When is the best time to have a baby?

Much like my post about diamonds, this is no indication of my future life as barefoot and pregnant.

But it’s a good to know. As I’m about to turn 25, I know the years the flying by and I guess it’s kind of good to know for all women, when it’s healthy and unhealthy to have one.

But first, I figured I’d put the more literal question out there.. If I want to plan my kids date of birth, and I’m kind of a super fertile myrtle who know’s its gonna be an easy wham-bam-thank-you-man… when should i be getting preggo?

January - Start “Knocking Boots” in April
February – Start “Getting Nookie” in May
March – Start “Doing the Wild Thing” in June
April – Start “Picking Cherries” in July
May – Start “Deep Sea Fishing” in August
June – Start “The Trouser Snake Boogie” in September
July - Start “Doing the Naughty”in October
August – Start “Planting Baby Seeds” in November
September – Start “Making The Beast With Two Backs” in December
October - Start “Hiding the Sausage” in January
November – Start “Making Whoopie” in February
December – Start “Filling the Spunk Bucket” in March

According to my research, 30 years old is the ultimate best time to have a child. It is before all of the real pregnancy complication issues arise, and it gives you the time to have a career, get married, maintain a stable home life, travel, and save up for your first born. However, if you plan to have two children, 27 is a better age because you will likely have your second around age 30.

The BENEFITS of having kids when you’re YOUNGER:

• It’s easier on your body (less complications)
• You have more energy for children
• Kids will be out of the house when you’re old
• More friends, bigger baby shower

The DRAWBACKS of having kids when you’re YOUNGER:

• Less money
• More of a chance for a “baby wedding” and higher divorce rates
• Bigger baby shower, friends with less cash to spend (haha)
• Strains on non-mommy friendships
• You have to make a lot of sacrifices
• Increased chance of credit card debt and bankruptcy

The BENEFITS of having kids when you’re OLDER:

• It’s easier to plan all those trips you told yourself you’d take
• It’s easier to start a career early in life
• More money to spend on the child
• Likeliness of a stable home environment is increased substantially
• You have more time for the 3-year waiting period recommended between getting married and having children

The DRAWBACKS of having kids when you’re OLDER:

• Increased risk of genetic defects, especially down-syndrome (after age 35)
• Increased risk of complications
• Increased likeliness to need fertility treatments (over age 45)
• Depending on how late you have your child, their grandparents could be long gone, there may be a large generation gap with cousins by the time they’re older
• Not more weight gain, but harder to lose the baby weight
• Kids will still be in the house as you get older
• At age 35, there is a 40 percent chance of a c-section delivery compared to 14 percent of first-time mothers in their 20s

Sources: Parenting.com, Storknet.com, Time.com, Duke.edu, BabyCenter.com, and Parents.com