How old were you when you had kids?

My wife was 30 and I was 32 when we had our first...we now have another 2 and the youngest is 2. given the choice again I would have had them all before I was 25.

I'll be 56 by the time my youngest is 18....too old.

First one at age 17. Last one at 42. (Was actually pregnant at 45)

My wife was 26 and I was 27 when we had our first daughter. She was 32 and I was 33 when we had our second daughter. We got married right after college - at ages 21 and 22 - and decided beforehand that we would take the first five years of our marriage to get our careers started and do what we wanted to do before we had children. No regrets on that at all.

It's all a matter of preference. I knew I wanted to enjoy my kids when I still had the energy to go after them. My best friend in high school lost her dad during her sophomore year and then lost her mom junior year in college. Her parents married late in life and had them in their 40s. I wanted to have my kids before the age of 30 before you get more prenatal tests to take. I had my first daughter at 25, my second daughter at 28, my son at 29 and my youngest daughter at 31. My doctor wanted me to take more batteries of prenatal test with my last pregnancy that I don't ever recall taking with the previous 3 kids. Her reasoning is as we age there are other factors to consider that would effect baby's developement. Funny how life works- I was hoping to have a girl and boy and ended up with 4 then divorced :laugh:

like many on here I had mine at 19.. it was different to your situation though... I went into the Dr's with a cold and walked out pregnant!!! she was not planned and even though I had been with the father for a few years before I knew that he would choose not to be in her life. Yes it was hard, yes we were broke, yes everyone gave their opinion including adoption, termination and the like but I DO NO REGRET ONE MOMENT, I now have 3 wonderful children, my eldest now 16 and am truly happy.

I look at a lot of my friends and they are just starting... I am closer to the finish line, my youngest is 12 this year. I feel that I have a much better conection with my children than many of the older parents that we know and I am far more open to discussing issues than the other 'older parents' (just an observations not a generalisation).

If your planning then wait till YOU ARE BOTH READY, you do not want to be sitting at the Gyno's looking at your husband/boyfriend and thinking oh dear, what have I done.

but what ever happens, you will be okay

26 with my first and 32 with my twins.

I am done I think. I kind of like the idea of having some freedom in my 40's. They will be older, easier and not so constant.

I had my son one month before my 21st birthday (he was an unplanned blessing), and I had my daughter when I was 25 (she was planned). All I can say is, raising kids is the hardest job you will EVER have. You will have little to no time for yourself, it is much harder to connect as a couple when you are trying to meet the needs of a child, and it is VERY expensive. That being said, I love both of my kids very much and I don't regret having either of them at the ages I did. Yes, I would like to have more time to do things that I want to do...and I would love to have more "alone" time with my husband, but what parent doesn't feel that way?

It is hard when I see other people our age going out every night, or just going out whenever they feel like it, but my husband and I will get to experience that too- it will just take much longer for us to get there. When other people are shuttling their kids back and forth to kindergarten, ours will be grown. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is good and bad in everything. Don't have kids before you're ready, but know that when you do choose to have them, you will sacrifice for them because you will love them more than you love yourself.

I got pregnant And had my first child at 32! I'm 34 now and don't plan on having anymore!! We wanted to wait until we could afford it!

I would recommend waiting! I had my son at 17 and it was certinaly not a celebration within my family. I dedicated my life to my son and would not change a thing. But that being said I do wish that my pregnancy and child had been more of a celebration and a little bit less challenging. I do believe that the experiences we gain in life help us to better prepare for the joys and challenges of raising children! That being said here I am now at 42, recently married and loving life; travelling and being independant! I think you will know when the time is right!

I was 16 with my first son, I was in 11th grade. I finished high school and I think i was a really good mom. My son is going into 8th grade in the fall with stright A's, he is a great kid and I would not trade him for the world. With that said I would never recomend having a child at that age. I left my sons father when he was three, and I married my husband when my son was seven. I now have two more boys (5, and 2) being married and planning children was a far better experience, everyone was happy for me!

It comes down to choice and personal circumstances really. My Mum was 20 when she had me- but she had been married for 2 years, and had a house & a husband with a good salary.

I'm nearly 29 and have not had children yet, but I'm glad as my circumstances have been different. I have had a long education, been to university and built a good career. I am unmarried and live in a rented apartment still in a city centre. I *personally* would like to wait a couple more years until I move into a bigger house outside the city, with good savings and get married- so approx 31-33 years old. However I am in a stable job and relationship so if it were to happen sooner by accident- no biggie we would work things out.

I had my son when I was 25 and my daughter when I was 37. They're both keepers...but having a toddler while I'm dealing with my 40s can be trying sometimes!

I was 26 when I had my one and only. I think I was much more able to enjoy her. You are so young still, I say wait until you get more established.

20, 22, 24 .. thank goodness cause I had a hysterectomy at 26

I was 25, 28 and 30 when I had my boys. The only thing I may have changed was being married longer and enjoying the newlywed time before the first baby came. I was pregnant at my wedding and didn't know it.