How old is too old to have a baby?

[Shaz83]

Just wondering how old is too old to have a baby? Fair enough being healthy etc is fine.. but how old is too old?

Depends on so many factors-your health, level of support from partner, even level of support from wider family. Plus the awareness that all these can change very quickly so the older you are (particularly if you have another young child) the more chances you're taking. Plus the knowledge that the older you are the more chances of disability. If you have other young child(red) I think you must think very seriously about having another child past your late '30's.

Had my last at 35 and even then felt old. My sister had a baby at 43 and now has a very active 7 year old at 50 and she is shattered. She was really upset last month when someone asked her is she was my niece’s nan. That’s happened a few times. I wouldn’t mind but I think she looks great and nowhere near 50!

Personally I would hate to be doing school pickups in my 50’s.

I had my DS at 39. In an ideal world I'd have had him about 35.

Such a lovely story!!

I think it depends on the woman, I mean generally once you get to near your 50's (if you're not menopausal) it's not the best idea! But I had my first at 26, second at 32 and last at 40, the first pregnancy was ok, second was terrible and the third a total breeze so being a lot older wasn't an issue.

I think after mid 40s I would have some concerns around health/tiredness, etc.

It's so interesting reading the replies - what people consider normal very much depends on their social circle. I know more women who've had babies in their early 40s than I have those who've had them in their 20s. I think 30s seem like the 'best' time, based on my own subjective experience - but everyone is different and will have a different 'best' (or possible) time.

I had mine 26, 28,36 and 38. My youngest 21 now, I absolutely do not regret it. More patience as I got older but I never had or wanted "me" time. I always wanted a large family and feel so lucky to have four healthy kids. We are all very close too.

30, I wouldn't make an omelette with old eggs never mind a baby.

My cut off is 31. Mainly for the reason i had my first at 21 and second at 26. I'm almost 30 and really contemplating a 3rd.

At 57???
Is that even possible.
You will be in your 70s with a teenager.

Some of us had an ideal age but infertility meant it was later than I would have liked. Waiting for the "I couldn't possibly have a baby past 30" brigade. We are considering a third. My husband is nearly mid fifties. It is different for different couples.

🙄

What a horrible ignorant comment

@RobinEllacotStrike apologies I misread your post.
I understand now you meant another child in your 40s.

I was 38 and DH was 42. She’s worth it but there’s denying we’re absolutely knackered. We could both do with being 10-15 years younger.

Are you being serious? She never said she was having a baby at 57

ETA - just saw your update 😅

It also kind of depends on when you meet someone worth having kids with. I wouldn't have tied myself for life to any of the men I dated in my 20s by having a child with them. I was past 35 when I started dating "the one" !

I'm 35 and I either fall pregnant while I am 35 or we don't have anymore. 35 has always been my cut off.

35 is my cut off, and to be honest I wouldn't want to be having a baby then but it's the 'oldest' I'd be willing to go. I already have 2 so won't need to worry about it anyway as don't want any more.
It is a very personal choice, I just don't want to be actively raising children as I start to think about retirement and saving more money instead of spending it on eduction-related fees, etc.

I'll send mine back then, shall I?

Both DH and I wanted to have two before I was 25-26. We didn't anticipate needing fertility treatment, so DS came along when I was 25. We could have tried for another, but neither of us wanted to be older than that.

We had a few reasons. DH was the child of two elderly parents and had lost them both by the time he was 15, ending up in care. This had a massive impact on his life and he suffers with trauma-related illness now. He was also bullied at school for having elderly parents.

My main reasoning was the risk to the child. I know having a child at any age is a risk to both mother and baby, but the older you are, the more the risk. I'm not sure why people would want to bring children into the world, knowing there's a high chance of disability.

Also a nice bonus was that my parents were 50 when my DS was born, so he's been able to grow up with two very involved grandparents. I would hate for him to have missed out on that. Their bond is wonderful.

I wouldn't have another now, I'm 43.
I'm saying that as a mum of 2 though, if I'd never had a child I would consider it at my age.
Tbh I think too old is when you physically can't anymore

40

I was 37 and 41 with my DCs. Although I have had no issues, 41 has felt on the old side. It’s not uncommon among my peers to have had kids past 40. I think id probably call 50 as being too old - it’s pretty unlikely and impossible by then! Otherwise it’s personal choice and circumstances.