babies

[smellie]

when do you truly know when your reay for babies.Ive been with my husband for 7 years married for 2 but im still only 22. How o you know when the time is right?

[wildwood]

You'll know when you're ready, when you actually 'feel' like having a baby. Many women are now having their children at a later stage of life which can only be good for the babies, mature women generally make better mothers than young ones. Enjoy your free life while you still can. Babies are also an enjoyable experience, but do tie you down.

[Jocasta]

As a woman of 31 I'd say that if you're asking that question you're probably not ready. I haven't had any children through choice and can honestly say that I'm so glad I had experienced my twenties without children, it gave me the chance to be totally selfish and do whatever I wanted and to find out what sort of person/parent I wanted to be. I would recommend any woman to give it until at least 25, build up a career, a circle of friends and go and experience a bit of life.... Just my thoughts btw...!

[norfolk boy]

When your standared of living is at a stage you're happy and content.You will feel that something is missing in your lives.The one thing to remember is love to your children is unconditional no matter how much they wreck the furniture,flood the bathroom and wreck your lawn. (bless em)

[jills]

I'd echo previous answers to an extent. I had my first baby last year when I was 32, even tho I'd been with my partner 14 years by then. We enjoyed ourselves for 10 years after leaving uni....spending money, doing what we wanted, growing up alot and really making our relationship secure and happy. Now we have Charlie, we couldn't be happier, and I'm glad I waited. Not sure how well I'd have coped when I was younger. And that's not cos Charlie's a difficult baby, he's a joy, it's just that you really do give up your old life (long lies, spontaneous nights out,thinking of your boobs as sexual-lol!!) and to an extent, become someone else - so you have to be ready to give that up. You have to want to. The rewards are indescribably good tho:-D Tho of course, most women who get pregnant 'accidentally' and go on to have their baby are just as happy with life as those who plan it.

[bluedolphin]

we are all living longer, there are rumours that we will have to work into our seventies in the future... so looking at urself at 22 u can expect a further 60 years, thats 3 times as much as u have got under ur belt now... if u have kids now they will be grown up when u are early 40s and u will have another 40 years to go..... maybe hang on a bit longer to ur freedom ....but in the end its up to u....

[vittoria]

In addition to all of the above, you could also consider that (a) the older you are, the harder it gets to cope with the sleepless nights etc. You have less stamina when you are 40 than 22 obviously - but (b) I used to log on to a mums' forum and I remember that someone used to remark that having had her children in her early 20s, she felt isolated, because most first time mums were in their mid to late 30s... she really wanted to meet mums closer to her own age... This is only in addition to, not instead of, all of the above.

[kags]

I think you have to be prepared to have a massive change in your life - if you say "I want a baby but it isn't going to change my way of life", then you are probably not ready. Although you will still be the same person as a parent, you will feel and act differently in many respects. Of course, as has already been mentioned, there are millions of wonderful parents to unplanned babies, but given the luxury of choice, I would say wait until the day when you just know it's time - there's no ideal time, just what's right for you.

[heartache]

No one is ever ready for a baby! lol