How young is too young to have children?

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   The Finance Hubposted 11 years ago

   How young is too young to have children?
   
   I'm currently 24. I don't want to wait too long but, I'm not ready yet! How young is too young and how old is too old to have a baby?

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2. 61

   fpherj48posted 11 years ago

   Regardless of your current age....if you are "not ready"....you're too young.  Bless your heart for using common sense.   
   As for how old is too old?    Actually, both of these questions have many many variables.  It's really not all about the mother's age.  So much more to consider.  Give yourself the time you need.

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3. 62

   freecampingaussieposted 11 years ago

   I loved having my children when young , was 19,23 & 27, had 3 healthy girls !
   Keep in mind that sometimes people have problems conceiving then they can be too old to adopt etc .
   Think about the children growing up - can you cope with teenagers when you are a lot older etc .
   Allow yourself time  to have to try other options if needed .
   My oldest daughter started at 20 yet my middle daughter is off backpacking around Europe with her husband & friends so you need to feel ready .
   I love having older children & grandkids & later great grandkids while those that start very late might maybe get to see a grandchild born .

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4. 61

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   I was married at 19 but didn't have my first child until I was 30 and then another at 33. I have no regrets. I needed that time to mature.  You will know when you are ready because it will suddenly become the most important thing in your life.  It happens at different ages but it does happen.
   
   There is nothing worse than having a child when you are not ready - age is irrelevant if you don't feel ready.  Wait, have fun, it will happen.

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5. 60

   lav-seniorposted 11 years ago

   I think it's more about how sure your relationship is that it now wants to change from us to a family which can happy at 25 or not until your mid-30's.
   
   I generally think though that people who wait too late to have children are making a mistake (incredibly sorry if that offends anyone!) but it is a medical fact that the care a newborn, toddler, school child, teenager needs is much more difficult the older the parent as the energy levels just aren't there. So I suppose in essence it's two questions you need to ask: are we ready for a family? And if not, are we happy enough to shelve this for X years?

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   cakeinthemornposted 11 years ago

   As a mother of 4, I can whole heartedly say that if you feel like you are too young or that you aren't ready, then you are too young.  And that is okay!  Nothing says you have to be ready by a certain point or not. 
   
   I do think that having a child over the age of 40, while still good, increases the chances of your child having a genetic abnormality, specifically down's syndrome.  Because of this, your doctor and the hospital consider you high risk, so you have to go into the doctors office a lot more frequently and do a lot more scans to keep a close eye on what is happening.  Statistics show "advanced maternal age" increases the risks of many types of genetic issues that could be avoided otherwise. 
   
   But for the meantime, don't sweat it.  You are so young and have so much life in front of you.  When the time comes, you will know when you are ready for kids!

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   CraftingTimeposted 11 years ago

   My husband and I first got pregnant when I was 16. I had my second child at 21. I dont believe we did anything wrong. We took responiblity of our actions. My husband at 23, now owns his own business. I help him with office work. We spend plenty of family time with our children. We are young enough to keep up with our kids and will be around for a long time to enjoy them. We will barely be in our 40's when they are 18 and hopefully moving on to college. 40 is the new 20 isn't it?
   So anyway, I think that there really isnt an age that is 'too young' as long as you are prepared and responsable and love your children.

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   1. 62

      freecampingaussieposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am 47 & my girls are 28,25 & 20, my girls loved having a young fun mum who did things with them like boogie boarding, swimming etc as so many older mums just would sit and watch. I love now being able to travel etc, I had more patience then

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