To not think 26 is young for a first baby

[Wildtimes78889]

Dd is pregnant and 26 and people keep saying how young she is. Aibu to think it’s perfectly average age to have a baby.

Meh. I am 33. I had my first at 28, second at 30. In my friend group of 5, we are all the same age. The first baby came when we were 23, she now has 3DC. Another friend had 3DC, had her first at 25. 2 have no children and probably won’t for a while (not in long term relationships, 1 doesn’t want children. I would say 26 is fairly average.

@DrDetriment

I think it's young but I wouldn't dream of commenting to her and I think it depends where you live. Where I live most women have children in their 30s as they are well educated and establish a career first.

Honestly, have you considered that whilst there has been shown to be some correlation between mother’s levels of education and age at conception making stupid statements like this and generalising is fraught with problems and you are making some horrible negative assumptions. For what it’s worth I had my first at 25 and another at 27 then 29. I have a masters degree and an excellent career and for all you know so does the OP’s daughter.

I don’t understand why people feel the need to comment on the woman’s age when she has a baby. Why does it bloody matter to anyone else?
No matter how old a mother is, people do need to keep their gobs shut and their comments to themselves, whether she’s 16, 26, 36 or 46….

I was 22, mother was 23, grandmothers were both 23. I personally think under 21 is young.

@Tanfastic

Not at all, ignore them.

I had mine age 35 but I'd have much preferred them younger, circumstances just didn't allow.

Same for me

I think that sort of age is becoming young to have a child these days, but that it's not young young if that makes sense. Under 25 I would think oh they are pretty young but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be good mums. It's just becoming more common to live a bit more, take further education, establish a career etc before having kids. Doesn't mean someone who doesn't do those things are lower or worse than those who do.

I think it’s the perfect age.

Maybe your friends still see her as young? My mate’s son has just turned 25 but I still think of him as a long-haired student. His A Level results day seems so very recent.

Depends on your social circle. I was 26 but living in London with a very middle class circle of friends...I felt like a teen mum!

London woman here (think this makes a diff), think I was considered young having my first at 30- everyone I know of settles and has babies post 36- I think 26 is much better, energy wise!

@Toomuchspinning

I don’t think it’s too young, but statistically it is young. 29 is the average age for a first time mother in England and Wales.

3 years below average (possibly 2 by the time the baby is born) is not young. That's like saying a 32 yo is an older mum as it's above "average"

26 is a good age for your first I think

The average age is 30.7 in England and Wales so yes it is below average. This obviously differs by area.

These threads do normal result in people bashing both younger mothers and older mothers so I’ll just drop the data and leave.

It would be young in my circles but it's hardly concerning young.

I had my first at 26. I’m much younger than the other mothers at the school gate but it’s definitely not too young. I doubt it would have made any difference if I’d had my DC1 two years earlier or two years later. I do feel too young being in my mid-thirties and having a child at secondary school though!

I would say it's about the perfect age. I was 23 he's almost 13 now he'll be 17 wen I'm 40 and I'll have my life back

It's completely fine. But I think it's fairly young.

Often at that age you're really early in your career. For example with post graduate study or professional qualifications finishing at 21 to 24 (obvs not everyone does that)

So by 26 you're just starting out in a lot of circumstances. It doesn't mean she should take any notice though.

Also I’m very well-educated thank you so probably best not to make judgments about those of us who choose to have babies in our twenties!

@kowari

I was 22, mother was 23, grandmothers were both 23. I personally think under 21 is young.

Why?

It is quite young nowadays at least among the people I know but I don't think that's a bad thing.

My husband and I often lament that we didn't meet 10 years earlier and start our family.

No regrets blah blah but physically, younger is so much better

I wouldn't bat an eye at someone having a baby at that age! Completely normal. As others have said its perhaps a bit below the national average but in no way an age that stands out!

@MindyStClaire

Anything under 30 is young in my circles. But young doesn't mean too young!

This!

@DrDetriment I think that comment is going to go down badly.

27 when I had my first OP, will be 29 when I have no.2

I think totally not scientific the support network e.g. stable partner, stable income, stable home blah.. are more important than age.

statistically it is young, the average age to be a first time mum is 29 I think. I had DS1 at 27 and lots of people commented that I was young (it doesn’t help that I look younger than I am!). I also got similar comments about not being “well educated and not much of a career”. I had a degree under my belt and a stable job although I wasn’t in a high flying career, in fact much to the surprise of the negative nancys I got promoted once when I was pregnant with DS2 and again when I was on maternity leave I’m very happy with my choices.

Funnily enough it would never cross my mind to make a comment about the age someone else has a child, absolutely none of my concern!

Wishing your DD a happy and healthy pregnancy OP

I was pregnant with dd at 26 ( I felt young and was the youngest at our nct group) and then with ds I was 34 (felt too old!!) 🤷‍♀️ I think it's completely subjective tbf.