How old is too old to have a child?

I don't think there IS a cut off that is the same for every woman. I am 39 and we are trying. It's a personal decision. If you are 35 and you feel that's it for you, then that's great! Stop now. But if you are older and still able, and have the love to give a child, then that's great, too.

Modern day medicine is making it possible for women of advanced years to have a baby. If a woman's eggs are in good shape then she should be OK to have a baby whenever she wants. However, donor eggs are a possibility. Many times, the issue of defects relates just as much to the man as the woman. Often a man's "contribution" to the baby package can be defective and cause birth defects, as much or more so than "bad eggs." A man's seed often becomes genetically damaged with age. It's just a fact of life. The risk of a child born with Down Syndrome or other defects increases dramatically when the male is significantly older. They have done research on this issue. The syndrome is not always related to the woman or her eggs. Thanks for the discussion.

35. People are having children way too late these days and in my opinion that is a bad thing. Children need their parent's to be young and healthy not old and frail.

When the risks for birth defect is too high. I think that's around the age of 35 or so.