Poll: Older Parents - How old is too old?

[wozza2k]

You could be a billionaire, but as soon as you have your first child you will never be worry free again.

If you are earning above average salary, then you are financially ready.

What is considered average though? And it massively depends on lifestyle and expectations of life.

 

[SirJinks]

There is the saying I once heard from someone that if you wait until you can afford to have kids... you'll never have them.

Anyway I'm 46 (nearly 47) with a 4.5 year old boy and my wife is 48. I had a daughter from my first marriage when I was 28 so in comparison its definitely more of an effort now but if you want to be "hands on" that's only to be expected. Ignoring biological implications for women as long as you are physically (and mentally) equipped then there is no limit. Whether your offspring will want you to be mistaken for their grandparents in the school playground is another matter

 

[Prophet]

I'm 41 and my wife is 33. We're planning on starting a family as soon as it happens.

I always wanted kids in my mid 20's but didn't find the right woman. Now I have and we're both in good places financially the sooner the better, for us.

 

[George Hincapie]

Early 40s at the latest I'd say; from a practical perspective if nothing else. Why bring a child into the World you won't live long enough to raise?

 

[Spacedeck]

Had a child at 25 and the GF was 23 and during late pregnancy I was made redundant, so wasn't exactly financially prepared. Doesn't mean we care or love her less than anyone who has money though. I think once we age past 40 we would have thought about not having a child but 50 for us would be a no.

 

[Kreeeee]

.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

The woman in the article is 64, and I just think that's horrendously selfish.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

Maybe the kid for her is like a late life crisis thing. The same way mid life crisis' work, you panic and decide you are going to have things in your life that you did before you were mid life. This time its late life and she wants mid life things

 

[cheesyboy]

We had our first when I was 27 (Mrs cheesyboy is 18 months older). 2nd when I was 31 (arrived on my birthday ).

Of my son's friends, I'm the youngest Dad by 4 years.

To be honest, though, I wouldn't want to have been much older. This way I'll still be young enough to enjoy it when we regain our independence.

The financial side is noticeable when compare with our son's friends' families. But a lot of that is down to house price movements more than us having kids younger (i.e. they bought their houses so much cheaper than were were able to)

 

[SquirrelMadness]

Personally I see breeding as a life priority, and financial stability as something to work on alongside it.

I think if you put money first you end up becoming selfish then later on choose not to have kids so you can hold on to your pennies (or have only one child so you don't have to spend as much).

Another disadvantage of having kids later is that you lose practice in how to deal with them so when they do finally come along you become unsure of what do to.

If you're abstaining from relationships to persue career goals first (a lot of guys are like this) you will have no clue what to do when it finally comes time to get into a relationship.

+ A young brain will bond better with a child than an old brain.

Relationships, kids, sex etc... best to start early in life. Ideal age for kids: 25.

 

[Captain]

There was a lad in my school who had parents aged 54 and 62, he's now 24 and they are both dead.

 

[G-MAN2004]

I'd say 50 is the limit.

I can't imagine having really old parents. Mine had me at 21 and 23 and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

 

[Tosno]

Personally I see breeding as a life priority, and financial stability as something to work on alongside it.

I think if you put money first you end up becoming selfish then later on choose not to have kids so you can hold on to your pennies (or have only one child so you don't have to spend as much).

Another disadvantage of having kids later is that you lose practice in how to deal with them so when they do finally come along you become unsure of what do to.

If you're abstaining from relationships to persue career goals first (a lot of guys are like this) you will have no clue what to do when it finally comes time to get into a relationship.

+ A young brain will bond better with a child than an old brain.

Relationships, kids, sex etc... best to start early in life. Ideal age for kids: 25.

+1

A man after my own heart.

 

[Tefal]

Im 27 my dad is 70 mum 68.

Both are fully active and all there though

 

[NotAGolf]

Me and the missus are due to have our first in the next month or so. We're both 30. I think we're in the a good position, but I do also feel like we've left it quite late, so I'm very surprised at people who are happy to wait into the 40's.

I wouldn't want to leave it that late personally. Not that I think because it's too old, but more to do with the increased risk of problems at that age.

 

[McBain]

Bag up, enjoy money and freedom.

 

[Hitman_Leon]

combination older father younger mother passes on superior genes.

Oh please, what on earth have you been reading

I'd say mid 40's is the latest anyone should consider having children due to health risks increasing with age. As an addition to this I think it would be unfair to the child to not be there for them/have them lose a parent to age related issues while they are still young.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I think something worse than losing a parent to age related issues, would be to have 2 parents with age related health issues. This runs a big risk that the child will end up a carer.

 

[Hitman_Leon]

I think something worse than losing a parent to age related issues, would be to have 2 parents with age related health issues. This runs a big risk that the child will end up a carer.

That is also another risk.

 

[eatcustard]

Mid 30s, after that it starts to get harder keeping up with them as they get older.