How Young Is Too Young?

Vicky - posted on 07/02/2009

i was 15 when i fell pregnant and delivered i am 16 now and have a beautiful little boy who is almost 8 months old & i wouldnt change him for the world.

Stephanie - posted on 07/01/2009

I was 16 when I got pregnant, 17 when I delivered. I know that I was emotionally ready but I was not financially ready. I go to school full time and work full time and live at home. I pay for the clothes and diapers my daughter needs, but my mom supports us both with a pantry of food and a roof over our heads. I would LOVE to move out now but even a year later I am not sure I can afford it alone. My daughter loves my family and they love her and she is very happy. So, I think if you feel you can take care of a child emotionally, physically, and financially in a positive environment then you are ready, whether you are 16 or 50.

Jennifer - posted on 07/01/2009

I got pregnant with my first child when I was 15 and delivered when I was 16. I have a friend who got pregnant at 13 and she is a great mom! She is now 34. I had my second child when I was 19 then my third child at 27 and we are trying for #4. I am now 28, almost 29. I think it has to do with the maturity level of the girl. I was more than ready at the age of 15/16. It was my first child, no it wasn't planned but it happened and I loved that child every bit as much as the ones I had as an adult. She is beautiful and thriving very much so. I would not want my daughter to have a teenage pregnancy but if she does then I will be right there for her every step of the way. She is now 12.

Mary - posted on 07/01/2009

I found out I was pregnant when I was almost 16. I was definitely too young to have a baby but I think I did a pretty good job... though its more important what my son thinks... LOL.



Would I want my son to have a child as a teenager? I would not choose that for him (if I had the choice that is) only because of the struggles that come with being a parent.. esp a young one. However, he chose for himself to be a dad at a young age and had his firstborn daughter at the age of 18 (almost 19). He is now almost 30 and has three children and is married to the mother of his children so I am very proud that he is a responsible, adoring father. .



P.S. The two lovely ladies in my arms are his two oldest children. He and his boy were busy wrestling in the grass. : D

Amanda - posted on 06/30/2009

i was 17 when i got pregnant and had my son. with this one i found out i was pregnant at 18 and i'll give birth at 19... i think under 14 is a bit scary for how young they are... i mean.. at 11 i wasn't thinking about sex... i didn't even lose my verginity until i was 16! the only girl under 14 i know who had a child was unfortunetly a bad mother. but i wouldn't judge them... if my child has a kid under 14 i will be devastated! and disapointed 14-16 disappointed but i'll get over it sooner or later... 17 and older i'll still be a bit disapointed but i wouldn't be mad long...

Krystal - posted on 06/30/2009

i was 14 when pregnant 15 when delivered my first i know i was young and immature so my mum and i raised my daughter im now nearly 21 i have 3 beautiful girls whom i love very much my eldest and youngest live with with me while my middle daughter lives with her dad i was young but wouldnt change it for the world

Brandy - posted on 06/30/2009

Quoting Anna-Lea:

i was 13 when i conceived my daughter but i was 14 when i found out and gave birth to her. my daughter wasn't planned, and it came as a very big shock for me as i was only 14 at the time. i've been a single mum since i was 15 as her dad left me for some trampy girl who does drugs! I'm 16 now and i know i'm still young but i wouldn't change it for anything! i'm trying my best all the time and i know i'm getting better and better as the days go on because, my daughter is the happiest little bundle of joy ever. to be honest, my opinion is; age is just a number and people judge before they actually get to know young mums, they should give us a chance because we try our best xx

WOW ANNA! I applaud you though for taking care of your responsibility and not getting an abortion or having someone else raise your child. I was 18 when I found out but 19 when I had Jeremiah. I am proud of you tho Anna and if you ever need someone to talk to I am here for you.

Samantha - posted on 06/30/2009

I was 17 when i found out 18 when i delivered and i dont think i was too young i feel anyone can be a parent just as long as you try and love your child.

Anna-Lea - posted on 06/28/2009

i was 13 when i conceived my daughter but i was 14 when i found out and gave birth to her. my daughter wasn't planned, and it came as a very big shock for me as i was only 14 at the time. i've been a single mum since i was 15 as her dad left me for some trampy girl who does drugs! I'm 16 now and i know i'm still young but i wouldn't change it for anything! i'm trying my best all the time and i know i'm getting better and better as the days go on because, my daughter is the happiest little bundle of joy ever. to be honest, my opinion is; age is just a number and people judge before they actually get to know young mums, they should give us a chance because we try our best xx

Heather - posted on 06/27/2009

I was 19 when I got pregnant and yeah I do think I was too young, but I really have no regrets. It's a daily struggle for me to push aside what I want and care for a child and I think that if I were older, it would've been much easier! And while I'd never want my daughter to go through what I'm going through, it doesn't matter whether she never has a child or has one as soon as she's able to get pregnant. I'd definitely freak out but I've been through it so I know that support is what she's going to need and that's what I'd do.

Natasha - posted on 06/27/2009

16. had him 17.
No i don't think i was to young.
i would explain that it is hard, but ultimately it is their choice to become a parent. A friend of mine had her first child at 12, and she is my age and is a very good mother.
It wasn't so long ago that girls were married and had children at 13.

Louise - posted on 06/04/2009

i was 17 wen i found out i was pregnant and 18 wen i had her if my aby gilr come to me sayin she was pregnant at 11 i would hit the roof but if she was 17 like me i would not beable at say much coz i was 17. 16 is young but as long as you have ur family behind you and you stay on at school and get a job to suport your baby y not x

Crystal - posted on 06/03/2009

i found out i was pregnant at the age of 17 and had my daughter at the age of 18, she is now almost 7 months old and me and my boyfriend feel that we are amazing parents, alot of people say we are really mature for our age. Me and my boyfriend have only been together for 18 months. i love being a moommmyy

Sabrina - posted on 05/28/2009

i fell pregnant at 15 and had my son at 16 and i think im doing really well tbh xx

Steph - posted on 05/26/2009

With my fist I was 15, and yes I did think I was too young, if you have a close relationship with your own mother it helps. My mum had me when she was 40, I am an only child.

No I wouldn't want my daughter to go through what I went through, I want her to experience life for herself before she watches someone else experience it for her.

Shelley - posted on 05/12/2009

I was 17 when i discovered i was pregnant and turned 18 a week after i delivered. I think at the time alot of things went through my head but as the time got nearer i was thinkin more like a mother i am responsible and always put my Liam first i think anythink between the ages of 11-14 is to young as they are still finding out who they are and school and other things.

Mel - posted on 05/12/2009

as long as you can feed and clothe your child it doesnt matter how old you are as long as you are not lke 11-13 of course. much too young

Cassie - posted on 05/10/2009

I was 15 the first time i found out i was pregnant and lost that baby then i got pregnant at 16 because i had lost the first one and wanted that baby back so bad i had Bryce when i was 17 and found out to my surprise that i was pregnant when Bryce was 4 months old so I was 17 and Had Mason when i was 18. I have been with the same guy from the get go We have been together for 4 years and are getting married in Aug. I dont feel that i was to young i wasn't living a child's life to begin with. I love my children with all i have and me and there father couldn't be happier. I don't believe that you should be judged on your age. Me and my entire family think We are amazing parents.

Britni - posted on 05/10/2009

When I posted my response I made a mistake..I was 18 when I delivered my daughter not 19 I am 19 now soon to be 20. Sorry about that

Amy - posted on 05/10/2009

I was 18 when I found out, and almost 19 when i had my beautiful boy. I don't think I was too young. I think I am fantastic mum. My boy and his needs come so far before ANYTHING else. And if he came to me at any age and let me know he had got a girl pregnant I would be there to support them in every way possible. I would prefer older then the listed ages but if I had to chose 17, so then he could finish school. If he got a girl pregnant any earlier I would encourage him to get an apprenticeship to support her or finish school and get an education. I would do the same with her and help in every way. I think everyone has the ability to be a great parent inside them they just need the right support and the right people to believe in them

Christina - posted on 05/10/2009

how the hell can u be 17 when u find out your pregnant at 19 when you deliver it dont work out

Britni - posted on 05/08/2009

I was 17 when I found out I was pregnant and 19 when I delivered. I was so immature before I had my daughter and I can honestly say she saved my life litterally, I was an addict and since the day I found out I was pregnant I changed my life COMPLETELY... Its the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life but I wouldnt change it for anything.. It also infuriates me when little girls think its so easy to be a mother and its no big deal and just because I did it and it changed my life for the better some girls just cant do it and they end up not only ruining their lives but also the life of an innocent child. I am in college for human services and I think alll teenagers starting at age 11 should take a class called baby think it over for sex education and I would love to work with teenage mothers and this program someday. This program involves a computerized baby that needs diaper changes, feedings, crying in the middle of the night and these girls would keep the baby for a week and it would grade them with a computer chip installed in the baby and there would also be a class.

Sharleen - posted on 05/08/2009

Lisa I just want to say to you that I'm proud of you even though I don't know you! Being face with a baby at 16 is a huge deal and I commend you for not running away from your responsibilities. You made your bed and then you chose to lie in it so I applaud you:) And having two under 2 is an even bigger deal! I really hope that you do use your experience to talk to the girls at your mothers maternity home and show them how to cope with what they will have to cope with and to educate them and others on what it's really like to be a mother. you stuck with it when so many others would run. Keep up the good work and just love your babies like I'm sure you do !! :) We need more women like you in the world who know they got themselves into a bad situation and made it the most positive thing in their lives.! You should be proud of yourself!

Sharleen - posted on 05/08/2009

I agree as well but to an extent. Age doesn't make a good mother and a 11,12,13,14 could be the best and most responsible mother around but that does not make it right for her to have a baby. I really believe that someone that age should not be having babies at all!!!! and probably shouldn't even be having sex so young! I know that some young people are mature enough and responsible enough and really understand what it is to be a parent but I still don't think they should be allowed to.This is not because they are not good parents , but because they are still children themselves and I think they should just enjoy their childhood and live for themselves and not for a baby.I see alot of little girls pushing strollers and it makes me sad for their babies and for them as well cause I just feel like there is so much time in life to be an adult and have adult responsibilities that they should do the right thing in waiting. Now we all know that there are plenty of grown women (grown being an actual adult over the age of 18.before 18 you are still a girl and not woman) who are terrible mothers and should have their kids taken away or just shouldn't have had kids in the first place. Those women do a horrible job of mothering and they disgust me to the fullest, but they have the privilege of saying that at least they are grown up's, which is true even though they may act like little children themselves.I always knew I wanted to have kids young but not while I was still a teenager. i lost my virginity about a month before my 18 b-day and became pregnant at 20,gave birth at 21. I'm extremely proud that I waited that long to have sex and i was ready to have my daughter when I did because I had already lived my teenage years the way I wanted to live them. I was young when I had her but not too young and I was done doing the teen thing. This is what I wish for all women and young women especially who want to have a baby or are thinking about it. Live your teen years first and then have your precious babies after you are done living for you so that you're ready to live for them :)

Lisa - posted on 05/08/2009

i agree. there are grown women who are horrible mothers so you really cant put an age on the whole thing. all together i think there are some people that no matter how old they are should not have children...like people addicted to drugs for one. Even though i say you cant put an age on it, things happen, and if a 14 year old gets raped and becomes pregnant as a result, thats one thing, but for her to sit there are say she wants a baby just goes to show she isnt ready. No 14 year old realizes what it is like to really be a parent. I think the problem is sometimes, is they think its like babysitting, cause i know when i use to babysit at that age, i thought babies were so much fun and so cute, but i had no idea what they were really like. If i didnt have the help of my parents when i had my first one, i probably would have placed her for adoption because i realized that there was no way at the age of 17 i could raise a child all by myself.

Nichola - posted on 05/07/2009

I dont think you can put an age on how young is to young i think that it depends on the person and the case becuz one 14 year old could do amazing being a mom and really grow up where another of the same age could be awful and have her parents take care of the baby....i was 17 when i got pregant and 18 when i had him and i dont like seeing girls that are like 14 having babies...which we have right now where i live...and she wanted to get pregnant....i mean i have sisters who are 12 and 13 and i would be soooo disappointed if they were to get pregnant but it really does depend on the person...and like the girl who is 14 and pregnant that i know i think she is not ready just becuz she wanted to have a baby...she is basically wanting to play doll with a live child and she has no idea what she is getting in to i really feel bad for her

Lisa - posted on 05/06/2009

i feel the same way, its not so much that i care about the girl herself, but in that type of situation i feel for the child because it was not their choice.

Antonia - posted on 05/06/2009

I guess they'll just have to learn the hard way, like we have been! Hopefully the bubbas dont suffer for it though

Lisa - posted on 05/06/2009

OH I KNOW!!!!! i thought the same thing about that show! it made me sooo mad. 2 days doesnt do justice to what real parenthood is like. But that is one thing that i wish i could do with the girls i talk to...let them borrow my kids for a day, especially the younger one and then see how easy they think it is! I think it helps a little bit, but it doesnt come close to what it is really like. And when i tell the girls "this is what it is like everyday 24/7, through the night, you cant eat when you want to, you cant take a shower when you want to, you cant watch tv when you want to, nothing the baby has your attention every minute of everyday for the next 18 years!" they still dont think that that is realyl how it is...i dont know what i have to do to make them see....i really think letting them "borrow" my kids would help give a little insight

Antonia - posted on 05/06/2009

I know where you are coming from! I know of young mothers who act like they dont have children at all and it makes me feel sick. Their poor children are suffering because their parents thought having a baby would be cool. The thing is they dont think about 'parenthood' they think about just having a baby, without almost realising that that baby will grow up.

There really does need to be something out there showing youngs kids the endless work that we do!! The cleaning, feeding, cooking......

I was watching this show 'the baby borrowers' where teen couples look after other people bubs for 2 days and that still doesn't come close to the reality of it-- they were all walking out on their partners and visting mates!

Lisa - posted on 05/06/2009

Yeah here in the U.s. 18 you are considered an adult, although i dont know many mature 18 year olds. sometimes i really think that the problem with kids having babies so young comes from the media. There is a show out right now that to me portrays a 15 year old having a baby, and even though she has taken on all the responsibility her self, they still make it look like fun, and cute, and romantic. I wish they would put a realy show on tv about how it REALLY is to be a teenage mom....i might need to start making some phone calls. but anyways, i am glad that you think everything happens for a reason, because it most certainly does, even though we may not know why. I just get so mad when other teenage moms that are 15 16 and so on sit there and tell other girls that it is easy and that they were mature enough and grownup enough to raise a child. Fact: your brain is not fully developed until you are 25 years old, therefore from the time you are 15 to the time you are 25, your outlook on life will change dramatically.



Truthfully i was expecting to see alot of comments that said they were mature enough and ready to be a mother at such a young age....thankfully that is not the case! hehehe

Antonia - posted on 05/06/2009

Good on you Lisa! I was expecting to find lots of comments here saying that everyone thought they were totally prepared for motherhood at a very young age. I was wrong! I fell pregnant at 18 and had bubba when I was 19. During my pregnanvy i matured a huge ammount, which I found incredible. At the beginning there was no way in hell that I was ready for a baby, but as I went I think I did manage to prepare myself a little :) I ideally would have waited a bit longer, but everything happens for a reason and Im very glad it does!

I think that anyone much below 18 (considered an adult here in Aus) Is too young to become a parent, but then again there are some very mature and responsible young parents around too......

I guess it just depends on the individuals. If I had fallen pregnant any earlier it would have been disasterous I couldn't imagine having a baby when i was any younger!

Lisa - posted on 05/06/2009

I was 16 when i found out i was pregnant the first time and 17 when i delivered. At that point in my life i didnt care about much so i really wasnt scared or nervous or anything like that. In my situation, getting pregnant and having my daugther saved my life so i am always thankful to God for her. I was 18 when i found out i was pregnant again with my second one and 19 when i delivered, this time i was married though. My mother was the president of a maternity home for unwed mothers here in charlotte, so i have tried to use my personal experience to help younger girls that think they can raise a child. It actually infuriates me when a 14 year old sits there and says "I can take care of a baby no big deal" but what they dont realize is that when they have the baby, it is never about them anymore and i dont think most 13,14,15 year old girls can accept not being number 1 in their own lives. I think mid 20's is a good age to have a child, and im not saying i regret having mine, but i wish i had waited a little bit longer sometimes because I have missed out on being a teenager and missed out on going to school and actually having a job. No young teenager is mentally prepared for what it is like to have a baby....i wasnt.

Samantha - posted on 05/04/2009

I was 18 when I discovered I was pregnant, 19 when I delivered. Sure, I'm younger than most, and my daughter wasn't planned, but I don't think I am too young to be a mother. I am very level headed, responsible, and most importantly, only want the best for my little girl. If she someday was in the same situation, I would be supportive of her, just as my own mom was for me. I think 11-14 is not old enough to handle a child because they are too concerned with discovering who they are.