Now that you've had children do you wish you'd had them younger?

[teainbedplease]

The general trend seems to be to have kids in your 30s, but now that you've had kids do you wish you'd started your family earlier?

I had mine at 33 and 35 years old.

Nooo! This is going to be me. Had first at 39 and pregnant again at 41. Surely it’s all plain sailing when they turn 3 or so?! 😂😃YesOP I wish I’d had them sooner but this is how it turned out for me and I’m more focussed on being grateful I had them (in particular due to my age). Would be nice to think I’d still be around for grandkids etc but hey ho.

No, because we weren’t in a position to and because we’d have had a different child.

No, I wouldn’t have done it any sooner.

I had mine at 33 and 35 by which point I had had a fab time in my 20s and had got quite far up the career ladder. We were also better off in terms of housing, disposable income etc.

I am very glad now that I had done the hard yards and established myself in my career before having kids, as I was very distracted for a long time when they were little. Coming out of that phase in my 40s it was so much easier to make progress. That wasn’t a particular priority for me when they were in primary school but I am now very glad to have the foundation to build on.

I’m also glad to have maxed out my 20s. If I’d had kids at 25, I’d never replicate the clubbing, drinking, parties etc as a 30-something (no longer my thing) and wouldn’t have a peer group to do it with.

Interesting read, we’re early/mid twenties (not sure what category I fit into!) and TTC this year. It’s right for us but to be honest I can see so many advantages to being older, as well as being younger.

I think mid-late twentys is the ideal time for kids.
But many people aren't in a suitable life place at that point in time, either trying to get established in career, trying to save for house deposit or not found their life partner yet.

To be fair, a lot of people will never be able to afford to buy a house or have a high paying career, those are the people that usually have their children younger.

I had first at 24, second at 31 - I married straight after university.

I am 32 now and very tired - I work full time.

I felt old at 31 for having my second. Most of my friendship group had their babies 23-29.

Oh and I immediately into the CS after graduating, so we owned our home by the time DS appeared..

We are doing well financially, careers not affected at all. Probably very fortunate in that respect. So, so tired though.

If I'm not being too nosey how long did it take to ttc number 2 aged 41? I had my first at 39, it took two months but I'd suffered infertility in my early 30s and hadn't tried since. I'll be 41 next month and about to ttc for number 2. I hope I get lucky again though I know that I'm knocking on a bit. This was the hand that life dealt me so I couldn't have them any earlier.

My mum had me at 37 and she's 78 now, she's super fit though and runs every day and has done yoga for years so she could easily look 15 years younger. She never seemed like an older mum.

Yes I do, I had my second older in late 30s and shattered now. I feel quite jealous of those who had them younger sometimes

I’d have had mine early 20s if I could. I had them in my 30s

33 and 37. I wish I had them when I was 28 and 30. That would have been the perfect ages.