What counts as a young parent, average age and an older parent?

[Girly123]

Just out of interest what are people's opinions. What age counts as a young parent, an 'average' or 'typical' parent (if there is such thing) and an older parent? I am not by any means saying any of these are wrong or right or anything just purely out of interest.

My thinking....

Under 20 - teen parent
20-28 - young parent
29-35 - 'normal/typical' (this doesn't mean the other categories aren't normal I just didn't know what to call it lol)
36 plus - older parent

I would love to be a young parent, and then wait and few years but I quite like the idea of a child around 35/36 as well when the younger ones have grown up a bit. We shall see xx

 

[lozzy21]

Depends on your area, in mine i was classed as an older mum when i had my first at 23! Most have their first by the time they are 19.

For me a young parent would be 18-22 and older would be over 35.

 

[Elpis_x]

I think the average age for mothers (at birth of the baby), in the UK anyway, is about 29. I guess I would consider that a "typical" age.

If all goes to plan, then I'll probably be around 26 when we have our first, so not exactly young, but younger than average. If I had it my way then I'd be 22-24!

 

[wtbmummy]

Well after I read through threads and seeing many other parents in my area (england) if all goes to plan I will be 25 and DH 26 when we give birth to our first and we will be classed as older parents. In this area most people have their babies between 18-23 23being their last. I think it all depends on your area. Knowing we will be 30 when our child starts school in this area makes us very old although we are most definetely not

 

[wishuwerehere]

I would call under 25 young, 25-35 average and over 35 older. most people I know with kids started in their late 20s or early 30s

 

[staralfur]

I would call under 25 young, 25-35 average and over 35 older. most people I know with kids started in their late 20s or early 30s

I would say this as well!

I had my DD when I was 23 and definitely felt like a young mom where I am. By the time I have my next (26 most likely) I would consider myself at a pretty 'normal' age for having children.

 

[tori0713]

I would call under 25 young, 25-35 average and over 35 older. most people I know with kids started in their late 20s or early 30s

Definitely agree with this! I really do believe this depends on where you live, though.

Where we were living prior to our move 23 was old to not have children. I was the oldest of my friends and the only friend that was childless. Now, we would be considered pretty young to have children between 24-25.

 

[MelliPaige]

I would call under 25 young, 25-35 average and over 35 older. most people I know with kids started in their late 20s or early 30s

I agree, almost nobody around here waits until they're 30

 

[hshucksmith]

I'm 20 and pregnant, and I feel so old although I know I'm not! My OH is 34 (35 soon) and says he feels very young!

 

[thestarsfall]

I feel like I am old compared to people around me...I live in an area where teen pregnancy is relatively common, as well as early marriage (like either married right out of highschool or in the last year or right out of university/college)...so there are couples who have been married for 3 years or so who are younger than me (I'm 26) who are having children now. It isn't so weird until I actually start thinking about it because in my head they're all "around my age" so I don't feel older...but then I remember that nope, they're actually 3 years younger than me...but have been married for twice as long or longer, and some are having their 2nd kid already.

I need to get on the bandwagon...lol.

 

[babybaker2011]

In my area, 18 - 23 is young and 24 - 35 is average. A lot of women around here are very focused on their careers and wait a little longer to have children.

 

[PnkPolkaDots]

I agree with others that it depends on where you live. I came across this a while ago and found it interesting, even if it is dated.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5419a5.htm

It shows the average age of first time mothers by state (sorry it's only the US). 26 is average in my state, and that's how old I am now. To me, that means I need to get on it because I really don't want to be an "older" mom. I wanted to be a "younger" mom but I think that ship has sailed.

 

[MelliPaige]

I agree with others that it depends on where you live. I came across this a while ago and found it interesting, even if it is dated.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5419a5.htm

It shows the average age of first time mothers by state (sorry it's only the US). 26 is average in my state, and that's how old I am now. To me, that means I need to get on it because I really don't want to be an "older" mom. I wanted to be a "younger" mom but I think that ship has sailed.

That's pretty interesting, 24 in my state

 

[kiki13]

I'm in India and here, there typical age used to be very young (18-21) but now a lot of young women roefer to wait till 26-27 years of age. I'm 23 and would definitely be classified as a young mom!

 

[MariposaTam]

According to the stats above 24 is average in my state. I think it has changed a bit to where it is 25/26 for the average since then but I'm still going to be close to the older category by the time I have my first. We have a few moms at my work with babies in their 40's and its no big deal.

 

[loeylo]

I would say that there is a few peaks here actually! A lot of people had kids when they were 17-19 which I consider "young" (a few were under 17, but im talking generally here) - then there was a few years when not so many babies were born.
Then between 21 and 23 there were TONNES of babies born - I'm talking one a month within my friends!
It has all died down a bit now, but I expect within a few years there will be more again.

Where I am, it comes down to education I think. The under 17s were mostly single parents (with a few exceptions!) who didn't work even before falling pregnant, and still don't now 7 years later. They left school at the earliest opportunity and made no effort to go to college/uni, and mostly rely on benefits to get by.
Then there were the 17-19 year olds. Most of them left education pretty young, but tended to be in relationships (most of whom are now not, mind you!) and had jobs. A lot of them had actually planned to have kids.
Then, the 21-23 year olds tended to already have their own place (rented) and have managed to secure better jobs and be in more secure relationships, but mostly still didn't go to uni etc.

I guess I will probably fall into the 25-27 bracket, as in I will have done uni, secured a career and own a home but still considered to be young. Don't really know what happens after that as im only 24, but generally I would say under 25 is young, 25-30 is average, and 30+ is old.

 

[tori0713]

Where I am, it comes down to education I think.

Absolutely. I think even though I graduated from college 2 years ago at 21 and got married directly after, people still think I'm young. We've been married for 2 years and both have education (a Bachelor's for me, military for my husband, but he's enrolled full time in college) and my husband has more life experience than people who are in their mid to late 20s. He's been deployed twice and I think the military made him much more mature.

However, people still judge us for being so young and already married. The norm in our area is getting married in mid to late 20s and having babies in late 20s, early 30s. Young parents here are often uneducated or are single and working through college. It stinks that people throw judgment so quickly, but I'm in a secure relationship and when I do have a baby at 24 or 25, it will be well planned and thought out, regardless of what people may think.

 

[Varenne]

Under 25- Young
25-35- Average
Over 35 Older

I'm 25 and have to wait a year to TTC #1. I can't wait to be a "youngish average" mum!

 

[ZubZub]

I'm 35 and feel ancient on this site! But I'm one of the youngest out of the moms in my sons class. People in SA seem to focus on getting established before having kids. But we don't have free anything (medical, education) and no benefits so if you want anything decent you gotta pay up! It sounds so strange to hear ladies in their early 20's talking about having kids!

 

[Kayleigh Lou]

I was 18 when i fell pregnant with my first. When she went to school i was one of the older mums in the playground (i kid you not!!!)

Now we have moved and im one of the younger if not youngest mum in the playground. Its quite daunting as some of the mums are the same age as my mum! (46)

I just think im an average age mum tbh. 27, married for 5 years (happily at that lol) and 3 kiddies