Parenting Ages- Your thoughts??

**SamanthaJane** · 23-05-2006 23:33

I've been thinking a lot lately after the different threads like .... 11 year old girl pregnant, and 60/70 year old woman having a child and im wondering what do people consider a good age to start having a family??

Personally, i wanted to start a family at around 25. I wanted to be married, and then start having kids.... but, obviously, that hasnt worked for me.

Dont get me wrong, i couldnt be happier. I dont critise the youngens or the oldies i think people should be honest with themselves, if you bleieve you are ready, then your ready.

I guess also is another question- where do people draw the line.... im going to be considered a young mum at 18, but when does it become socially acceptable

And at what age does it become too old??

So my answer- An ideal age would have been 25!

I'll just add- please dont turn this into a fight, curiosity has got the better off me and i have to ask

**Tam-I-Am** · 23-05-2006 23:43

I think a certain level of maturity is far more important than the number on your birth certificate. There are some women who aren't mature enough to be a mum at 40, and some who are more than mature enough at 18.

Depends on the individual really.

**SassyMummy** · 23-05-2006 23:56

While I agree that maturity is different depending on the individual, I do think that IN GENERAL there is a sort of age-range that I believe is probably the best time for people to have babies.

IMO, the best time for ME to have a baby would have been at age 23-26...but obviously it happened at 19 and so I just went with that. At 26 I might have been like "what? Baby? No way!"...who knows.

I also think that for people in general, the best time to have a baby is after finishing high school and before 40. Mainly because it can be difficult to conceive later in life (women in their mid thirties can have awful problems too but I figured I'd just broaden the age since IVF is around). Also, I think it's important to finish high school...and while mothers that have babies at younger ages can still complete high school it must be pretty damn hard to do!

Not to tell anyone that they are "wrong" for going out of my age-range...I just believe that in that age-range things are generally "easier".

**mum2littleman** · 23-05-2006 23:59

Originally Posted by Clarabelle

I think a certain level of maturity is far more important than the number on your birth certificate. There are some women who aren't mature enough to be a mum at 40, and some who are more than mature enough at 18.

Depends on the individual really.

i agree 100% i dont think it matters how old r but the maturity leave that you have lets face it a child cant look after a child but i do believe that there is no such thing as being to young because if u are mature enough to made the choice to keep ur baby and bring ur baby up right then u are and would be a great mother no matter how old u r..

___________
the mummy- louise 20
the buby- lucas born : 25-11-2005

"MUMMY'S ONE AND ONLY LITTLE MAN" "YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY BABY BOY"

**Briannabear** · 24-05-2006 06:40

I think its very much an individual thing. It depends on life circumstances and as someone else said maturity.
For us personally we were really happy with the age we did it. I was 23 when my DD was born, and I'll be 25 when my next is born. We wanted children close together, and while we were still very young.

**bronny-jane** · 24-05-2006 06:52

i think the best age to become a parent is when it happens.....i dont think age has anything to do with it

as long as you have a good support system

i was 22 when i had my first dd, and dont regret it, although i wasnt prepared for it at all

**bigglet** · 24-05-2006 07:43

I think I read somewhere that biologically the best time was between 18-26 years of age. This is when your body produces the best eggs and when your body is at its ultimum for childbearing and recovery.

**razzle** · 24-05-2006 07:59

I always said that I wanted to have a baby before I was 30, but when I got to 30 I still wasn't ready or interested at all. I don't think you can say that there's a generic good time, it has to be when you feel right. Yes, accidents do happen and I know a lot of you who have had accidents wouldn't change a thing, but I think within yourself, you know when your "I want a baby" age has come around.

(Does that make sense? I'm very tired this morning...

)

**Blessed Mum** · 24-05-2006 09:05

I agree with maturity. I was only 16 when I had my son. Everything from that point changed for me & I was happy for it to do so. I have just had my daughter before my 26th birthday & this time I felt 'ready' whereas with my son, it was a case of having to be ready because he was coming.
I agree also with support systems. I was and am very lucky in that I had both of my parents & a wonderful partner who is now my husband.
I do feel as well that obviously I know a lot more these days but that is learning. I hope to continually learn throughout my life. However I have decide that I would like my child-bearing year to be finished by the time I'm 30. That is just me I really don't care how old or young a mother is as long as she is taking the very best care of her child/children.

JMO.

**Cinta** · 24-05-2006 12:00

I always wanted to get married when i would be about 22 then have my first baby at around 23 or 24.

The my partner knocked me up so that theory went out the window!

Personally for me, i think under 18 is a bit young. Thats not to say that if you under 18 you can't be a great mum. A friend of mine fell pregnant and had her baby at 15 and she is a great mum. But at 18 you are considered an adult and i just think its so much easier. Some mums would not be good mums at 18 but i think the majority of people become more mature when bubs is on the way.
If i didnt have children when i had reached 30 i personally would be thinking, oh sh!t i better hurry up!

I guess it depends how ready you are (can you ever be really ready!?) and how mature you are. You have to change your life so much when you choose to have a baby.