Cut off age for considering third child

[Sunnyhaze187]

Hi!
This is more of a curiosity post to see what others think...
I am due baby number 2 in the next week, I am 35 turning 36 this summer.
I love the idea of having a third child but will need a while to settle into life with 2, therefore I can't see myself being in a position to even think of ttc for a third for a couple of years yet.
In your experience/opinion when is the latest you'd leave it age wise for trying for the third (again I realise this is purely subjective and no one knows until they try what the outcome would be). I'm just aware of how fast time goes by, you need to factor in the months of actually TTC then assuming you're lucky and everything is relatively fast and no losses it's then the best part of a year before baby arrives.
Let me know your cut offs!

[NotAQueef]

I would have said 38, but turns out I'm 42 and due in July with the 3rd baby we were never going to have, so probably not the best to ask ;-)

[Multipleexclamationmarks]

I had my 3rd at 38. Dd2 was 18months old.
They're teenagers now and I'm early 50's.
I glad I didn't leave it any later, I'm knackered.

[Rosesanddaisies1]

never even considered my age for anything really. it's mad people plan these things. just try when you're ready and see what happens.

[Anotherdayanotherdollar]

For me it would kind of depend on how old the other children were. Up to 43 in theory, but in practice I wouldn't want huge age gaps...

[mondaytosunday]

I had mine in my 40s - last one at 43, my sister had hers at 45. Maybe 42?

[SnapdragonToadflax]

I had my first at 37, so quite different to you but very much the norm for my peer group.

I'm now 42 with a five year old and feel like another would be lovely, but I feel a bit too old personally. I'm definitely at the beginning of peri-menopause. My parents are pushing 80 and needing more help. It's just not the right time for a baby. I only ever intended to have one so it's fine for me. If I were 37 now with younger parents I would go for it.

[newandconfused5]

As PP have suggested..what would your age gap be for your children from top to bottom?..

I had my third child at 34. My eldest was 7.5 when youngest was born.

I was working on the theory that youngest would be 20 when i will be 54.. 30 when I 64.

Obviously no guarantees in life, just personally wanted to think ahead to grandchildren and how old I would be.

Having had a third. The juggle to keep all three kids entertained with my age gap can be tricky!

Congratulations and enjoy your second baby!!

[IDARIS]

These days I think my cut off would be 40. Plenty of women have babies at that age. No one’s life path is guaranteed, so I would just be thinking in terms of my health at the time and the potential babies health and my financial situation. Anyone can die at any age and no one is guaranteed Grandchildren, I wouldn’t factor things like that in my decision.

[milkonesugar35]

I had my 3rd at 33. I'm nearly 36 now and I'm exhausted!!

[Roselilly36]

Many congratulations OP. Just wait and see how you feel. For me a third was out of the question when DS2 was born, he was a very difficult, colicky baby for the first 7mths. No way could we have risked going through that again, DS1 was an absolute breeze, happy, contented, so DS2 arrival came as a shock. I was very early 30’s when DS2 was born.

[Chocolate101]

I’m 34 and expecting my third in July ☺️ I would say for me not much beyond 35. That’s to do with not having a big age gap as well though plus the fact I feel exhausted now let alone when I’m much older! I think it’s down to how you feel though and your circumstances. My mum was 39 when she had her third xx