To think 28 isn't too young to have a baby?

[Sprockerdilerock]

I'm pregnant with my first child and about to turn 28. DH is 31. Since we started telling our friends and family, a few have commented that they are surprised as we are so young.

I've googled and seen that the average age to be a first time mum has now gone past 30.

Am I going to be the youngest at all baby groups and struggle to make friends?! I thought we were fairly average.

What a wierd reaction! Some people have a 10 year old by then!!

Id say it was fairly average surely. I was 29 which was average at the time. I've lived in 2 areas - one v wealthy and I was one of the younger mums at toddler groups. Where I live now I'm v definitely an older mum with most choosjng to have kids around 20!

The average age in my NCT was probably early 30s, one was 28. It didn't make a difference to how well we get on, its only a few years!

Of course it isn't too young. Some people have such ridiculous ideas.

I think it's definitely on the younger scale these days, but certainly not too young at all!

Lots of people have children younger and lots younger so I can only assume there is something specific about you/your DH which is why your friends and family feel that way.

I wouldn’t be surprised if baby groups aren’t running for a while but surely you have friends at the same stage of life to spend time with?

*younger end of the scale

I had my first at 28 - I recall the GP saying it was the perfect age. Old enough to be ready to settle down but still young enough to have some energy.

I had my last baby at 42, and found it almost exactly the same experience as I did at 28, so I am not sure she was right.

I'll have an 8 year old at 28 and even I've never been called a young mum. Though I was. Made friends easily at mum groups too

28 is dead on average, according to the ONS.

I had my first baby at 28 and noticed that a lot of my uni friends had babies in the following two years while a chunk of my school friends had babies a bit before me. I found that I was the youngest at NCT but in terms of baby groups I’m the fairly average age.

It depends entirely on your circles, and to an extent your socio-economic class -- I've said this before on here, but I used to see my midwife at two different north London GP surgeries. At one, the average age of the other expectant mothers in the waiting room was about 20, and at 39 I was around the same age as the grandmothers-to-be who were with them. At the other surgery, in a more prosperous area despite only being half a mile or so away, I was bang on average.

Three of my NCT group were older than me.

I was still a postgraduate at 28 with no room for a baby in my life, and a lot of plans that excluded small children. Other people will have been in the world of work for a decade at 28 and entirely up for it.

Freezing perhaps in your area or social circle, but there's lots and lots of areas where early 20s is more the norm. Hence an average.

I was 27 when I had my first. I'd say that most of the parents at my baby groups were a similar age. A lot of my friends now have younger children so I can see how people might be choosing to start a family later now.

Most of my children's friends have parents my age.

In my NCT group all but one of us were late 20s, one was 40. I guess that would push the average over 30, think like that.

I had my first at 24. Never had an issue making friends at baby groups. Don't even know how old any of them are!

I thought the average was 28? I had DS1 (4) at 28 and didn't feel too young.

There were two 28 year olds (including me) and a 26 year old in my NCT group. (Plus two ladies in their early 30s and one in her early 40s).

28 is not too young. I had my 1st at 24 which still isnt too young. However, I was one of the youngest mums at baby groups etc though.. but I didnt struggle to make friends. X

I think 28 is perfect. Old enough to know what you want and be in a good financial/emotional position etc whilst young enough to have a couple of kids without worrying about leaving it too late.

I'm surprised people think 28 is too young tbh. It will also reduce your risks in pregnancy.

You’d be young in my circles but not in a weird way. In my antenatal group of all FTM’s the youngest was 32, and I was the oldest at 41. Mid-late 30’s was the average.

28 isn’t very young, but younger than average yes.

Pluas that's similar to my experience. In the wealthier area I lived we had a pregnant 20 year old student at an nct bumps and babies and the poor love was treated witha lot of "ooh well at least you'll have lots of energy!" Etc.

In the other area at toddler groups 20 year olds were absolutely the norm and often friends with each other from school etc.

I had my first at 28. I don’t think it’s young and definitely didn’t stand out as being loads younger than other Mums.

If you feel ready financially and emotionally to have a child and both parents are adults and want a baby, it’s not too young. Other people feeling you’re too young should keep their thoughts to themselves.

I had DD1 at 19. That was too young because I was not financially ready. Emotionally, I was quite mature for my age. DH (DP at the time) was 22.

I am now 26 (DH is now 29) and had DD2 last September. DH and I were financially and emotionally prepared for a baby so we started TTC.

Congratulations on your pregnancy @Sprockerdilerock

28 is the perfect age to have children . I was 33 but wish I had had mine when I was late 20’s . My mum had her last at 28 .

It's only 2 years lower than average. 2 years isnt going to make much difference to friendships unless you have a cut off for 12 months either side of your age or something. You know how average works, it doesnt mean that everyone is that age? So yes there will be some people at groups who are late 30s, and some early 20s. You'll be close to the middle