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The Great Perks of Becoming a Mom in Your 30s

I always knew I wanted to be a mom and I had heard all the rumors about how becoming a mom in your 30s was not ideal. And I’ll be honest with you – there was a time in my 20s where I really questioned if becoming a mom was ever really going to happen. Thankfully it did, in my early 30s, and honestly, I just feel so blessed. Both because of my sweet baby boy, but also because I feel as though I’m now in a really good place to be a mom.

Let’s be honest – we all see things on social media about becoming a mom in your 30s vs. your 20s. Heck, having a baby 35 and over is still called a geriatric pregnancy! There’s negative connotation around becoming a mom in your 30s.

motherhood at an older age has benefits

The Positive Reality of Becoming a Mom in Your 30s

Instead of adding to all that negative talk, I’m here to share some positives with you. There are perks of becoming a mom in your 30s, and here are the ones that I have noticed and experienced.

1. You Have More Practice

By the time I had my baby, I had friends and relatives with babies and toddlers. I had been around them since they were born! I knew what to expect and had a better idea of how to take care of my own baby thanks to that exposure.

I had already held small babies, changed diapers, bottle fed, and so on. With my own baby, I wasn’t doing all of these things for the first time, which made it less daunting. Remember this when you’re becoming a mom in your 30s, you’ve got this!

2. You Learn From Others

Not only did I have practice with other people’s babies, I also was able to learn from the experience and the mistakes from my friends and family. They shared with me the things they learned through trial and error, meaning I didn’t have to learn things the hard way on my own.

This definitely gave me an advantage, especially when it came to making my baby registry. I knew the things that I’d actually need and use, and made sure to put those things on there. Plus, I have people I can text whenever I have a question, which is so much better than falling into a downward internet spiral.

3. You Get Hand-Me-Downs

When it comes to baby clothes, they grow out of them so fast. They also go through diapers so fast. And let’s not get started on the price of all the other things you need for them like bassinets, swings, snugglers, and so on. And so, this is where becoming a mom in your 30s is actually a great thing!

Thanks to already having friends and family with kids, I was able to get a ton of hand me downs, including diapers. Let me tell you, that was a huge help both financially and making sure I had what I needed before my baby boy got here.

Becoming a Mom in Your 30s

4. You are More Financially Stable When Becoming a Mom in Your 30s

You’re more likely more financially stable and confident in your 30s than you were in your 20s, at least I am. Kids are expensive! Babies are expensive!

If you’re not in a good or comfortable place financially, it can lead to added stress… and bringing a new baby home is already stressful. Postpartum is stressful. Any way you can mitigate that stress is helpful.

5. You Are More Confident

In my 30s, I’m not just more financially confident, I’m also more confident in myself, too. Motherhood’s hard! Postpartum is hard! It’s so easy to lose your confidence – and you will lose your confidence.

This is why being confident from the get-go can be helpful. You don’t want to be beaten down when you’re already not feeling so great about yourself. Becoming a mom in your 30s means you are more capable and confident to handle anything this new adventure brings.

6. You Are More Mature

When you’re a parent, you question your abilities a lot. I knew this was a thing, but didn’t really get it until I experienced it firsthand.

When you’re in your 20s, you’re still trying to figure out who you are. When you become a mother, you’re trying to figure out who you now are. Both of those things happening simultaneously can be a lot. When you get to this point, becoming a mom in your 30s can make a big difference.

Becoming a Mom in Your 30s

7. You Are Not Afraid to Ask for Help

You’ve probably heard that it takes a village to raise a child… and it really does. When you’re young, you have this mindset that you can do it all yourself and you don’t need to ask for help, especially not from your parents – at least I had this mindset.

As I got older, I learned that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. You bet I asked for help and still do! I truly think it made such a positive difference postpartum to have that help and to not be afraid to ask for it.

8. You Can Set Better Boundaries

Boundary setting is so important when having a baby, but knowing how to set those boundaries can be daunting, anxiety-inducing, and frankly scary.

You don’t want to upset anyone, but you also want to make sure you’re doing things in the best interest of your baby. In my 30s, I am more confident in setting boundaries and have learned how to do it more tactfully than when I was in my 20s.

9. There Are Some Health Benefits, Too

A 2017 review found that “older” parents feel more contentment and less stress compared to those who had children younger. “Existing studies show that happiness increases around and after childbirth among older mothers, whereas for younger mothers the effect does not exist or is short-lived,” the authors wrote.

Another study from 2016 found that those who had their last child after turning 35 had better verbal memory and sharper cognition post-menopause. These health benefits of greater contentment and cognitive advancement are a huge win when looking at the perks of becoming a mom in your 30s.

Becoming a Mom in Your 30s

Final Thoughts On Becoming A Mom In Your 30s

Do I wish I had a baby when I was in my 20s? If you asked me when I was in my 20s I would have said yes. I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self that not only is it going to happen, but there are so many more perks that I had realized to having a baby in my 30s. The above are just some that I have personally realized.

If you’re stressing about having a baby while still in your 20s, I’m here to reassure you to stop stressing. If it happens when you’re in your 30s, it’ll be great, and probably even better than you ever expected!

becoming a mother in your 30s
motherhood in the 30s

About the Author

I had tons of fun in my 20s, but my 30s have been my favorite decade so far! From getting married and now getting to explore life with my best friend, I want to share my experiences and learnings with you. I've worked in both the nonprofit and corporate worlds and have freelanced all the way through. When I'm not working, you'll probably find me booking my next trip.