Benefits of Having Children Later in Life

The Prevalence of Older Parents

In generations past, people tended to become parents earlier in life. One hundred years ago, the average age of a first time mother was 23 years old, whereas today, that number is closer to 30. What’s more, back in the 1920s, less than ten percent of women bore children after 30 years of age, and today more than 20 percent do. Our culture has shifted, and today, women often postpone motherhood in favor of career and other pursuits. We often hear about the risks of the “advanced maternal age” of women over 35, but could there also be some advantages? In truth, there are several benefits to having children at an older age, whether the “older” parent is the mother, the father, or both.

What Research Shows About Late in Life Parenting

Perhaps the most obvious benefits of waiting to procreate have to do with life experience. Older parents are more established in their careers, so they tend to be more financially stable and are often better educated than younger parents. They are more mature, purely because they have lived longer and experienced more of life, so older parents are typically calmer and more capable in many regards. What you may find surprising, however, is that having children later in life can actually help increase your mental acuity as you age, and it can also extend your lifespan. In fact, one recent study found that women who have children after the age of 33 have a much greater likelihood of living to age 95 than women who did not have any children after age 30- the likelihood actually doubled!

Some Facts About Older Fathers

While men of advanced paternal age have some of the same risks as their female counterparts, there are also benefits to fathering children at an older age. Recent research indicates that older fathers tend to have more intelligent children, with higher IQs and stronger focus. Further, there is evidence linking advanced paternal age and children with chromosomes that lead to longevity. This longevity may even last for two generations, meaning that older dads may endow their children and grandchildren with longer lives.

What’s in it for the Kids?

Aside from the higher intelligence and longer lifespans they may gain from having older fathers, children of older parents benefit in other ways, too. Older parents are typically calmer and less stressed, and they tend to get more satisfaction from parenting. What’s more, there are studies showing that children of older parents suffer fewer accidental injuries. Kids of older parents are often more tech-savvy than their peers, too, and they benefit from their parents’ financial stability and life experience.

Visit Center for Vasectomy Reversal for Help Starting Your Family

While there are many benefits to starting a family at an older age, the conception can sometimes be challenging. At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people start their healthy, happy families, and we pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more about the work we do or our discounts for active duty military and veterans, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.