Older moms make better parents

If you are warned about your "biological clock ticking," tell them that a new Danish study shows being an older mom (aged 35 years or more) not only is your prerogative but also has some big social and behavioral advantages for you and your child. Conventionally not considered "prime" for childbearing is getting easier thanks to options like egg freezing, embryo freezing, and IVF, and 15 % of new moms in the U.S., 21 % in England and Wales, and 22 % in Australia are 35 years and over. One in 25 new moms in England and Wales is over 40 years old; a proportion that's quadrupled over the past 30 years.

As per the studies conducted by Aarhus University, Denmark, older moms had fewer emotional and behavioural problems with children in the 7-11 years age category. Older women used less physical discipline and instead provided the children with behavioural boundaries. This is because older moms were less worried about future pregnancies and hence had better attitudes about becoming parents.

People become mentally flexible with age and are more tolerant of other people, as they themselves thrive better emotionally with age. As a result, this style of parenting contributes to a positive psycho-social environment which affects the child's upbringing. Females want to attain greater emotional maturity before having kids. The Danish study also found that older moms were happier during their pregnancies as they were in stable relationships. Added to this, older moms were financially better off, which again boosts their self-confidence.

Women who postpone having kids or choose to not have them at all have to face a lot of judgement. But the new findings show that this decision could be a smart one, as waiting till you are truly prepared, is good for both you and your family.