Young / average / old motherhood

[Lacatrina]

What would you consider is young to have a child, average to have a child and old to have a child.

Genuinely just interested. I would say 31 and under is quite young. 32-38 very average. 39+ starting to get into older category. But I'm SW London so aware these figures are totally unrepresentative of the whole picture

For me (South Wales) I'd say 24 and under is young, 24-34 is standard and 35+ is older (for a first child).

Overall the average age for a first child is 29.2 years. But I think there’s quite a skew in different areas, and amongst different education levels.

I had my first dc at 18, that was young.

I had my last at 37and felt quite old.

For me it would be under 23 would be young and over 40 would be old. Everything in between is about average (NE Scotland here)

NW England. I'd say u25 young, over 35 older

I think Xteen is too young TwentyX to early Thirty average and 35+ older.
I was 36.

Under 20 too young. Under 24 young. 25 - 35 ideal. 35plus older.

(And celebrities at 50 plus ridiculous…)

Agree with your assessment. Except maybe more like 41+ for older these days.

I’m 46 and people are often shocked that I have an 18 year old! But I had her at 28 which seems pretty normal to me. I think it varies massively depending on where you are in the country and the career you’re in. I know a lot of people my age with little ones.

16-22 is young. 23-29 is normal. 30-35 is older. 36-39 is much older. 40+ is very old.

And people can have whatever opinions they like. But biologically I think my estimates are factual. We could all keep deluding ourselves and call 32 a "young" mum though 🙄 - ridiculous.

I mean, very old is an insult, there are nicer ways of putting it!
Women have been having children from age 16 - pushing 50 for centuries! Being 40+ is the older side of a large spectrum. Under 23 is the younger end.

@CrispsPlease bloody hell I'm buggered then....I'm 36 and will be trying for my first in the new year. I look much younger than my age and feel young....I still go to festivals and gigs am I too old for that as well 🤣

I work in law and loads of girls my age have not had kids yet 34+ is really pretty standard these days!

I live in a major city and 32 is most certainly a young mum among middle class / professional circles here.

One’s 30s are seen as an extension of one’s 20s such that there’s little difference socially between a 28 year-old and a 34 year-old, say.

ETA: obviously biologically is a different story, but that’s not what’s being discussed here.

@Crushed23 agree 100%

But biologically for fertility there is quite a big difference.

Id say 23 and under is young, 24-32 is average and then it starts to creep to older. I’m 36 and there’s no way I’d consider doing it now, I had mine at 24 and 27 though

I was 27 with my first, lucky enough to get pregnant first month trying.... I didn't feel too, too young to have a baby, even though none of my friends did, I met other first time mums at groups you don't take toddlers to... but I have to pinch myself I have a primary school age child now. Most mums I think are coming up to a decade older, but many it's their youngest in my dds year

But you can't change facts to suit your circumstances. You can't feel aggrieved that you're an older mother (at 36) and then say "I'm young and it's normal ". Best to be honest "I prioritised my career and waited until I felt ready. I accept I'm an older than average mother ". Nothing wrong with that.

I’d go with your age grid, OP. Where I live.

Most of my school friends go married at 35.
Had their children after that.

Only those of us past 40 were considered older.
And by that I mean 42/43 and above…

I was going to say exactly the same, and I'm South Wales

Young up to 27
Middle or "average" 28 to 35
Old 36 plus

I was average as is everyone else in the family, and most of everyone else I now, but a few "youngs" in there too.

I might have been 26, I stopped counting after 21.

I agree. It seems people are wanting to change facts to suit their circumstances. I was 27 and 28 and had a career. Motherhood was just a priority to me. I didn't want to leave it late.

South-West

20s - young
30s - average
40s - old

I hate to say it, but you weren't "young" at 27. That's ridiculous! You were very average.

I know,, the national average, but not at my dds school.