Is it normal to start trying for a baby at 18?

Don't be a moocher by looking for programs. It doesn't matter if you're 18 or 28, first get financial stability and get married, fiance can split any time, only then you should have a baby.

"I'm 18 (19 in August) and he's 21"

21 and a half? Or 21 and a quarter? I think you should wait until he's 21 and 3/4, because that's a much more mature age.

Young gf bf couples do normally talk about babies and 'family' life, its all just in fun and make believe.
Oh and keep up with the contraception, we don't want any little surprises in your normal 'going out together' relationship.

By the way is he your longest relationship? 6 months does pass quickly, but if it only 2 1/2 months, yep wait.

Oooooooooh so THAT'S where my tax dollars are going. Cool.

Absolutely not!

First, you must go to college to better yourself. Wait until you're financially secure and have a permanent home. It would be best to marry him so, if you get a divorce he would pay child support. Once, you've got that settled you try to start a family.

Shows like teen mom don't show the whole truth. The girls are being paid shiploads yet, they are always complaining about the "money shortage",etc. There was a show were they had young couples who wanted to start a family. They made them become parents to newborns-teenagers. It showed how hard it was to be a parent. Be smart and wait!

We say "education", you say "I don't wanna!".

We say "over-population", you say "I don't care!"

We say "you might break up, you say "we know we never will!", even though every young couple in love says that and they always do.

We say "you're not mature enough", you say "you don't know me!".

We say "you can't afford it", you think it'll be fine, and someone else will just pay for it.

Can you see where I'm going? As much as I deeply hate saying other people aren't mature enough to do things, I don't think you're mature enough to have a kid yet. You're right, I don't know you and neither does anyone else here, but from the answers you give you don't sound like you understand the consequences of having a kid this early on in your life with someone you've only been with for almost 8 months.

Take a step back and wait for a while. Ask your parents about what it's like having a kid, or ask his parents. They'll tell you how tough it can be. Talk it through with your friends, ask them if they think having a kid at 18 is a sensible thing to do.

A kid takes up at least 18 years of your life. That's the same as your entire life so far. It's a huge amount of time and effort, and there's no going back. By the time you've finished raising that kid, you'll be into your mid-thirties. That will be your youth GONE. And if you think you'll have the time to have fun and do all the things you do now while you're raising that kid, think again. The kid will be the centre of your life for YEARS.

NO, I DON'T want to pay for YOUR baby (social programs) and NO I don't think it's a good idea, seeing as your jobs both suck and you can't even afford an apartment. Sorry for sounding like an asshole, but America can't afford another baby that 'lives off the system.'

No, no, no. I don't really care about your age. Physiologically, 18 is good enough for having a child.

BUT -if you can't provide a proper care for the baby, don't bring another person to this world to suffer from poverty.
Unless you're both settled, have good jobs (that provide enough finances for your baby expenses), and really want to dedicate yourself to raising a child, please don't be another white trash mom on wellfare.

If you're 18 I'd recommend waiting a bit.

Why? Because the female uterus doesn't FINISH developing until you're in your early 20s. So the younger you get knocked up the more likely you'll have a premature child.

Plus, it's always good to make sure your finances are in order first.

I'm sorry, but you're obviously not very bright. I wouldn't want any little kids running around with your DNA pool.

You could still change your mind, I hear babies go for 5 or 6 grand on the black market.

It seems for most people, they too can never afford a baby! I would not let that be the deciding factor, but you being willing to give up your needs to improve a child's need is the maturity level you both need first! So start now by seeking a career for a family, and that means both of you! And enjoy bringing a new life into this world!

If you can hardly look after yourself, then how do you expect to look after a kid? It's a huge commitment.

Also, I don't know much about it, but can't you get paid to foster?

No. I'd tell you why but you already said why. "We clearly can't afford a baby, we can't even afford an apartment. I don't have a job, and his job sucks."

Programs that for people in your situation are common in countries with a low population, their governments urge reproduction. If you live in the USA I don't think you'll get anything. A social worker might even take your baby away from you.

Ever thought about OVERPOPULATION?

First off.. This guy Here..FocoUS is a moron. The United States is one of the leading countries providing assistance to families who have babies but can't afford them. They will not TRY to take your baby from you, as a matter of fact unless you prove that you are mentally and physically incapable of taking care of the child they will not even question you keeping it. The SRS - Social Rehabilitation Services are there to HELP families, usually broken ones, but stable ones in bad times aswell. Generally the States have varying degrees of assistance since mainly these programs are run at state levels and not federal. Several Years ago when my friend's wife lost her job they gained food assistance because they couldn't really afford to feed 3 kids and 1 on the way after that moment. There was never once a question raised about the capabilities of that family to take care of the children beyond the financial capacity. Sooooo That worry aside lets talk about the QUESTION!

The Real thing you need to consider in situations like yours is how YOU are going to handle it. There is a difference between wanting a baby, being able to handle a baby, and being PREPARED for a baby. For instance, everything you worry about on a daily basis is amplified by the BABY. Even the thoughts of a BABY on the way multiplies things considerably. Is there enough ROOM for the baby, FOOD for the Baby, MONEY to buy Blankets, Food, Carseat, Stroller, Bed, Basinet, Food(if you go formula instead of breast feeding), and here is the big consideration for baby... TIME. Mearly not having a job doesn't leave you free to have children. You have to make sure that you are prepared to spend your TIME taking care of a Baby, YOUR TIME FEEDING, YOUR TIME Holding, YOUR TIME when you should be SLEEPING, with the baby. Oh and lets not even consider the way your hips are gonna feel the whole time you're pregnant. One of the Most important things to do in this situation is to step back, make a checklist of sacrifices and time considerations and GOALS!

This is important for things like if you or he wants job/better job. If you want to buy a house or go to college, own a nicer car, have children, etc. Put them on a list of priorities and make sure to consider how each one EFFECTS the others. Such as you having a job and getting a car and a house will be better for having a BABY, and going to COLLEGE will be better for ALL of those other things aswell. So make sure that you know that when you skip to the last thing on the list, you greatly decrease your chances for obtaining everything from where you are now to the last item you went to.

It's Important to consider STRESS aswell, You could put too much STRESS on your relationship with a baby at such a young age and drive each other apart. It's a long set of hard choices, but only YOU and HE can make them TOGETHER! If he says NOW, you need to talk about why Now is good, and why now is bad and make sure you make the GOOD decisions, not the ones that feel right in your heart, but the ones that feel right in your HEAD, sometimes they are unfortunately not the same, but in the long run you will have a better life for you, your spouse, and your future bundles of joy.

Face it, your not ready to have a child based on what you've told us. This isn't me being a douche. This is me telling you the cold hard facts. Just because it's tough to swallow doesn't mean we're assholes, it means we know what we're talking about. We've been on this planet longer and we've seen these situations time and time again. As much as you'd like to say you're a unique situation and you can manage a baby. Come on, think long and hard about that. We both know that baby wouldn't be as fortunate as it would even if you waited 5 years. A long time? Yeah maybe, but the financial stability to support a child should be well worth the wait.

nigga u gotta get your finances in oreder first before u even think about having a baby

Idiots like you just breed more idiots !!!!!

Are you fucking mental, Sounds like he's trying to trap you, Babies are a pain in the arse, they require alot of attention and money, Get yourself some solid foundations in your life before getting pregnant, keep taking the contraceptive for the next ten years borrow a baby from some familey members or a friend and you'll soon know how much work it is . It will also do all sorts of damage to your lady bits down stairs fucking mental idea !!!!!!!

FOR EVERYONE:
WE HAVE DECIDED TO WAIT!! NOT BECAUSE OF YOU, BUT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT REASONABLY, AND DECIDED ON OUR OWN THAT WE ARE GOING TO WAIT TILL WE ARE STABLE ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILD THAT WE BOTH ALREADY LOVE!!!

Thank you for your time

Everyone is right. You will fuck your life up real quick.

For example, a 24 year old I know with a 2 year old: works 10 hours during the day massaging old ugly men. Bar-tends until 4 AM in the morning (second job). No baby daddy. No child support. No family. Nothing. And she graduated college.

I don't believe its bad to try for a baby at 18 but only if your seriously ready and you know that's what you want and are financially stable enough to have one. You don't necesarily have to go to colledge to have a good job, but like you said yall don't. You should not plan to have a baby and plan to have your family pay for it. That is just not fair to the baby or your family. I personally don't believe you are mature enough to have a baby yet just for the fact that you plan to have one and have other people pay and can't afford your own house. Get your shit together and I see no problem with it.

That's stupid. Don't make such a mistake because your in a rush. You clearly can't afford one and give the baby a nice life. Wait untill you finish college have a home and a job with a stable income. Its not your life alone that you'll ruin if you have a baby now. Take precautions for your future life.