Many people are choosing to start their families later to devote time to a caree

Question

Many people are choosing to start their families later to devote time to a career. What are the pros and cons of having children in the early to mid 20s as opposed to late 30s to early 40s for both the parents and the children?
Many people are choosing to start their families later to devote time to a career. What are the pros and cons of having children in the early to mid 20s as opposed to late 30s to early 40s for both the parents and the children?
Many people are choosing to start their families later to devote time to a career. What are the pros and cons of having children in the early to mid 20s as opposed to late 30s to early 40s for both the parents and the children?

Explanation / Answer

Pros of having children early:

Fertility is the highest for women at this age, thus it will more likely lead to a successful pregnancy. Also the recovery time would be less and one can bounce off easily as oppose to having kids later in life. Since the parents are young, both will be filled with energy and can have an active life with their child.

Cons of having children early:

One of the reasons why parents choose to start a family later in life is to first get a good education, pay the loan/debt of education, start a career and reach a mid-level position where they are financially well off and can provide a good life for their family. Since the parents are young, they are in the early stage of their career and hence may have financial constraints. Lack of financial support is the biggest factor that leads to delay in starting a family. Another possible con would be not being able to take up jobs that involve constant travelling and living in other cities. Many Young adults like to travel and explore the world which would be difficult to do when one has a family.

Pros of having children later in mid-30 – early 40’s:

People at this stage are more likely to be financially stable and more mature in their thinking. The couple had time to explore places and engage in opportunities before starting a family. However, the children are more likely to lead a comfortable life as the parents are financially well off and are in the middle or late part of the career where they may have the flexibility to spend more time at home.

Cons of having children later in life:

The energy level isn't what it was and the body may not bounce back as quickly. There is a sharp fertility decline from the 30’s. According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), married women between the ages of 40-44 have a 60% chance of remaining childless, and all women in this age group have a 34% risk of miscarriage. At 40, there’s a 1 in 106 risk of Down syndrome. They may have less social support as their parents are likely to be aged and they will be responsible in taking care of their elderly parents. The peers are less likely to support them as they maybe at an age of retirement. Since the parents are older, they are less likely to have energy to play around with their kids. The children will have older parents as compared to their peers. The parents are more likely to develop diseases and may have various illnesses.

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