With regard to age and the question of energy , it isn't partcularly about age, but lifestyle and fitness. And fitness has to be worked at and maintained.

People don't always bother to exercise and keep fit and this goes for all ages. I know some squash players and runners that are fitter in their 40s and 50s than many people are in their 20s.

I know one guy in his 40s on his second marriage who does a seriously physical job during the daytime (working with concrete and molds) then goes straight to the club to play team squash And this isn't a one-off either.

Fantastic post LS, it won't let me give you reppys.
I do think still though that making the best of what we have also has to be done with consideration for the hopeful child and it's children in turn...
I'm sure Ben won't be at all embarassed. I don't think having a child in your 30's is that late. As I say, my dad was 48...

Not sure about the quality/quantity thing though in this respect.
Luca is a very very lucky boy Dani to have such an obviously close and loving family around him.

I do think at the end of the day we all make choices, I understand the longing for a child totally, but I do think that sometimes, we need to be selfless about that and look to whether we should pursue it. I do think there is a point at which people are too old to have a child. Not sure what the age is,but my dad was definitely over it.

I had Gary at 24 and Steven at 26.......that was just right for me.

However my cousin had her first child at 53 she is now 23 yrs old, I often think that she feels she is out with her Gran and Grandad though as she doesn't like them to pick her up etc if her mates are about.

Don't worry Ailsa, but thank you.

I don't see it as a matter of age but the factors I mentioned before. Children can be born into all manner of circumstances but whether they flourish or not is not about the age of their parents, but many other factors.

There are all sorts of arguments put forward to demonstrate what is best when considering a child and the age of the parents is only one of them - and a relative small one in my opinion. Others include the affluence of the family, parental cognition, the issues of the child beng an only child, educational factors, social factors ... all these - and more - are up for debate so I really don't see that when considering having a child it is just about one factor - age.

wow to have the energy at 53..

My energy wouldn't of been that good at 53...

you know I just had to check your profile.. I didnt think you were over 53...

No, I certainly don't see it as being the only factor involved and certainly it shouldn't be an issue at all for most people, but at the end of the day, it does become an issue when people get older, it has to surely? Having a child when you are older hasd health implications for both mum and baby, as well as social ones.

I think it depends a lot on individual circumstances but I'm sure its better to wait until life is stable and you really want a baby. Some 40 year olds are younger than some 20 year olds, if you know what I mean. Also attitudes have changed over the years. I had Henry just after my 30th birthday in 1983 and and I was classed as elderly
Mind you I did read about someone in Italy, I think, having a child when she was in her 60s. I think that is a bit unfair to the child. Imagine being a teenager with a mum whose almost 80.

Statistically having a baby in your 40s is supposed to bring about a higher risk of Downs. However, I don't know anyone of this age with a Downs Syndrome baby. I do, however, know of a few in their thirties with a Downs baby.

I have to be honest and say that I know of just as many younger mums that have had problems as older, and just as many of either age that haven't. I haven't seen a difference and I think from my observation it depends on the Mum's fitness and health. I honestly haven't seen a difference with the people that I know. Perhaps your experience is different?