If money and health was no issue, what would be the maximum age you would be willing to have kids?

[Lumpy1106]

Had my youngest when I was 46. It wasn't the plan but it's been fantastic. I don't know if I'd go much older than that. Her college still feels a long way off (she's 9) and it's getting harder to ignore my age.

 

[HannaBelle]

30

My husband and I met at 12.
Started dating at 18.
Got married at 21 and had our 1st right away.
Our 2nd when we were 26.

We are now 51, and I wish we had had 2 more. We had great kids and are good parents.

I doubt I will get to have grandchildren. Our DS29 does not have a SO and is leaning towards not having children based on his experiences with his close friends now having children.

Our DD25 is choosing not to have children. She has pseudotumor cerebri which is a rare neurological condition that causes severe migraines. Her daily life is a struggle, he husband works fulltime and supports them both. It breaks my heart but she is still young and things could improve.

 

[Kimkimba]

I had my kids when I was 22, 31, 37, and 41.

My youngest is almost 16 and I do not feel old, nor am I old. I’d do it all again, maybe adding a few kids.

There is also 18 years between me and my oldest sister. My youngest daughter has a cousin 40 years older than her.

 

[mylilnikita]

30 like I did in real life lol.

 

[jo-jo]

I've been done having kids for many years now. I had my son when I was 23, which coincidently was the same age my Mama was when she had me. I'm the last of 6. I decided early on 30 was my top age and I stuck to it. I wanted to have my tubes tied when I was around 25 and my Doc. refused. I already had my son and was a single parent and knew at that time I didn't want any more. When I hit 30, I said no excuse now tie them, even though I was still single. I grew up with young parents and I watched them enjoy life as we got older and they had time to do what they wanted to do and were still young. My son, just had his one and only when he was 41. Kind of makes me sad because I'm 65 now and I know my grand daughter will only have memories of an older grand mom, as opposed to my son who knew his grand mom when she was in her 40s and 50s and has some great memories of travelling around with her.

But 60 is now the new 40. Or something like that.

I remember my grandmother was she was about 60ish. You went, said hello, got kiss and hug and ate the food she made. That was it. Of course she didn't speak much english, so there's that. Grandparents today are doing soooooo much more with kids. Doesn't have to be traveling, coloring, playdoh, baking, going to mcdonald's , that all counts too.

 

[DLgal]

30 for me.

I had mine at 25 and 27 and it was perfect. They are both special needs kids and will need support for a LONG time and I hope to be around until they are both little old men themselves.

It's a scary prospect to think about a future for my son's without me amd my husband around, so hopefully by the time we go, our kids will be independent and able to manage without us.

I know several older parents of special needs kids and they worry about not being around SO much. One of my friends was around 47 when her daughter was born the same year as my son. She's now pushing 65 with an 18 year old who is nowhere near being self sufficient. I can't imagine.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

When I was younger I said absolutely no kids after 30. My mom was 35 and my dad was 40 when I was born in 78, and that was kind of old to have kids. They were the same age as my friends grandparents lol. I remember that embarassing me as a dumb kid. But they both died at 54, so I was 14 &19. I was not going to do that to my kids (yes I know that it doesn't mean I will die young).
But in my 20's DH and I just weren't ready. I ended up having them at 32 and 35. I had my tubes tied when my youngest was born because my pregnancies were not fun and I was old enough!

Both my sisters-in-law didn’t married until their mid 30’s. The oldest who is 73 has a 37 year old daughter who also hasn’t married yet or had any kids. I hope she gets to become a grandmother some day cause I know she would really love that. My other SIL had 4 boys, her last was just 2 months before her 44th birthday. I know her sons were embarrassed with how old their parents were. They were the same age as their friend’s grandparents. Their dad passed at 69 and their mom has multiple health issues. She thinks that one of her sons is going to take care of her 24/7 but they are nowhere near retirement age to be able to do that. Her oldest is only 36.

 

[ronandannette]

When I was younger I said absolutely no kids after 30. My mom was 35 and my dad was 40 when I was born in 78, and that was kind of old to have kids. They were the same age as my friends grandparents lol. I remember that embarassing me as a dumb kid. But they both died at 54, so I was 14 &19. I was not going to do that to my kids (yes I know that it doesn't mean I will die young).
But in my 20's DH and I just weren't ready. I ended up having them at 32 and 35. I had my tubes tied when my youngest was born because my pregnancies were not fun and I was old enough!

Life is weird like that sometimes. My Mom was 13 years older than my Dad and already had 3 teens when they married. He realllly wanted a child of his own so along I came when the rest were grown and my Mom was 50. She often said her greatest fear was of dying during my childhood and leaving me motherless. Turns out she lived to be 99 - 16 years after my Dad died and the year I turned 50 myself. You just really can’t know.

 

[adkkev]

@Buzz Rules …. What’s your answer to the question you posed? You often pose questions on here but seldom answer them yourself. Just curious.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

DH and I are 48 & 45 now and our kids are 19 & almost 21 and both in college. We are loving our decision to have them in our 20s! I’m doing all my traveling now and it’s great because I can do it with my adult children. DD and I are planning a trip through Europe next year for her college graduation!

I would say latest for me would be 30. I loved being a young mom, I never worried about anything! I also had so much energy!! I’m a nanny so I’m still basically living the stay at home mom life (just in someone else’s home and getting paid, and I get to go home at the end of the day!) and I can tell you I have much less energy for running around kid stuff than I did 20 years ago!

That's great for you but again no way would we have had kids in our early to mid 20's. I'm 62 and just got done practicing flag football with my 18 year old daughter and we still travel also.

 

[White Cat]

That's great for you but again no way would we have had kids in our early to mid 20's. I'm 62 and just got done practicing flag football with my 18 year old daughter and we still travel also.

My brother is 60 and has a 17 year old. No way would I want that.

 

[holden]

My kids came along when I was 34 and 38 (we adopted). I would have preferred to have them a little younger (starting around 30). I definitely don't want any more now.

 

[Buzz Rules]

@Buzz Rules …. What’s your answer to the question you posed? You often pose questions on here but seldom answer them yourself. Just curious.

40. I don’t have kids yet but want them. I just haven’t found my special person yet. But 40 would be my cut off.

 

[DCLMP]

Whenever you have a good partner(marriage is a plus} some financial stability, and can get pregnant. How can you predict that?

 

[DizneyFamof4]

My brother is 60 and has a 17 year old. No way would I want that.

Um OK? What does that have to do with me saying between 30-35? Maybe you should read my first post!
I will just say that if life and miscarriages happen and you have to choose later in life whether to have children or not, I guess you wouldn't of had any children, and we chose to have children and had 2 fantastic daughters. Everyone has to make their own decisions.

 

[starry_solo]

Mid to late 20s. I would also like a nanny to help.

 

[Cheburashka]

Any age, if health and money were truly not issues, but of course they are, particularly health, which is why it's hard to have kids when you're older. But if I magically didn't have any limitations, I would wish to always have a child.

 

[mousefan73]

I think it depends on one's relationship status.. I didnt meet my DH until 29 and I loooved my wild 20s... traveled, had flings, had a great social network and a job that took me places. Wouldnt trade those years in to have a baby early.. Now had I been the type who meets their partner early in life ( I had friends who married in the early 20s) then that is different for me and having babies makes sense younger if one is already tied down.

If I look back at my early/ mid 20s.. no way was I ready to have a kid. I was to busy being me.

One caveat with having kids older is grandparents. You run the risk of them not being able to be active in your grandchilds life as either they may have health issues or are too busy enjoying retirement and being active and not available.

 

[Carol_]

20 years before I die suddenly by lightning strike.

 

[china mom]

from personal experience-it would be dependent on how old my hypothetical parents were when they had me.

if you are born to older parents (in my real life case-mom approaching 40, dad in his 50's), even if you have your children in your early 20's you may be dealing with parenting both your children and at least one of your parents at the same time. no amount of health or money on your own part can be of assistance with the struggles.

This.

Mom was only 32 when she had me. I was 38 when I had my son so she was 70. Luckily, her health held out until my kids were old enough to not need me so much but when they were young teens, Mom had moved in with me and needed full time care. I am glad I was able to be there for her but felt guilty for the time it robbed from my kids. I could not have done it if they were younger.