What's the oldest you would have kids?

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  Posted by Katie B Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:00pm PDT

  If it were my choice I would have had at least one of my children already (I am almost 30)... But because of college and the age that I got married and us wanting to be close to buying a house, as long as I am still physically able to and am maintaining my health properly I am ok with having children in my late 30's... 30's is the new 20's, right?

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  Posted by wendy g Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:28pm PDT

  Late 30's...maybe 38? Seems like a random number, really. But thirty eight seems like a "safe" number.

  But let's forget about Celine for a moment....what about Renee? Isn't he at least 20 years older than Celine? How's THAT for "too old to have kids?" By that time that kid is ten...well, let's just say he'll be lucky if dad is still around! It's funny how we, as a culture, put so much emphasis on the age of the mother (and for obvious reasons, since women are the ones to carry the child, and that takes a certain degree of health and vitality, and of course, being pre-menopausal), but so little is thought of fathers who are in their fifties or even sixties when they have children (Larry King, Michael Douglas, etc). Yes, certain birth defects have been linked to advanced maternal age (Down's Syndrome, etc), but studies have suggested that advanced paternal age is correlated to Autism, Asperger's, and Schizophrenia. It's interesting that so little is made of paternal age in light of this...

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  Posted by Ashley Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:32pm PDT

  I call it my "scary age." It's the age that I might even consider doing the family/marriage thing. It used to be 35 but, it's creeped up to about 40 by now. And by the time I'm that age (I'm still in my early 20's) the fertility science by then will be so advanced I'm not really worried about it not happening. I feel like there is so much more to life than having kids. I have a boyfriend and we have fun but, I'm just not interested in that aspect of life at all. I really want to enjoy by body, looks, money, career, time, youth, and dreams. And I don't want to have any responsibilities. I enjoy being selfish with myself and I feel like, because I don't have children, I believe I'm completely entitled to do that.

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  Posted by Frantastic Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:45pm PDT

  Honestly, sometimes I feel celebs don't count. It doesn't matter how old they are. You see when they get tired, they can just hand the kid over to the nanny and call it a day. Regular people don't have that option, oh yes unless you are really wealthy. But I just can't fathom starting at 40, even 38. I do understand the whole career thing. So in a sense to each his/her own. But you have to plan on being active with the kid. and especially if it is a boy, (I have 3)look out.

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  Posted by Gloria Kim Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:48pm PDT

  I had the first at 35 and the second at 39, and adopted a six month old baby at 43. Had it been up to me I would have had them a little younger even though I am young at heart. I was born to older parents and the ONLY downside was I lost them both when I was 29. However today, people are living healthier and longer so I hope to be around for many many years to enjoy all three of mine.

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  Posted by Jess Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:50pm PDT

  I am 27 and still have not had a child. My husabnd & I have been married for 7 years (almost 8) and we are not in a hurry. I am thinking by 35 we need to have started our family. While most of my friends from high school are on there second. I just couldn't image having a child in my early 20's.

  Katie is right the 30's is the new 20's!

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  Posted by princess Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:06pm PDT

  I had my 2 kids fairly early, the 1st at 22, the second at 24. I am 37 now, and I had LOTS of energy back then to run around outside and play with them...If I would have waited until now to start a family, I'm not so sure if I'd have all that energy. I have more patience now, and alot more wisdom which is great when it comes to raising kids. I guess, it doesn't matter about the age, what matters is if you're financially able, ready and healthy enough to have kids. I think anything over 42 is a bit too old to have kids, with all the birth defect concerns.

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  Posted by Mysterious Gryphon Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:06pm PDT

  I am 26 and my fiance is 27 ... we have decided that we don't want children anytime in the next 10 years, at least. We've gone with a birth control option that essentially makes me sterile for 10 years. After that, we will be able to re-evaluate our situation.

  I had "older" parents (34 and 36) and I think I had a better childhood than most - because they were financially secure, Mom stayed home to raise me and she never had to feel like she had given up the chance to have a career, because she'd already had one.

  We have chosen to keep our options open for somewhere down the line. We'll just have to see if we're ready at 36 ... or 46 ... or 56 ...

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  Posted by Miriam Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:33pm PDT

  Well 30s is the new 20s for looks but I don't think it applies to egg age. LOL. I got married at 25 (after being together 7 years) planned on waiting till 30 and having a second at 33. Well, I had a healthly boy at 30 and with no family history I had a beautiful little girl at 33 who was born with down syndrome. It can really happen at any age. I'm 43 now and often times my husband and I wish we had started earlier. We had no idea what a wonderful thing having children can be. We wanted to enjoy ourselves, travel and be financially secure which is all fine but I think there are pros and cons to having them early on or waiting. Now I still would love to have another but I feel it would be harder on my body and I just don't have the energy I used to (fact of life). So, I'm waiting for someone to just give me a baby whose around 1 so I can sleep. LOL

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  Posted by siri Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:20pm PDT

  I think it depends on your overall health and fitness. Both the hubby and the Mrs. Well that's if one's married. If not, again, it depends on the woman's overall health and fitness. Also, why should there be a right age? There are women in their 40's far more healthier than 20 somethings... And they have far much more to offer. Hey that's just my opinion. I say probably no older than 40. But again, who am I to say?

  As for Celine congrats to her!

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