At what age should a man consider not having more children?

Question

Digital Dreams, I've now had two children after the age of forty. I'll be 47 in a few weeks.

My wife wants a third child, I worry I am pushing the envelope.

Answer 1

I'd say about 40.

Answer 2

data i dont have, check department of health if they have any research.

the question is if you want another child or not. if you don't communicate on it, if you do LOCK AND LOAD, you good to go soldier

Answer 3

God wants us to have children as long as we are fertile enough to produce children. There is no age limit. Keep having kids as long as your body permits. All the best.  

Answer 4

For men I believe it's a little different.  You don't have to carry the baby and make sure your body is ok, etc.  But mentally it's the same.  You have as many as you'd like at the ages that you feel comfortable with.  If you feel that one more would be ok and you could handle it and your wife is up to it, have fun!  Making and having ;D

If not, let her down and say that you really don't want to have anymore at your age and feel that you wouldn't be able to give them what you feel you should be able to.

Older parents are so much more popular these days and in the really old days it was popular for men to become Dads into their 50's and 60's usually because they were onto their second marriage by then or their wives were younger.

As for sperm longevity, men are usually ok in that boat until about 60 when it does start to decline.  It is different for all men, but at your age, I seriously doubt that yours are duds!  Especially with two other children after 40!

Answer 5

As old as you think you want to have a child running around causing chaos in the household, and sure the good times come too.

The main factor you and your wife should be considering if she is aged also is the enhanced probability of birth defects the child could have once she gets pregnant.  It is a fact that many mental problems can be more frequent the older a woman decides to get pregnant.  Go online and get some info.

Answer 6

Age 35-40 is the age when sperm quality becomes notably degraded and incidence of Downs Syndrome and other birth defects become more common. It used to be that they thought Downs Syndrome was due to maternal age/ova degradation, but now we know it is the paternal age/sperm degradation.

Also, consider how old you will be when your child is a teenager. Will you have the energy to keep up with a 12-year-old at age 50? Age 60? Maturity doesn't help parents with that part of parenting.

I would say 35 is when men should begin to consider not having children.

Answer 7

my dad was 54 or 55 when i was born.  he is healthy and him and my mom raised me well.  i don't think there should be a "too old" age for having children but to answer your question i'd say 70's are probably too old.  look at larry king!  the guys got to be in his 60's and there he is with little kids.

Answer 8

I'd say it all depends on the health of the guy. I feel sorry for the kids whose parents aren't healthy enough to run and play with their children. If a guy is in his 50's but is 100% healthy, then I see no reason he shouldn't "have" children.

I feel obligated to add that I  have an uncle who wanted children so badly, but his first wife was unable to have children. After they divorced (for other reasons), he married his current wife and was able to become a father...at 42. He is a wonderful father and his children LOVE paying with him. Oh, and he is now 52, so not every guy is the same in their 50's. My dad is 50, and he still gets on the trampoline with his GRANDkids! =)  So, yeah, it's not all "black and white", there are some gray areas. =)