What Are the Disadvantages of Having Children Later in Life?

Health Risks

• A number of health risks are associated with having children later in life, relative to both the child and the mother. Women who choose to have children past the age of 35 have an increased chance of pregnancy complications, such as miscarriages, high blood pressure, cesarean sections, fetal distress and premature deliveries. When it comes to the babies, women who wait until later in life to become pregnant expose the fetus to risks of contracting genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome.

Parent and Child Age Difference

• The parent and child age difference is more extreme when you wait to have children later in life. As a prospective parent you need to consider how this age difference will impact the relationship you have with your child. Older parents may not have an adequate amount of physical energy and activity to keep up with an active child. This is especially true if older parents battle health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or arthritis. It can become tiring for older parents to keep up with that youthfulness since time takes a toll on the body, according to "Dr. Phil." It is important to think about what your parenting abilities or inabilities will be like, and how that will affect your child.

Social Disadvantages

• If you wait until later in life to have kids, consider what your social life will be like. Chances are your friends that are your age already have grown children, while you are just starting out with yours. This puts you and your friends into very different stages of life, even though you might be equal in age. Socially, it could become difficult to keep up with the activities your friends are involved in. In addition, the friends that your child makes with peers at school or on youth sports teams may have younger parents that you do not feel like you relate to, age-wise. Consequently, you can begin to feel as though you do not know where you fit in socially.

Mortality

• As an older parent you might have to brief your younger children about death and mortality, and make preparations for your passing sooner in their lives than you would have to if you were an early parent. It is a difficult reality for late parents to realize that they may pass on before they witness their children graduate from college, get married and have kids of their own. Waiting until later in life to have children limits the amount of time and experiences you have with your kids.