the time will be right when youre ready. don't rush into things. it'll happen, and you'll feel great about it

Each person is different, some people will be ready at some stage of their life to have children, some people will never be ready. My partner's daughter says she doesn't want children and wants to get her tubes tied. If this is the way she feels she is better off not having children. She lives on a small farm, which she bought from her father and prefers animals. Her boyfriend has been staying with us during the working week for a while and seen how hard it can be to raise four children under five, especially when one climbs on everything and another is developmentally delayed. He said to me " I don't know how you do it." He is also an only child so pretty much had everything to himself when young.

The age limit for having a child is governed by a women's biological clock. These days women are biologically maturing much younger and can have children, but are not mentally mature enough. Nor can they afford to. Four thousand dollars Australian will not provide for the years of sweat and toll raising a child takes. Teenagers under 18 should think long and hard before having a baby. Don't give into peer pressure to have sex. Don't have sex just for the sake of it, you often won't enjoy it and may feel guilty afterwards. You can say "NO" and stick to it, you have the choice. Unless you are forced you should wait. If you must have sex use protection. Teenagers are not  mature enough to have babies. It can also be as dangerous to have a baby too young as too old. Often, especially in the Western World (Developed Countries), when a young man gets a young girl pregnant he leaves and the girl is left to raise a child they are not ready to bring up. Sex education is one of the keys. Give teenagers a doll that records how it is looked after. This will give them an insight into raising a baby. They also need to be reminded that babies grow up into teenagers. Would they want their teenage son or daughter to be a parent. Teenagers have a lot ahead of them. They need to finish school or get an apprenticeship. Teenagers should be learning as much as they can so they can set a good example for their children when they are mature enough. It is a good feeling when you can help your children with their homework if they are having trouble. My partner left school at fifteen and now wishes he had learnt to read better. On the other hand he is skilled at wood work and building an upstairs extension. My three-year-old loves watching his father work. He even handed my partner the riverts for the downpipe as well as helping dad sand some of the plaster. (Though he can't watch everything.)

I have had children at a young age (24) and at an older age (44). I have been a single-parent and now have a partner. For those young girls raising babies join a mothers group. If you can, find a school that caters for teenage parents. Take help from your extended family. Anyone who has a teenage son who is running away from responsibilities, get him to be involved in the raising of the child, remember it is your Grandchild too and you will miss out on so much if you abandon the mother and child. Children have minds of their own and can cause their own problems. I had a bit of trouble with my son, but he has grown out of his silly ways. He didn't like school. Now 21 he has a lovely girlfriend. He is sensible enough not to have children now as he is busy working as a waiter and playing drums in two bands. He wants to try and make it as a musician before he has children. His girlfriend also wants to finish University. Remember there will be good and bad times when raising children!   

Thanks for the article You must've had your baby by now, hope it's all going well!
Been thinking about this subject more lately. I'm 24, and have been together with my husband Pascal (28) since I was 16. We moved in together when I was 20, and got married when I was 21. At 22 we moved to Perth, Australia(I'd lived here previously). Luckily my parents moved back here too, which I'm quite happy about, even if they do live 3 hours drive away, it's much better than 24 hours in a plane!
I would love to have kids, and think we could cope now, but would rather just wait a while longer(a few years). I'm still young, and we could get a bit more of our mortgage paid off. Also, our lives will change dramatically, and that will of course be good in a lot of ways, but I do like how things are going now(no responsibilities really, though we did recently get a dog, who we walk at least 3 times a day), and am not bored yet with our lives now. Also, our 'better' friends don't have kids yet, including my best friend, who is even still single.
Other friends are planning to start a family next year, after they buy a house, and I'm sure after that I'll start to get more 'clucky' too! :D

Anyway, I do realise the time will never be 'perfect', and I'm sure our instincts will tell us when we are really ready. And if our instincts haven't let us know about it by the time I'm 30, we'll have to do some more thinking, ha ha!

In the mean time, I'm thinking of stopping with the pill, because I've heard, from someone who seemed to know what he(yes, a guy! A young one too, with no kids!) was talking about, that it's not great for your body, especially when the time comes to make babies. And it made sense what he said, and I've never liked medication and hormones anyway. But, I will do some more research... see if there is already a thread about something like this on Minti!

Simone

Do you think there is an age limit of how young or old you are to have a child?

I have 6 weeks to go untill my baby girl is born and was really doubting myself as being ready. we tried for 2 yrs to get her and lost two babies on the way, so i really thought i was ready for this but as the article said once it happends all sorts of doubt enters your mind planned or not planned. i know i'm ready but i think it's part of pregnancy to doubt your self a little and to think some days OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!!
ha ha
and truley i don't think there is ever a right time for kids unless your a millionaire, don't feel like having your own life anymore and really don't fell the need for anymore sleep.
Even before they come your life is turned upside down i only had 4 hrs sleep last night and got up to pee 4 times. Also don't remember the last time i did something just for me it's all baby baby baby at the moment.
but i'm excited and so happy. It truley is the most wonderful experiance i've ever been through and i can't wait to hold my little bundle of joy and tell her how much i love her.
Jo

There is never a good time to have kids. There are always more travelling to be done, more things to do, more movies to watch (uninterrupted), more people to meet, more money to be earned. I completely agree about that "feeling that doesn't go away". When you start asking yourself "am I ready?" repeatedly, that means that you may well be.

We were not ready initially. Early on in our relationship we had 2 terminations and then when we were ready we went through with the pregnancy. (We should have been far more careful practicing safe sex initially!!)

We planned our first child extremely well and took things like financial position into account, our maturity to handle the extra pressure. We talked a lot about what it would be like to have children and we took notice of families with children when we were out... and saw the fun they were having! :)

For the arrival of your little girl ! Great article - I am going to show it to my wife now :)