When do you think is the right age to have a baby?

[Joanne130]

More women these days are delaying having their first baby until their mid thirties & choose only to have one or two children, when do you think is the best age to first have a child?

[joko]

fired green tomatoes - i dont think i am being aggressive at all...

and i wasnt defending my comments - i dont need to - i was just explaining them - as a few people seemed to take offence at my comments and appeared to be misundertsanding them

[Mick-Talbot]

lol

[ChocolatChip]

joko, I do agree. There are a lot of young people, who want children for all the wrong reasons. I too, have seen this for myself.
But at the same time,I think older mothers can feel the same way too. They have had the 'freedom' for much longer than the younger ones, and maybe could struggle to adapt to the changes, just as a young mother could.
I also know some exceptionally irresponsible older mothers!

[cathfromsaron]

20s!

it's too tiring after that!

cath x

[ChocolatChip]

lol Cath, short and sharp answer there ;)

[karenmac60]

I had my daughter at 24 and was treated like a gymslip mum by all the older yummy mummies at the school gates. I don't think I missed out on anything and now she's older I can concentrate on my career without having to worry about taking baby breaks. In saying that, I never intended on just having one and if I could have another even now, I'd jump at the chance.

[ummmm]

Joko - you're presuming that all young people want to do the things that you did.

If someone has no interest in something, then they are not missing out by not doing it.

[Marsh12]

Hi Ron,
In your example, twenty years after you die.

[joko]

umm... no, i am not presuming anything of the sort - you are presuming that thats what i am saying

even though i have said a few times now, and reiterated it - if you care to actually read my numerous comments - that i was referring ONLY to the ones that did it young and regretted it...they are the ones i feel sorry for - because once its done it cannot be undone - and its for life...

id have thought it was pretty obvious that i was not suggesting every single person who has ever had children at a young age is miserable and regrets it ... do i really need to say it out loud?

just because you did it and were happy, doesnt mean everyone else is happy... and its a very important thing that should be noted.

[MissCommando]

I agree with ummmm. I was a young mum and don't feel as though I've missed out on anything. Never been career driven or wanted nights out etc. I had my daughter 3 days before my 20th birthday.
I got pregnant quite quickly into my relationship but we're still together after 6 years :)
I did find it hard when my daughter was a baby as she had terrible colic. Would I cope better now? (I'm 25), I don't know.
I think everything happens for a reason and I'm glad I had her when I did as for the past 3 years, my husband has become disabled with other health ailments.
Maybe we'd decide not to have children now with the way things are so I'm glad I was a youngish mum.
My mum was about 22 when she had me and she's my best friend, I feel like I can talk to her about anything. I like having a youngish mum.

People talk about being secure and having a house but I doubt that many people pay their mortgage off before having children. Anyone can be made redundant at anytime though so I don't think anyone is really 'secure'.

[MissCommando]

Oh and to answer your question, pretending you're in a happy relationship and ready to have a baby, I'd say late 20s is a nice age. I personally think over 40 is too old to have a baby (sorry if I've offended anyone), just my opinion.

[Caran]

I had my daughter at 19. She had her first at 35, she has 5 altogether her last ones were twins when she was 44. She copes wonderfully and is a marvellous mum. Not that I'm biased!

[Mamyalynne]

By the age of 26 I had two daughters, in my forties we went out clubbing as a team lol (their idea), wonderful times and no planning just happy happenings.

[Jenarry]

I had my 1st child at aged 33. he's 6 now which has worked very well for me waiting til this age and i'm thinking about having baby number 2 but i've just turned 40 so i'm really torn between it being my last chance and i should hurry up if i want to do it and maybe i've left it too late already. :O(