine for me.

Interesting that people have chosen quite young ages!