What age would consider someone to be a young mum?

[Himitsu]

Not including teen parents, as that’s a separate category.

Someone referred to me as a young mum today and I was like eh? I’m 30! I’d consider 20 to maybe 23-24 to be a young mum. Just curious what others feel! I had my first at 20 and definitely felt young then!

Under 25 here too (I was 41 and 43 when I had mine).
In fact I probably think under 30 is quite young too!

It doesn’t ‘matter’ but it’s a really interesting social issue linked to feminism, women’s rights, relationships, communities…, to discuss as seen by the number of people posting on this thread!

I wonder if the upwards trend will switch back at any point and some women may start having their first child younger?

In MN terms anyone under 35 seems to be too young! I was 29 in 1977 and classed as an 'elderly prima gravida', times change, no doubt they will again.

25 and under. I was 21 and definitely young.

I have to be honest I do wonder how those in their 40s have the energy for toddlers too!

My DSIL did it too. She was 39 when she had her DC.

This poster is right, though. Many people use the term 'young mum' to mean a mum with young children. It might not make logical sense but then lots doesn't with words and phrases!

I was considered a geriatric first time mother at 28 in North Lincolnshire! Where I work currently most parents are teenagers when they have their first child, so nothing older than that seems like a young parent, but generally under 21 I suppose?

Surely no medics considered you 'geriaatric', notyourmummy. 28 is a normal age for having a baby. I dot don't know if the term 'geriatric pregnancy' is still used but i know it meant 36 and over. It still means that even if the label has changed (and plenty do give birth for the first time over 36). I was 29 when I had my baby in 1979 and nobody thought anything of it, even those who had given birth at 21. I was young! You were even younger.

I don’t think they do unless they are quite dense.
A young family refers to the age of the children.
A young mum refers to the age of the mum - otherwise you could call me a teenage mum because I have teenagers.
Sometimes you have to admit you are wrong.

Probably under 25, although I don’t personally know many people who became mums under 30.

Agree With many previous posters - under 25.

Under 25, although I feel under 30 is young as there's so much to do at this age

I'd say under 22 too

I'd say under 23. 25 isn't particularly young to start a family imo.

Under 18 is a young mum where I am from. It was considered very normal to have babies at 18-21. Nobody would bat an eyelid really

However, I personally think under 27/28 is a ‘young mum’. It’s young to have a child, anyway.

I say that as someone who had their first at 19. I have never ever felt like a young mum and never looked it. I was very good at it. Breastfed until 3. Never used grandparents etc for childcare. I found my DC slotted in and I was really not phased. Never had a difficult baby stage and found it all easy.

But I have never had my 20s to myself, something I feel would’ve been really valuable to me. I never had an adulthood without having a child with me. Something I obviously feel is a shame now

I doubt it, if you want to really live your life and have experiences it can only happen when you're young. Not quite the same once you're 40 with teens!

I would consider anyone under 23 to be a young mum.

See this to me sounds like you're referring to young mum as a bad thing.

It actually can be seen in the context of young for where you live. So here - an hour into London, regenerated urban landscape, sky high property prices - 30 is on the young side.

But, taking a more rounded view, early 20s is young and 30 is a good age to have a baby if you’ve had a bit of career building time first

That makes no sense! The age of the baby is irrelevant as young is being used to describe the mother, Otherwise it would be mother to a young child!

Under 25 I would consider young. My DM was 18 when she had me, my DF was 20. This played a big part in my decision not to have children until my 30’s!

I think under 22 / 23 is what I would consider young to be a young mum, but I agree it’s an amorphous category.

I'd say 25 and under too, although I already had 4 children and was pregnant again at that age.

I was 24 (and 2 days!) when ds was born.

I didn't consider myself a young mum but knew I was younger than the average age people have babies nowadays. I was considered a young mum.

Interestingly I also work with many people who had kids at 20/21/22 and I consider them young mums.

I guess if you had your child at 38 then 30 is a young mum.

Under 21 was medically described as young mum in the past due to various challenges only they have. These challenges are now increasingly applicable to under 25s too.