How the rise in parental age affects kids and parents| Know the details here

Digital Desk: Our parenting style has evolved throughout time, and so has the parental age. Couples no longer plan to have children before the age of 30. People now prefer to have children later in life, when they have more means and experience caring for children, as a result of late marriages and professional preferences. 

However, concerns have been expressed time and again about whether having children late may have an influence on their development. Experts in the field are divided on the issue. Some people support it, while others point out the potential problems. 

Both research and common belief suggest that couples who have children in their twenties have healthy newborns, and the chance of miscarriage and birth abnormalities is minimal. This is because both men's and women's reproductive systems work normally in their twenties. Men's sperm count and quality decline after the age of 40, and the same is true for women's eggs. Additional metabolic disorders, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, make conception more challenging.

Some evidence also suggests that increased maternal age can contribute to a deterioration in neurocognitive outcomes. According to a 2009 study, having an older father may be a cause of a deterioration in neurocognitive outcomes in children during infancy and childhood. Another study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry revealed that the father's age may also be associated with an increased risk of autism in children.

 

The biological difficulties are clear in the case of older parents, but having children later is a much better alternative in terms of mental health. Several research indicate that children of older parents have a less harmful impact on their mental health. It is more common among older fathers. There were no evident psychological benefits for babies in the case of older mothers. According to research, older women are more mature, educated, and less likely to engage in dangerous pregnancy behaviours.

There is no right or wrong timing to have children. Different studies get different results. As a result, it is impossible to say when one should plan for children. More research is needed in this area before declaring an accurate age bracket. When it comes to baby planning, it is entirely up to you and your partner. The most important thing is to be mentally prepared for the difficult task of parenting a child.