Best time to have kids

[ThrashAttack]

When would you guys say is the best time to have kids?

[losing touch.]

i'd say never.

but urm, i guess when you're married or with someone who you want to have kids with/plan on staying with? not really a 'best time.'

[Lizzie]

Well emotionally and finically ready are going to be different from person to person. But the health risks decrease for mom and baby once she is in her early twenties. Teen pregnancies even up until 18-19 year old pregnancies have higher complication risks than those women in their early twenties.
If you are planning on creating a child with someone, I would say hold off unless she is a few years older than you. Creating a teen pregnancy on purpose is not the best idea just from a physical stand point, it would be best to wait a few more years.
And that is just from the physical stand point, not including all the other resources it takes to raise a child.

[Nicola]

I think when you're in a loving, committed relationship- not necessarily married, but committed, and financially able to take care of a baby, and when both people are ready for children.

Of course things happen and people make them work just as well so I guess it all depends!

[her_beautiful_mistake]

It depends on the people. I'd say you have to be financially and emotionally stable, in a loving and commited relationship that has lasted at least 2-3 years with you both successfully living together.

As for age, over 20 and the complications with birth decrease. Over 30 and the woman's fertility starts to rapidly decrease every year. So between 20 and 30 is the safest and most successful time to try for a baby.

Personally, I want to have my own house, my own car, and be either engaged or married before I start trying for a baby. I also want to be stable in my career and at a point where I could take maternity leave without a problem. For me, this will probably be around 28, I will graduate from medical school at 26 and want to complete my first two years of foundation training before I start trying. I would like to have my first baby before I am 30.

It's fun to think about this stuff

[Nicolette]

It all depends... my husband and I have been married going on 4 years, together going on 7... as much as everyone wanted us to have kids after we got married we were still renting, still weren't financially stable, and weren't ready for that stress while being newlyweds. Last summer we got more or less out of debt, bought a house, and were secure enough in both our proffessions that we decided THEN was the right time to start trying.

[hopefaithlove]

I think it is different for everyone. For me personally, I'd say that when I'm married and somewhat financially stable.

[Nenya]

When I'm married or at least engaged and I actually want them.

I'm hoping to have them (if I have them at all) at around late 20s.

[Apollo]

I personally, would have children until the following are in place:

-Completely committed to my partner.
-Good, financial situation, in which you can afford to raise a child, and still take care of yourself, and your partner.
-I have a decent job, or my partner does, in which I can be sure it will be enough resources to support the family.
-My partner and I have similar parenting ideas.
-I have an education, so that the future is slightly more "secure", although things happen.
-Fully mature enough, physically and mentally.
-My partner and I are completely sure we are ready, and want them.

That is just my opinion though. I believe every person is different, and a lot of people want something different out of life. So there is not a "right" time to have children, although there are better times to have them. If that makes sense.

[Chaos Theory]

Best "time"? When you are financially stable and be able to support a child's education, health, and all the feeding and such. Around late 20s when you have a stable career to allow all that. You want your kids to grow up without economic constrain...

I will never want a kid. Hell, I don't think I will have the capability to get into a relationship in the first place. Bah.

[Pelios]

Around 8pm.
When you are ready emotionally, mentally, and financially, you have to have all of them.

[faithhopelove]

For me personally I want to have been married for a year and have my own house before I think about having kids. I do want to have my kids (only 1 or 2) before I turn 30 though, so sometime within the next 10 years

I think that it is really important to be in a loving, committed relationship and be financially stable before bringing a child into the world. They need to have the best opportunity possible.

[GhostOfYou]

I'd say of course when you are married and in a HAPPY relationship with your husband/wife, BOTH need to be finanicialy stable and both want to have a child and want that lifetime commitment. I'd say around 25 if all these things are worked out, that would be a good age, in my opinion.
I want to have kids young, around 19-22, so my boyfriend and I are trying to get financially stable and married within the next few years. That's just us, though.. Don't rush life =]

[EightEleven91]

When you're in a stable relationship and trust the person you're with and you're financially stable enough to have a child. Aswell as mature enough to handle all the responsibilities.

[Wallflower.]

I think that the best time to have kids is when you're in a committed relationship with a person that you want to have kids with, when you're stable financially and you can support a child, and of course, when you feel that you're ready to become a parent. I'm not going to say marriage is a requirement, because I've known a few couples who hadn't tied the knot yet and had a baby. But I think that you have to have enough money to support it, and that's priority #1.

[Thurineth]

I'd like to have finished undergrad and postgrad - settled down somewhere, financially stable and married.

I'm hoping around mid-late twenties

[MegaMadness]

Late 20's - early 30's or when you have a stable relationship, job, and can provide everything that your child is going to need

[Gaia]

I don't think marriage is such an issue for having kids, but I do believe you need to be emotionally and financially ready to raise children.
I also believe you should have experienced life to the fullest before having kids. Do the things you want to do because you may not have the chance after kids, they do take up a lot of time.

[flowerchild32273]

when you and your parter are ready and can afford a child

[TheNumber42]

Originally Posted by Loki.

I don't think marriage is such an issue for having kids, but I do believe you need to be emotionally and financially ready to raise children.
I also believe you should have experienced life to the fullest before having kids. Do the things you want to do because you may not have the chance after kids, they do take up a lot of time.

That's a point I was going to make. Even if I am 'ready' financially and emotionally, I plan to hold off until me and my wife have had a chance to travel the world and have fun doing all that we want to do together.

[mommieof2]

I think the best time is when you are living on your own and are financially stable. Being married helps. but not everyone wants to get married. If you are with the person you know you're going to be with and your relationship is stable i see no problem with having a baby.

[iHEAVENn]

When you are no longer relying on your mommy or daddy for things.
Yes accidents happen.. but ya know what.. if you can't support yourself/your kid/your wife whatever she is.. then use protection.

Other than that... I don't think there is a "right time"
You can be the most stable person in the world.. have a house, have a steady income.. and all of that can go to hell in one day.

Just sayin.

[Imagine]

No set time really.
When your ready emotionally and financially to give your child the best life possible.

[Sidhe.]

When you're financially and emotionally stable.

Preferably married, but that's not essential, in my eyes. You have to be mature, obviously, so I'd say you'd at least have to be old enough to have finished school, and probably have done whatever you planned to do after that (such as a college/Uni course, etc). So maybe late twenties-early thirties?