Best age to start having children?

Question

Obviously, there is no exact age when would be the best time to start having children, i want to know what peoples views are and when they plan to start a family etc

Thanks for all your responses, i just wanted to add that i have 2 children and 3 year old son and a little girl nearly 1. I am 23 in 2 weeks. I am very happy with the way me and my husband did it, although i was 19 when my son was born i finished my degree through distance learning with the open universtiy, so i am a quailified young mummy, and a very happy one too :)

Answer 1

I plan to have children in my early twenties so that when I'm in my forties they'd have thier own lives and out doing their own things, and I'll still be young enough to enjoy life. Thats what my parents are doing, they were wonderful when I was little with the baking cakes and taking us on trips and teaching us to sew and knit and all that, but now they are both in their early forties and my brother and I are (half way) moved out so they're on a cruise next year and they're always out in the evenings and you know, they're still young enough to enjoy each other. And I want that at thair age too.

Answer 2

Whenever the prospective mother and father feel they are ready, it will be different for each person. I do not believe there is any magic age for everyone. I began having children at 19 shortly after I got married. We were ready to start a family. I am now 23 and have 2 boys, a 3 year old and 8 month old, and hope to start trying for another when the youngest turns 1. We are so very happy and would not have it any other way!

Answer 3

Gota be down to the individual, I was married, mortgaged and in a steady job when I had my first at 24 - I wasnt a happy mum

Then unmarried and gave up work I had my second at 33 and my third at 36.

For me the 2nd at 33 was the best at 36 I felt like i really didnt want any more and 2 years on at 38 although my hormones get 2 me a bit sometimes, physically my body is telling me no more.

As for qualifications and education I have still studied with my children, you dont need to wait til you reach certain levels of qualifications before you start a family. In the uk you can study at any age, im not aware of any restrictions on education due to age.

Enjoying your children and wanting to be their mum has no real age limits, your body deteriorates as you get older and energy levels can drop (although i feel fitter and healthier now than i did in my early 20s).

I guess my 2nd was the best because i had experience and was still young enough and fit enough, so I would say early 30s.

Answer 4

I was 17 when I had my son, I was too young, but at the same time as bringing u my son, I went back to college and finished my studies with the help of my family.

My second is another matter, I was 23 (still am, my daughter is only 2 months old), and I'm finding it much easier this time round, I'm more adult and coping much better.

Sooo... I'd say 20's really, because then you are still young and bouncy enough to really enjoy your kids when they are young, PLUS, you can always decide to have another one later on when yours are all grown big and don't need you any more, lol!

*Mummy to Alex, 5, and Encarni, 2 mths*

Answer 5

I had my 2 children when I was 21 years and 24 years respectively. I think that was the right time for me and I was desperate for babies. I was very young, strong and full of energy. Also, when my girls were grown up, I was still relatively young, about 40 years old. I have had lots of fun in my 40s/early 50s and have three wonderful granddaughters aged, 14, 8 and 5. i am not an old lady and still have the energy to take them on outings, trip to EuroDisney and have them sleepover at my home. Yes, I was definitely right to have my kids young. I also have a very good job and that happened in my 40s as well. Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Answer 6

When you're ready. I had my first child last November at age 34 (not through choice - I'd had fertility problems for years and never thought I could get pregnant when the miracle occurred!) and tbh I feel more able to cope now than I would have been in my 20s. Its such a huge shock to the system and I think I woul dhave struggled if I'd been younger. "Energy" isn't a factor - I'm just as fit and active now as I was when I was 21 (in fact more so as I look after myself better now than I did back then).

My Mother in Law had her first baby (my other half) at 19 and she goes on (and on and on and on ) about how "old" I am and how she could never have had her children "that late" well bully for her.

My mum had her kids at 36 and 42 and my grannie had hers at 36, 38 and 40. They coped fine! My mum was a fantastic mother!!

Only disadvantage of being an older mum is that you will be an older grandmother - my mum is now 71 ands not able through health problems to help me out a lot with my baby, although she does love him very much!

Answer 7

Well, for me the age is 25. I first had a child at 17, then again at 19, and my youngest at 25 (4 mths ago) and I am a better mom now than ever. Yes some of that comes from experience (trial and error), but a lot comes from maturity. So, I guess the real answer is when you become mature enough to put someone else's needs above your own, to give all of yourself to that child, that's the best age to start having kids. Of course that age is different for everyone.

Answer 8

30

Answer 9

I think 24-26 is the best age. By then you are likely financially stable, finished with college (if you went). Mom has the least problems medically and both parents have a lot of energy. You are past all that naive and the need to party all the time so can focus on a family. Hopefully, by then, you know that pot, smoking and drinking are bad for baby.

Answer 10

The best time to start having children is when you and your partner have done with being selfish with your time, money and energy. That is not to say you are selfish it just means that you will have to be prepared to devote your life for the next 18 years at least, to a person who thinks your life revolves around them.
We never stop being parents really, we are always on call day and night, don't get paid for our help and assistance and love what we do. It's called unconditional love. If you don't think you c an take that then wait a little longer.
Good luck.

Answer 11

You should let yourself have a bit of a life of your own first, do a bit of travelling, get yourself established in a job, get a bit of money behind you and enjoy yourself while you still have the money time and freedom. Kids are expensive and time consuming, I love my daughter to bits but she made a big diference to my lifestyle. She was born when I was 28 so I had had time to see a bit of the world, lived a little and got a home and career established before she came along. Leaving it too much later means the child having much older parents when they are growing up and that can be harder for both. I would say the ideal age would be somewhere between 24 and 32. Good luck whatever you decide to do.