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The best age to start a family?

(56 Posts)
nanna8 Fri 28-Oct-22 23:56:00

Nowadays ,with rising costs, some couples are waiting much longer before they have children. It wasn’t unusual to have children very young when we married. I can see advantages both ways. - energy being the obvious one when you are young yourself and the ability to get down and really play ( and the desire to ). On the other hand you have more stability and a higher living standard when you are a bit older. One of my grandchildren had a baby at a very young age and she said she couldn’t find anything in common with many of the other mums she met, they were too ‘old’. Another daughter waited until she was almost 40 and she is a different sort of mum, a lot wiser but perhaps a bit more fussy .

Gingster Sun 30-Oct-22 07:50:04

My db has just been made a grandfather for the first time. He will be 80 in January. His daughter is 41.

Norah Sun 30-Oct-22 12:12:41

Gingster

My db has just been made a grandfather for the first time. He will be 80 in January. His daughter is 41.

Well done them. I've wondered what life would be had we waited a decent interval after we married.

Different for sure. Better? No way to know.

Sandytoes Mon 14-Nov-22 14:30:45

I had both my DCs in my early twenties .Now I would have waited a few more years to be more financially stable , and although I had more energy I had less patience . My DC have had their children in their 30s and are brilliant parents.

BlueSapphire Tue 15-Nov-22 17:27:11

Married at nearly 27, wanted a baby but decided to wait until we were able to afford our own house. Then waited 2 more years until we'd furnished it and were then ready.
Sadly had two miscarriages, putting us back another two years.
Third time lucky and DS was born when I was nearly 34, followed four years later by DD, when I was almost 38. Classed as elderly mother both times!
Would have loved my babies sooner, but things have turned out just fine anyway.

Bellanonna Tue 15-Nov-22 18:55:45

First at 29, second at 31. Both had babies in their late 30s so Im an old gran to young grandchildren. It’s lovely.