How young is too young to be a mom?

Shannintipton - posted on 08/24/2011

This post is a little old so I am going to close it, but thank you for your response. :)

Jay - posted on 08/23/2011

I was a mum at 21 and my son was planned with my husband. But after having him I think I was too young and I should have waited until I was maybe 25? I just get so annoyed when my hubby can go out and hang with his friends when he is 2 years older than me, and I am stuck at home! I wouldn't change it for the world now though, but I think 21 was too young for me anyway! x

Kloe - posted on 04/30/2010

im 17 and some people think im to young but i am just as caperble to be a great mum and some one whos 26+ lol,being a mum was my dream and now i am.
but i think it depends on the situation like 15+ is reasonble but 13 is redluis (sorry bout spelling) i say 15 because i no a lot of people who would make great parents at that age but they need to put more sex ed and parents classes in skool because they need to no its not always a good time but its amazing feeling

Jennifer - posted on 04/30/2010

It's all about maturity. If they old enough to work and get a place of their own to live and they are willing to give up the world to take of the little angel then more power to them. But I don't agree with the teenagers parents that do everything for them. They NEED to do it themselves. If a teenager wants to keep a pregnancy and raise a child then THEY need to raise the child. Parents can "help" by being their shoulder when they feel overwhelmed or teaching them about baby products but other that the only way to help a young parent learn is to let then try by themselves. So many people have had to learn the hard way and there is no right or wrong way, you have to look inside yourself to figure out what you feel is best for that baby.

Karalyn - posted on 04/29/2010

I was 19 when I get pregnant, and for me that was perfect. My boyfreind and I had been together for 4 years, now going on 5. We both wanted to be parents, and we were financialy and emotionly prepared. I dont think age is a factor at all, it all depends on maturity and how emotionally ready you are to understand the responsibility and certain compromises that need to be made as a mother.
My sister had three kids by the time she was 18 and it helped her grow and become a responsible adult. She is the best mom I know, and her children appreciate everything that she has done for them. She now has her buisness degree and will be opening her own gym. She wouldnt change how she lived her life at all. Her becoming a mother at a young age helped her grow to a better person.

Pam - posted on 04/28/2010

I think being a teenager is way to young to have a baby. I think in your middle 20's is a good time to have a baby but I also think that you should be in a good relationship and somewhat finacially ready to have a child. I was 24 and married when I had my son and I was ready to have a child. If I would have gotten pregnant as a teen I would have an excelant support system from my parents. My sister was 16 when she got pregnant with her first child and I was 14. I seen how hard it was for her. I just knew I wasn't ready and I didn't want a child as a teenager.

Pam - posted on 04/28/2010

I think being a teenager is way to young to have a baby. I think in your middle 20's is a good time to have a baby but I also think that you should be in a good relationship and somewhat finacially ready to have a child. I was 24 and married when I had my son and I was ready to have a child. If I would have gotten pregnant as a teen I would have an excelant support system from my parents. My sister was 16 when she got pregnant with her first child and I was 14. I seen how hard it was for her. I just knew I wasn't ready and I didn't want a child as a teenager.

Candice - posted on 04/27/2010

i'd proberly say 14 is to young but then again i got preg when i was 16 :)

Bethany - posted on 04/27/2010

My mum, and sister were 19 when they had their first and they were both married already. I was 33 with my first and only. I'd say it's better if you're younger, physically. I have to say, in hindsight, my Mum would have been better not getting married so young and my Dad getting her to have kids so young, but then where would I be? haha. same goes for my sister.



I know some very mature 16 year olds and some very immature 30 year olds.



If you're talking "on purpose", then assuming mental stability, and maturity I'd say whatever the legal age is for having concentual sex in your country.



If you're talking "whoops!" I'd hope that the mum had a very good support network regardless of age, but I'd think under about 20 would be a bit young, but this again depends on the individual and her background and personal situation.

Jen - posted on 04/27/2010

Hi, I had my first at 19 and was very grown up, but to look at 19 year olds now a days they seem to be so much more imature than i can remember being...
So i would say after the perfect age to be over 21, and too young would have to be under 18.... I had my fourth bub 8 months ago (had a 7 year gap between my 2nd and 3rd) and i have found that i am so much more careful now than i was when i was younger as i am now 30..

Amber - posted on 04/27/2010

I think that it has more to do with your maturity, financial ability, and general stability of your life. I was not quite 20 when I had my child. However, I had my own home and his father was already a nurse practioner who was finishing medical school. We had more than enough money, plenty of room in our home, lots of love to give, and were willing to give up nights out.

Some people think that I was too young to have a child, but my child has always scored above average on standardized tests and is happy.

Chelsea - posted on 04/27/2010

i was 17 when i had my son, 19 with my daughter. both unplanned and a complete accident i will admit. i will NOT say i had it easy, i was alone, living with my mum and had post natal depression with my son. i know that most girls have babies to look cool or to get a council house and benefits but then there are girls and women of any age like myself who are prepared to admit they have made the decision to have the child and live up to the responsibilities. i applaud any woman/girl of any age who gives up their lives to take care of their child. if you are lucky enough to live life before kids then well done but remember kids grow up and you have a life after they are older/left home.

my family told me that i had lost my youth when i got pregnant but i didnt do the clubbing and getting drunk so i can honestly say that even though my kids are hard work, they are the best thing thats ever happend to me. my life isnt lost, i just have to include 2 kids in what i do.

there are alot of people who judge mums and dads who have kids before their "older" but i have noticed that noone judges a 50 yr old new mother.

Kristy - posted on 04/22/2010

If you're not supporting yourself, then you are too young. Doesn't matter what age you are. If you can't support yourself, you can't support a child

Hope - posted on 04/16/2010

I got pregnant shortly after turning 16, but I wouldn't say I was too young. My children are my world. My daughter just turned 2, and my son was born in December. I am married to their father, and we have been together since I was 14, him 16. We have been through a lot together. I know people who shouldn't have EVER had children, no matter their age, because age doesn't define a mother. Choices, and scarifices, and love define a mother. My children come before mine or my husband's needs. They get what they want or need before we get what we need and want. My daughter is the most spoiled little thing ever! And I know my son will be the same. I don't regret one moment of my life, before or after my children. My daughter made me who I am today by making the choices I made. I have a full time job, my husband works, we both spend quality time with the kids, and with each other. And yes, in the economy we are in at the moment, we struggle a little, but not as much as most people expected. I think it just depends on the mother if you're too young or not. At 16, I was as mature as my 23 year old brother, or ya know what I mean.. Lol, I was more mature than most my age, as was my now husband.

Sarah - posted on 04/14/2010

Well that all depends on the "Mom" to be. I was a young teenager at 17, pregnant and of course keeping my baby no matter what my "options" were. Here is (and was) my Motto: "If you think that you are mature enough to lay down and have sex...then your should be mature enough for the consequences that come along with it!!!" I was 17 (almost 18) pregnant and of course got into a shotgun marriage that I knew at the bottom of me wasn't going to last..however when the rain is pouring down while saying our vows at the alter..the night before me feeling baby kick me..and at that moment in time saying the vows..I felt kicking like mad...should have been the clue to say NO!!...that and thanks to my 1/2 (which made up most of the wedding may I add) of the congregation NOT saying anything...I went along and got plunged...should have taken a rope..or at least that offer I got before entering the church from a loved one. However, to say the least, I was young, I went out on my own and tried to put my all into it..but at the end of it...I wasn't happy..therefore my baby wouldn't be happy. I ended the marriage..(to think of it, I was pregnant longer than that marriage!)..and moved home. I did have somewhat of a life..however not the usual teenager stuff. I did have regrets, but they surpassed. Later, a wonderful man came into my life, thanks to my best friend of 20 years (that man was her cousin) We had dated, not commited as we both were not looking for a commitment, and of course me having a child of 2.5years, is very frightening for some men, and very disheartening as a single mother. We talked alot, and he knew I wasn't going to look for a 'baby father' or a "husband" again. Before I knew it, I was getting proposed to, buying a home together, and him being the greatest Step Father anyone could ask for (them words straight outta baby's mouth!!) So, with a happy medium, and life going well...Uh Oh...here comes Baby 2!!!...I wasn't impressed..as I wasn't with the first..lol..he was shocked but after the fact..we both calmed down, accepted the fact our life again was going to change..and now..I have 2 children, and a great life with a person whom I CAN see me living my life out with...we have been through very much in our 12 years together...and I couldn't ask for anything ...I was much better though at raising my 2nd child as I was 23 then...and much much more ready!!..I knew what was to come, except for the fact that she wanted to come early...all in all..I have now a 14 and a 6 year old..and I wouldn't trade it in the world...I love them very much..as they love me! All I know is that whenever..and what age..you must Sacrifice yourself..and put yourself on the back burner for a long while...years!!..lol

Samantha - posted on 04/14/2010

I agree with you, it depends on the person I did a lot of partying when i was younger nothing to crazy, but I don't feel like i am missing out on anything my son is my life

Tina - posted on 04/14/2010

when youve had your fun and lived your life i can safly say iv done that if i hadnt got pregnant when i did i would probly be dead bye now and im 17 bye the way

Samantha - posted on 04/14/2010

I say that no one can say what is to young, everything happens for a reason and how old someone is cannot define how great of a parent they can turn out to be. And really who are we to judge teen moms? When we really have no idea their situations. The first time me and my husband got pregnant we were both in our senior year of High school and were both very happy and when we miscarried it was one of the hardest things we have had to deal with in our relationship and it happened to us another time after that a year later, we got pregnant again 19 had my son at 20 and we have never been happier and we do not feel as if we have missed out on anything we love our son with all our hearts and soul he is truly amazing and a gift from God, and we now have another one on the way, and still could not be happier, so i don't think anyone can say what is to young unless you are say under 16 my friend got pregnant when she was 16 and she is a damn good mom one of the best moms i know,

Andrea - posted on 04/13/2010

I had my first child at 15 yrs old. I don't think that it's the right choice for everyone and it was a difficult one for myself. It happened and i wasn't going to choose any other option, having her was the only option i could live with. I am proud of how i grew up in those few months but i have seen girls who were in the same situation and were in total denial. I guess i think it should all depend on the person and if that person had the potential to be that mature person they need to be in order to care for another life. I also believe though that girls should be educated more about getting pregnant and offered birth control so that they don't have to make those hard decisions unless it is something they want, however, in most cases when they want to have children that young it is usually for a bad reason. Not always but mostly. I, myself am going to offer my child birth control when she starts her period. I will explain to her what happened to me and help her be smart about these decisions. I do not want to be a grandmother at 30. I am now 26 and have three children total, i have learned a lot since i was pregnant at 15.

LeahDawn - posted on 04/13/2010

I think that you are too young to be a parent if you can not support you and your child. It is okay to need some outside help but at least trying to take care of the both of you as well as you can. Then there is that you should be somewhat emotionally ready to be a parent i.e. relizing that your child is the most important person that you need to think about, not what so-so is doing. You should also have some kind of support system, no support - no kid. It makes a difference.

Lauren - posted on 04/13/2010

i was 17 when i found out i was pregnant, it wasn't planned but i knew that me and my now husband could handle having a baby because we have such an amazing support system behind us. it also bugged me to no end when people thought that i was going to be a bad mom because of my age or that i "ruined my life" being a mother is the best thing that has ever happend to me and i couldn't love it any more than i do now.

Samantha - posted on 04/13/2010

I'm just going to leave out all the "good time" stuff and go with a simple fact.

In any case what-so-ever, under 19 is too young. Before 19 you simply enough are 18.

Up to the age of 18, you are supposed to be either a minor (by law) or a ward of the state. If someone else is taking care of you (or supposed to be), then you shouldn't be having children of your own. There's always the point of view that if you can't provide a stable and loving environment then you either are to young or just not ready to be a parent. Hope that makes sense.

Brittney - posted on 04/13/2010

I dont think that it has to do with age..i think as long as you can provide love, a roof over the babys head and be in the situtation to give the baby everything he or she needs..you kno be stable =]

Amanda - posted on 04/13/2010

I have been going to church since I was very little and me and my fiancé planned on getting married before I got pregnant but a lot of my family wouldn't be able to go. So we made the date to get married to be Dec 4. My son was planned and me and my fiancé could never be happier. And obviously god wanted us to have children because he blessed us with a beautiful baby boy, we were trying to have a baby but we couldn't get pregnant 5 months went by and then finally found out I was pregnant. God only gives us what we can handle. Our son is a blessing from God, every baby is a blessing from God no matter how old the parents are. And my church that my fiancé and I go to are very happy that there is a new member to the church. God blessed me and my family!!!

Beck - posted on 04/13/2010

I had my first at 20 but she wasn't planned. I have no problem with teenage mums if they can handle the situation, but I feel they should have the chance to grow up and experience a little more before having a baby. I still wish I had a chance to do a little more before I had my baby but I wouldn't trade her for the world now. I can do all I wanted to do (within reason) when they are grown up because now I will still be young when that happens :)

Katie - posted on 04/13/2010

I dont think there is a one said age..I was 17 when I had my first baby..and everyone told me that my child was going to suffer because of my age, and that I wouldnt be able to take care of him as well as someone who was older and "wiser" but I am glad to say that I have been and I am a wonderful mother..I think that you are ready for a baby when you are ready to give up being a child yourself and if you are ready to take care of someone, who cant do so for themselves...I am not saying to anyone to go out and have a baby at 17..Im just saying...you can be ready for kid and be a great mom whenever it is your time.

Schmoopy - posted on 04/13/2010

I don't know of a hard and fast number. But I do know that in my early 20's I was still a kid. I knew next to nothing about life, and if I had been saddled with a child at that point, I'm sure I wouldn't have had nearly as much to offer in the ways of wisdom and patience.

Amanda - posted on 04/13/2010

okay i agree with alot of you ladies on this, but i think that even someone who is older can be in a bad situation, i had my first child 10 days after my 18th birthday, and yes i did give up alot and probably did miss out on a lot of " teen" things but i wouldnt trade it for the world. The father and i were together until recenctly when our second son was born. i am now 21 with two kids, and my situation was very messed up!!! left alone to raise two kids with no where to go, but i also dont think that it makes me a bad mother because of my situation and that i am young, i feel like it has made me a better mother because i know that NO MATTER what my situation is i am always the best mother that i can be, I also like being a young mother because i want to live to see my kids and grand kids grow up and i think that there is an advantage to being a young mother because of the energy that i am able to play with my kids.

Desi - posted on 04/13/2010

i think that under 21 is too young depending on the person i had my first at 19 but i was ready to hae a baby my sister got pregnant at 17 and wasnt ready. even though we were raised the same way she wasnt ready to be a parent at 18 but she is now she is 20 with two kids

Sara - posted on 04/13/2010

I'm 18 now a have a 5 month old and one on the way, My husband has a 4 year old. i take care of them everyday. I have friends that are 16 17 and 18 that have babies. My one friend is 18 also she can not take care of her little girl so i watch her most of the time shes just not ready. I THINK IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE PERSON. My friend that is 17 is good moms and the 18 year old is not.. I'm not putting names so im not attacking anyone.

Michelle - posted on 04/13/2010

Depends on the person. I was 28 and wouldnt have it any other way, I was simply way too imature to be a mom. I was barely ready at 28 to tell ya the truth. But I have friends and family that was very young and made wonderful mothers. If it was a pregnancy that was not planned you just have to make the best of it and ask God to give you strength. I hate it when women use excusses to not be a devoted mother, and that happens at all different ages.

Lisa - posted on 04/13/2010

Well, being ready mentally, physically, emotionally, financially plays a big role when ur planning to conceive a child. But I feel for those young people who "accidently" get pregnant; or whose pregnancy resulted from rape; or those who were just careless during sex. These people weren't able to be ready to receive a child into their lives. Some of those people actually become more mature and responsible in life after having their first child. Unfortunately, there are others who would rather have someone else care for their child while they go about their business as if the child didn't matter to them. So, I agree with others who say that it's how mature the person is and how they choose to handle their situation. It also helps if you have positive, loving, and helpful people around you that support you. God bless.

Lisa - posted on 04/13/2010

Well, being ready mentally, physically, emotionally, financially plays a big role when ur planning to conceive a child. But I feel for those young people who "accidently" get pregnant; or whose pregnancy resulted from rape; or those who were just careless during sex. These people weren't able to be ready to receive a child into their lives. Some of those people actually become more mature and responsible in life after having their first child. Unfortunately, there are others who would rather have someone else care for their child while they go about their business as if the child didn't matter to them. So, I agree with others who say that it's how mature the person is and how they choose to handle their situation. It also helps if you have positive, loving, and helpful people around you that support you. God bless.

Cassandra - posted on 04/13/2010

HI everyone!

My reply is coming from my own experience as a young Mom. I was 18 when I had my daughter, Jessica. I am now 33, yup she is 14 now. First I must say I love my daughter with all I am and I would not change anything. She has been a God sent to me. I was mature enough and took great care of her. It is all about decisions and the path of life you choose for yourself. The issue I have have recently is- When I was younger I would say "oh I can do that when I am older no big deal". Well as I am getting older i am learning that is not so true. Alot of those things are not appealing to me anymore, and some are much harder than I thought they would be, and some are just not appropriate for a 33 year old vs. a 20 year old. Like spring break in Cancun. But there are alot of pluses to being a young mom. My daughter and I are really close and I think me being younger I can relate easier. We still listen to the same music. I can run and play with my 8 and 6 year old son and daughter too. Those things that I may not be able to do because I had Jessica don't even begin to add up to how much Jessica means to me.

If a girl is ready to give up her life for her child then age shouldn't matter much. (when I saw "give up" I mean all decisions should be made in the best interest and well being for your child not yourself. The child come first before anyone/thing.)

Bobbie Jo - posted on 04/13/2010

Well my sister had a baby at 15 and I think thats young! When u are a child ur self how can u take care of a baby! I think 21 and younger! You need to be old enough u can support the baby! Its not easy to raise a child! Im 26 and I just had my first baby and I still struggle trying to have enough patients! U need to be stablished in your life know where u are going!

Angelica - posted on 04/13/2010

I think age isn't the issue so much as responsibility and if you can afford it. If you can't support yourself and your child, then I think you shouldn't be having children yet.

Breeyan - posted on 04/13/2010

in my personal opinion, on "how young is too young" TOO young is: Not age, but maturity, if you can't take care of yourself, you don't need to be having children, because you need to think about their needs before yours.



what im saying is, if your 25, and never been able to hold a steady job or relationship, and your constantly in and out of 'trouble' your too young to have a child. and that can even go like this if you 19 and can hold down a job, and a steady relationship, and you can take care of yourself adiquately, your old enough.



its not about the physical age, but the mental age, and stability.

Kalah - posted on 04/13/2010

there is no age requirement on being a mother. However there is a maturity level that has to be reached, I was 17 and pregnant. I finished high school, and am now in college. I thought I was completely ready but I am soooo thankful I had my fiance, he helped me so much!

Tisha - posted on 04/13/2010

I believe it depends on the person,situation,place in life.

Danielle - posted on 04/13/2010

I was 17 when i had my daughter. going to school was very rough while being pregnant! then finished school and got pregnant at 18 with my son and had my son after i turned 19. having two kids by the age of 20 was hard! My husband and i went through a lot but also had a lot of help but we were always able to get what our kids what they needed and some. Everything works out for the better. Just have to be patient as it comes. But to the point i wouldnt change my kids for the world i love them to death. but i would of waited a little longer. Why do so many women rush to become a mommy? It will come someday. Why rush it? I'm 22 about to turn 23. I love my kids more then anything they mean the world to me!!

Jennifer - posted on 04/12/2010

Mary I don't agree with abortion either but int he eyes of science a baby is a foetus whilst in the body and a baby when he/she is born. I do belive myself that a baby is a baby from conception but people's views are different - some people say the foetus isn;t a baby until it has a heartbeat etc. In the UK an abortion can be performed at the latest at 28 weeks so I don't know where they perform abortions at full-term which is 40 weeks.

I respect your religion - I was brought up Catholic and I knew I wanted to be married before I had children but I did have sex before marriage. Many people don't want to be married and as long as they're in a committed relationship that's fine with me. My husbands parents have 4 children and aren't married - I'll admit I find it very strange because my parents were married but they're obviously happy. But religion isn't the solution to everything and it's proven that teaching abstinence does not work and as for blaming the government - it's the couples choice to have sex not the government. Just a question - if condoms don't prevent STDs then what do they do in your opinion. Condoms DO protect against STDs and pregnancy and if they are used correctly they are 97% effective.

I was one year too old to get the HPV virus so I didn't get it but how is it nonesense? It saves people from either getting cervical cancer or dying from cervical cancer!!! I have only ever had sex with my husband but that doesn't mean I won't ever have the HPV virus!

Mary - posted on 04/12/2010

I will agree with you on that aspect. There are way too many abortions going on in today's world. There is always somebody who would love to give a baby a loving home and is unable to have children for one reason or another. They would gladly take the child instead of aborting it. They do terrible things in those abortion clinics and are mostly targeted to minorities and are located in neighborhoods where there are a large number of minorities also. Most of the time, the babies aren't even dead when they do the abortions on the mothers. Many times the mothers have actually seen the baby afterwards alive and have heard it cry and most of the time the people who have abortions never recover from it and suffer from great depression and suicidal tendencies too. Then they throw away the baby like as if it's trash. They claim it's only a fetius and that it's not a real baby until it's born. That is another lie. It is a baby right from the time it is conceived and continues to have a heart beat and grow. They are even trying to do abortions when the mothers are full term and partial term instead of doing them right away. It's bad enough they do them at all let alone doing them when the child is further along even ready to be delivered. This is a hideous crime. If another person committs murder of a living individual they are charged with murder and put into prison to serve out their term yet if we murder an innocent individual like a baby who has no choice in the matter they are let go free and encouraged by the government to continue and even funded for it by the government with our tax dollars mind you even though we don't agree with it we are forced to pay for it with our hard earned dollars. As for the part of your being only 19 and having a baby already and yet you're not married that is against the Bible. The Bible clearly teaches that if you are going to have sex and have a child as a result that you are to be in a monogomous relationship with one man and one woman not two men or two women as is the case in todays society. If we'd get back to following the God of the Bible and put Him in His rightful place like back into our schools there wouldn't be so much teenage pregnancies, abortions, crime, etc. The reason kids today are having sex earlier and earlier and are not married is partly the governments fault. Also they are handing out condoms in public schools and teaching the kids how to use them in effect they are saying hey the kids are going to anyhow so we might as well help them out. They say it is to help prevent STD's and pregnancy but the condom does not protect against STD's and does not always keep you from getting pregnant either. Also, they want the girls to get that shot at a certain age to protect agains HPV but that is nonsense. There's only one way to ensue protection against these things, Don't mess around with several men or have sex outside marriage. If you are going to mess around you'd better make darn sure you can support it. It's not easy esp. if you still have school to finish. If you drop out you run the risk of not being able to get a descent job. You need a highschool diploma for most jobs or it's equivelant. Also, it means the end of being able to run around to parties and stay out all hours of the night like you did before the baby. It requires a lot of responsibility and that doesn't mean making mom or grandmom raise it either while you go out running all over creation and continuing to party either. That's all I have to say for right now.

Amanda - posted on 04/12/2010

I am 19 and my son will be 4 months old on april 15. He is means the world to me and my fiancé, but I think that if you can support yourself and a baby it would be ok to have a baby. but if you do get pregnant young and you dont want to parent it then you should give it a loving family and not have a abortion, because there is a lot of people in the world that want children and cant have children..

Kristina - posted on 04/12/2010

If you have to ask this question, you're too young to even think about sex, let alone getting pregnant.



Too young is not having the means to afford the difficulties of raising a child- like buying diapers, formula, food, clothes, toys, daycare, ect. Monetary issues aside-- If you're not prepared for months, years even of sleepless nights- Getting up at 2 am with a toddler that has a 103 degree temperature and sitting in the bathroom with them the rest of the night, letting it steam up to clear their nose. You're too young.

Mary - posted on 04/12/2010

Physically, your body is ready as soon as your hormones kick in and you start to get your period and things like that however, mentally and emotionally you are not ready until you are much older. Having sex is a big emotional connection to the other person and should not be entered into lightly. That is why the Bible says that we are not to have sex with another person until we have taken the vows of marriage. If you are very young and are married that is up to you. I do feel it is best to wait until you are older to get married and have children because then you have the benefit of experience under your belt as well. Once again, as long as you are married there is no age limit to when is too soon to have children.

Amy - posted on 04/12/2010

I agree with a lot of women on here, I don't think its an age issue at all, neither do i think its an issue of emotional maturity. A lot of young girls that I'v known to have children have made excellent parents (there are a few of course that haven't "applied" themselves and haven't taken the opportunity to mentally develop)but on the whole I think many young women rise to the challenge . I think the only factor to determine if someone is too young (which goes on an individual basis) is the maturity of the girls body. If the girls body isn't developed sufficiently (uterus size etc.I do realise that technically when a girl starts a period she is ready, but that is rarely the case) then it does put the babies health at risk- mental and emotional maturity can be learnt but you can't rush your body to be any more developed than what it is. But it is more socially expectable for the girl to be age of consent.

Tabitha - posted on 04/12/2010

I don't know that it's an age thing, but I will say, ideally you should wait until you're in a committed relationship and financially responsible. Parenting is hard and it takes a lot of work. I think having some time to be with your husband or partner is really important, because after you become a parent, you no longer have any time to yourself. We waited nearly 5 years after getting married to have our first child. I wouldn't do it any differently because we were able to do a lot before we had kids, so now we can focus on them. A friend had a baby at 15, and her parents basically paid for her child. I think anything under 18 would be rough, because you aren't legally an adult until then. That's not saying 18 year olds should be parents, but then at least you're able to work and can sign a lease on an apartment!

Jessica - posted on 04/12/2010

i belive at age 18 you should have the right to have a child if u chose if u have all the stability. I had my 1st child at 19 and love being a mother i wouldnt change it any other way. i feel if u have a child when u are at a young age like between 18-25 you are capably of bonding and doing more things with the child and having fun and everything. like if u have a child past 28 then thats a little to late to have a child in my opo. but some young mothers raise a child on their own with no help or anything. like in my case i didnt have my mothers approval to keep my baby but i did and i'm rasing her just fine. she is healthy and growing and wouldnt change a thing. so under the age of 18 is considered young mothers in my book. although once again some women and teen girls mature faster than others and they can raise and have the know how to raise a child.

Samantha - posted on 04/12/2010

im 19 and i am an awesome mother to my son so i guess it all depends on your situation. my baby is 4 months old now & i think as a young mom ive done an amazing job. my friend was 16 when she had her son, and also is an amazing mother to him & can support & take care of him by herself just like i do. its not so much age as it is how responsible you are & whether or not you can even take care of yourself. i wanted to be a young mom & im loving every minute of it. nothing in the world would make me change my mind on having my son so young , ide never trade it for the world. maybe its stressful sometimes but it doesnt matter. its a decision you make on your own so if you think your ready to have children & responsible enough to always put them before you i dont think you can put an age on it :]

Lindsy - posted on 04/12/2010

I would have to say that being in high school or younger is too young for a kid to be having kids. I think that you get to be a kid once and there are way too many things that you will miss out on if you are a teen parent. They are to immature. It is way to hard for a 16 to go to school job and take care of a baby or babies. I know b/c I was there. I was a little older than 16 but it was way to hard money wise mature wise. Don't get me wrong I love my son and I am very proud of him and couldn't see my life without him in it. But believe me it was a hard hard road to get to where I am today. I had school my husband has school and I had work and he had work and we had a baby. We just now got to a place where we can have me stay home with our four kids. Yes it is hard for anyone to be a parent but it is much harder for someone who has not had the time to be a kid themselves.