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How old were you when your first grandchild was born?

(207 Posts)
Juno56 Mon 12-Aug-19 20:24:00

Hello, new member here. I joined because my first grandchild will be born in late November. I am 63 and hadn't thought I was particularly old to be a first time grandma. However, when I mentioned the baby to a (slightly older) acquaintance she said: "ooh that's very late; I was under 50. You might not see her grow up"!! I was so taken aback that I had no response. It set me wondering though, as young couples delay starting a family it inevitably means that grandparents are older than was the norm a few years ago. So if people don't mind sharing, how old were you when you became a grandparent?

Nannyfrance Tue 13-Aug-19 14:28:47

I was 37 and my DGD was often mistaken for my daughter which was nice but because I was still in full time employment I couldn’t spend enough quality time with her. At the age of 31 she has recently become a mother herself which makes me a Great grandmother at the age of 68.

Hm999 Tue 13-Aug-19 14:37:36

I was 64. I think DGD's other grannie was 48 when her 1st DGC was born. My sister was 59.

susieq3 Tue 13-Aug-19 14:49:26

69 when the first one was born and 71 when the second one was born. Hope I live long enough to see them married.

jenni123 Tue 13-Aug-19 15:00:28

41 for the 1st one, she now has a son of her own, and 65 for the last one.

Pineapplerock Tue 13-Aug-19 15:03:03

I was 39,I had my second daughter when I was 20 and she had my gd when she was 19 and last year I was made a great gran at the age of 58?

mumofmadboys Tue 13-Aug-19 15:05:41

61 and still waiting!

JudeClarke Tue 13-Aug-19 15:11:12

39! It was a bit of a "surprise" but I loved it. I used to get mistaken for my first grandchild's mum quite a lot. It doesn't happen so much now I'm 50 and have six grandkids between the ages of 18 months and 11...

Lin1959 Tue 13-Aug-19 15:19:19

I was 45 when I became a Granny for the 1st time and 59 when Grandchild number 10 arrived

fluttERBY123 Tue 13-Aug-19 15:31:23

60 - I was champing at the bit in my 50s thinking would not be able to run after them in the park - just about managed it. There are now eight of them ranging from 6 - 19. There will not be any more.

maryrose54 Tue 13-Aug-19 15:41:07

First dgc arrived 3 weeks before my 60th birthday, and the next arrived 3 days before her brothers second birthday. My daughter had them both at the same age that I had my two children. Didn't feel too old or too young.

maryhoffman37 Tue 13-Aug-19 15:44:36

I was 68! Have had four more in the six years since then.

Calendargirl Tue 13-Aug-19 15:47:24

I was 49.

kaycee Tue 13-Aug-19 15:53:29

I was 66 - we had our son in our thirties and he and his wife both went to uni and built careers before they had their children. I do get tired when we look after them but so cherish the time we spend with them and have fun - I can sleep later!. Planning to last at least into my 90s so I can see them grow up. I often reflect that our son will probably be in his late 60s when he becomes a granddad.

Rissybee Tue 13-Aug-19 16:00:59

I was 59 for the first (now 15) and 73 for the fourth and latest who is just one year old. It’s wonderful, a new lease of life with the birth of each.

callgirl1 Tue 13-Aug-19 16:05:50

I was 48, there are 7 grandchildren, I was just a few days short of 65 when the last one arrived. Now it`s great grandchildren that are arriving. I was 72 when the first arrived, nearly 75 for the second, and will be 76 when the next one arrives in February.

clareken Tue 13-Aug-19 16:06:55

I was 39 for the first one and 47 for the third. Don't think there will be any more.

GabriellaG54 Tue 13-Aug-19 16:12:41

I was 42 with a 1yr old child when my first born daughter married aged 19 and had first child 11 months later aged 20.

pamdixon Tue 13-Aug-19 16:16:36

I really wanted to be a grandmother before I was 60 - but first grandchild arrived shortly after my 60th birthday! Now got 6 grandchildren - last one born when I was 70.

annifrance Tue 13-Aug-19 16:16:48

58 for the first two, 60 for the third. Just right.

Willow3 Tue 13-Aug-19 16:19:11

I was 68 with the first and 71 for the next two. My Mum had me at 33 and I had my first at 33 and my daughter was 34 with her 1st. I wish I had been younger as it is exhausting looking after a 4 year old and babies!. Better late than never though.

HannahLoisLuke Tue 13-Aug-19 16:26:43

I was 45 when my first grandchild was born. Two years later I had my youngest child (second husband) so my son was an uncle before he was born.
Three grandchildren all adults now and they and my son are like siblings.

SheenaF Tue 13-Aug-19 16:33:06

I was 64 - just - but then I didn’t have my first daughter until I was 30 and it was my youngest who had the first grandchild. It’s all to do with choices and I chose to have babies later, as has my eldest who is now 35 and still planning to wait another couple of years. I’m not bothered

Glammy57 Tue 13-Aug-19 16:36:37

I was fifty when our only granddaughter was born. Our daughter was a few months shy of her 29th birthday and had graduated as a doctor four years prior to this. DGD is now twelve and there will be no more grandchildren. We are a close and happy family of four - our daughter being divorced!

nanamac77 Tue 13-Aug-19 16:59:32

Have I missed something or am I the oldest - so far - having been 66 when my first grandson was born and 68 for the second. . I'm now 75 and they are 6 and 9. I don;t go camping with them but am game for lots of other things!

Fennel Tue 13-Aug-19 17:07:36

I was 61 when my step-daughter had her first baby.
66 when eldest son and DiL had their first son. He was born the day after Mum died.
The other 2 never had their own children - one adopted, the other seems happy with her partner.
We all have our own family happinesses and sadnesses.