As others mentioned, there really is no "best" age because the best age is different for everyone. That being said, I highly recommend having kids in your late 20s. I had my first right after I turned 28, and I am now pregnant with baby #2 at 29...so I'm obviously a bit biased here.
Pros:
1. Fertility – Late 20 somethings generally still have really good fertility and lower risk of fertility related problems. I started TTC halfway through 26 and experienced 2 losses before conceiving my daughter...while they were very sad, I was so thankful I started a bit early because as my story demonstrates, there is no guarantee you'll get lucky right out of the gate and the last thing you need in that situation is to be stressed about age on top of it.
2. Finances – Most of us have had at least a few solid years of career building before we enter our late 20s, and have achieved stronger financial stability than when we were in our early/mid 20s.
3. Energy and health – At 29 I still feel very energized, active, and healthy which is awesome for being able to keep up and handle the chaos of the newborn and toddler years (because seriously, you have never seen energy until you have a toddler). Older parents do well too, but I imagine I’ll be feeling at least a little bit slower 10 years from now. I'm sure our young age was a big factor in why we felt ready and excited to plunge right ahead and go for #2 only a year or so after our first was born.
4. Multiple kids – If you give birth to your first at 28, you have plenty of time to have more children before age really becomes a factor. Many people strive to have their kids about 2-3 years apart. If you have baby #1 at 28, you can easily have 3 kids before age 32-33. By starting early, most of us won't have to worry about age impacting our family planning.
5. No teenagers at home when you are in your late 50s – Older parents have to deal with parenting tweens and teenagers into their 50s and 60s. I personally want that time for myself and my husband, not college applications and teenage angst. Plus, there is no guarantee I’ll be healthy and fit in my 60s even if I try really hard to stay very fit and healthy…I don’t want teenagers dealing with the stress and insecurity of ailing parents if I can reduce the risk.
6. More time with grandbabies - If you have kids younger, you increase your chances of being around and more fit when and if they have their own children. My parents and inlaws are in their 60s and having younger grandparents has been amazing for everyone involved. Our parents are still plenty strong and capable and energetic enough to babysit, help out, and genuinely enjoy their grand children, all of whom are rambunctious and under age 4.
Cons:
1. Possible lack of peers – Most of our friends aren’t even married yet, let alone having kids. We are the first in our friend group to have kids, and we could very well be done having 3 kids before many of them even start on their 1st. This isn’t a major factor, but it is a downside if you are hoping to have a bunch of friends going through similar stages as you are.
2. Career – For women in particular, babies can present a challenge to their careers. Even women who work until their due date and take only 12 weeks off often find that pregnancy and the first year postpartum can really throw a wrench in their careers, at least for the short term. In your late 20s, many of us are poised for great career growth, and taking time off for maternity leave or scaling back your investment to handle daycare drop offs and pumping during work hours might negatively impact how fast one climbs the ladder. Dads can also be sidetracked by kids, but they often do not have to contend with pregnancy complications or postpartum recovery which starts the whole downward slide for many women.
