are people having kids younger these days?

[E21_Ross]

i'm only 21 and a lot of my mates are of similar age. i've heard of so many people from my old school or college have already had kids, some of them are 3-4 years old (the kids, not the people i went to school with! ). I just can't help but think that's a bit too soon for kids! most of them are unemployed and living off benefits, and those that aren't live in st places in town and the father has a st job because he has no qualifications because he didn't go to college or uni cos he had a kid to look after.

what you guys reckon?

[okgo]

Blame the increase in lower class types.

[Austin.J]

I'm 18 and quite a few people I know my age have kids, I struggle to look after myself, never mind a little version of me. I wouldn't voluntarily have kids till I've got a house/stable job.

[pad58]

Your might be right there , I had my first at 31.

[E21_Ross]

Austin.J said:

I'm 18 and quite a few people I know my age have kids, I struggle to look after myself, never mind a little version of me. I wouldn't voluntarily have kids till I've got a house/stable job.

EXACTLY my sentiments. there is no way i'd have a kid until i knew i could afford it. that's looking like late 20's, which, sounds about the right age to have kids for me. 28-29 or so all IMO of course.

[Cartard]

Depends if you class 11 as young I s'pose.

[ShadownINja]

E21_Ross said:

Austin.J said:

I'm 18 and quite a few people I know my age have kids, I struggle to look after myself, never mind a little version of me. I wouldn't voluntarily have kids till I've got a house/stable job.

EXACTLY my sentiments. there is no way i'd have a kid until i knew i could afford it. that's looking like late 20's, which, sounds about the right age to have kids for me. 28-29 or so all IMO of course.

Sadly, most people don't think. Or they think there's no point trying to save up because the government will look after me.

[ZOLLAR]

I don't think its age that's the problem I think its the mentality of the people having children, I'm 23 (almost) and I have a (almost) 2 year old son also have my second (and final) child due in august, but when myself and my girlfriend found out we were having a child our mindset changed I was going to be responsible for another human, we both work I do overtime when possible and we live comfortably,
I have mates that earn the same as me but have no responsibilities and they are skint half way through the month.
There is however being too young in my mind its 18 but it depends again on mentality I know 30 year olds who would be crap parents simply because they can't look after themselves.
If your willing to work hard thens there's no problem, the thing that really grates me is people having kids just so they don't have too work and can get benefits.

[Beirut Taxi]

E21_Ross said:

the father has a st job because he has no qualifications because he didn't go to college or uni cos he had a kid to look after.

I think you are wrong on that count. There are plenty of people who went straight into work after leaving school and became comparatively successful by the time they reached their early twenties.

It is mostly down to the attitude of the individual. A lot of the ones I know of still hold a basic job and don't progress because they don't put any effort into their job and life.

Edited by Beirut Taxi on Sunday 21st March 16:00

[E21_Ross]

Beirut Taxi said:

E21_Ross said:

the father has a st job because he has no qualifications because he didn't go to college or uni cos he had a kid to look after.

I think you are wrong on that count. There are plenty of people who have left school and are comparatively successful by the time they reach their early twenties.

It is mostly down to the attitude of the individual. A lot of the ones I know of still hold a basic job and don't progress because they don't put any effort into their job and life.

agreed

[Chrisgr31]

The age of parents depends who you mix with. Therefore if you have recently left school/college all the parents will be in late teens early 20's as all your friend are in that caterory.

I think you'll find there are more older parents these days, and a relatiely high number of people having second families, either by mistake or they have a new partner and want a kid by him

[Jasandjules]

The chavs are having them younger to get their house.

The working people however are having them later as they have to pay a mortgage etc.. so can't afford sprogs as early.

[E21_Ross]

Jasandjules said:

The chavs are having them younger to get their house.

The working people however are having them later as they have to pay a mortgage etc.. so can't afford sprogs as early.

makes sense. most of my friends parents are roughly, give or take, the same age as my parents, who had kids at 28 and 27 (dad 1 yr older!) and so most of my mates parents were about (give or take) that age. it's just i hear of soooooo many people giving birth before 20, it's crazy.

[ewenm]

In my experience older. Most of my friends are in their 30s before breeding. Social groups make a big difference though - nearly all my mates are graduates in professional jobs.

[Engineer1]

For a graduate late 20's to 30's seems to be the range for parent hood as people have finished uni got established and are in a position to afford kids.

[E21_Ross]

ewenm said:

In my experience older. Most of my friends are in their 30s before breeding. Social groups make a big difference though - nearly all my mates are graduates in professional jobs.

fair point. not saying i am friends with the chavvy types, just acquaintances. my actual friends are also around my age, but have not had kids yet. don't want you all thinking i'm "down wiv da krew like" alright

[becksW]

Well my mum was 19 when she had me. But parents were married, had a house etc. That was 35 years ago (they're still married) and I'm having my first in approx 2 weeks, no way would I have been ready at 19!

So no I don't think they are but I think more are not in a decent relationship or able to look after themselves these days and rely on the state system more.

[Negative Creep]

A lot of people around my age (27) are now having them or planning to. I know a few people who had them before they were 20; I don't think any of the relationships that spawned them are still going. I couldn't even imagine coping with a child when I was 18

[aclivity]

apparently (or so I heard on radio 4 a few months ago) there are 2 distinct groups -

• educated, middle & upper classes - having children later
• less well educated, lower and lower middle classes - having children earlier

Of course there are always outliers from every normal distribution, but the statistics appear to support a widening gap between the 2 groups.

So, OP, if your mates are having children now ... take a good look at them, are they a bit thick and chavvy?

[maturin23]

I'm 36 with two boys - 5 and 2.

The parents at my eldest's school (local Church of England primary in outer North London) are mainly all in their 30s, very few mid 20s and no teenagers at all.

I'm firmly convinced that a few years of disposable income before accepting the hugely rewarding but costly yoke of parenthood is a very good thing.

Edited by maturin23 on Sunday 21st March 22:53