How old were you when you had kids?

Wow.. thanks so much for posting this thread!! It made me breath a sigh of relief.... I had my 1st when I was almost 21, lived lift.. divorced.. and have now remarried just a month ago, my hubby is younger than me and has no kids... so we plan to have at least one and being that I am turning 35 in a few months I was beginning to worry about being "too old" to have another one.. but reading this gives me hope thanks!!

I don't have any babies yet, unfortunately. But my mom had us at 18, 23 and 27.

I'll be 31 when I have this one. Most of my friends are having kids now (and almost none had them really young). Of course we all finished school, got jobs, married, etc. before trying to have children. Seemed like an easier way to go for all involved.

23 and 27... would have waited longer.. get what you want done first. education, life accomplishments in general because after kids, my life is devoted to them and what they need.

I got pregnant with my son at 29 and delivered at 30. We are only having one child, so it was not bad. I got to do all the things I wanted to fun wise before I got pregnant. I think it is a good idea to wait until like 25. That way you have time to party, do nonkid friendly trips, etc. I also think it is improtant to wait until you are very secure in your relationship. Having a good way to support a child is also a good idea and a safe healthy place for them to stay. You are correct that everything in your life will change with a child. You are no longer #1. However if you wait until the perfect job, perfect house, large sum of money, etc you could be waiting for ever. I think at 21 you are just getting to know who you are, what you want, and what your partner wants. DO NOT have kids just because everyone else is. That is not going to help your relationship with your partner and can cause you to resent your child in a some ways for ending what you wanted in life.

I was married at 18, had my son at 19 and my daughter 10 days before my 22nd birthday. I had a great husband to raise these two wonderful children with. Things got bumpy after our divorce but we have made it work for the kids.

Now they are 15 and 12 (both with birthdays in July). I wouldn't change it for the world.

Is it for everyone? Probably not but I love being a young Mom and I truly have some really great kids. I have never been their "friend" either, a lot of people think that with being a young Mom = Mom/Friend.

If it was my kids wanting to have kids at 21, I would probably encourage them to wait until their mid to late 20's. I know things don't always work out like they have for me. I am not saying it is perfect but it has been pretty awesome.

Side note: I am lucky to have fallen into a great career that allows me to financially support them and myself. That is so very important because they can be very expensive! Keep that in mind. Good luck with your decision, maybe wait a few more years!

I was 16 when I got pregnant with my daughter and 22 with my son. I would not go back and change a single thing. Everything that has happened in my life has made me a stronger person and has opened my eyes, I love with all I have and my kids are my true blessings. I wouldn't want my life to be any other way. People have judged me for being a teenage mom but that is on them, this is my life and I love every day of it.

My daughter was born the day after my 31st birthday.

23 with my son and 27 with my daughter.....I love when my son says he has a hot mom!!!

I had my daughter 9 months ago, @ 25 yrs old Great timing for me anyways!

I had my twins at the age of 28, then another one at 31 and my fourth one at 40.
Every age has advantages and disadvantages.

my first at 19, my 2nd at 21, my 3rd at 25 and my 4th at 33...WOW! Shocking when I put it in writing! lol Just for the record I didn't even like kids..lol but I myself wouldn't change anything. I matured much faster than my friends but had time to still go out and have fun...didn't miss anything. If you have family to help out you can still have a night to yourself and such. I didn't have alot of support but still was able to do so. The plus side...when I am old I can enjoy some time with my hubby because they will all be moved out Although the last one did put a few extra years on my sentence (love the little guy)!!!

i was 31 with my first and almost 35 with my second. My husband was 40 with the first and 44 with the second.

i am so GLAD i waited. i was able to travel abroad and really figure out who i was before being tied down with kids. hindsight, i might have even waited a few more years so hubby and i could have had more time just the two of us. regardless, it's a very personal choice, but i wouldn't change it. it was worth the wait. AND i have far more patience than i did in my twenties. i felt like it was my decision and i was ready to give up the partying lifestyle at that point. i think if i had had my kids in my twenties, i might have resented having to give up some things. on the other hand, if you have them young, you are an empty nester at a younger age and able to do those things then. however, i think your 20's are about self discovery and it's hard to do that with the demands of a child. personally, i would discourage my children from having kids before their 30's. but, i would also encourage them to have them early enough that their kids will complete college while they are still in the workforce. my husband worries that he's going to have to work until he's 80.

Well i was 18 when i had my first and 23 with my second if I could have done over and got the same kiddos I would have waited until about 23 to have my first...not that I don't love my first I just feel like I screwed him out of some of the things that my daughter has that he never did.

#1 at 20
#2 at 26
#3 at 29
Vascectomy at 29.5! LOL

Love my oldest son but he deffinitely made me grow up in a hurry!