Minimum Age Requirement for Having Kids?

Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I heard someone say this the other day in a stand-up routine (I watch so many of them that I'm not sure which one it was), "We've got a minimum age to drink, fuck, go to war, smoke cigarettes, and drive. Why do we not have a minimum age requirement for having kids? That just makes no sense to me. If we imposed huge fines on having a kid before age 30 a lot of our problems would be solved."

Since, we're all incredibly open-minded people, I thought I would pose the question to see what you have to say on the matter.

Should there be a minimum age requirement for becoming a parent? If it were to somehow become magically ethical to impose such a restriction, what do you think that age should be?
05/13/2012
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05/13/2012
Contributor: Ryuson Ryuson
This sounds like a good idea, but then you end up with the whole "Should it be different for different cultures?" and I feel like it would get to the point back 60 years ago when we were sterilizing autistic and schizophrenic people ("Well you're just not allowed to procreate ever.")

It also would be a huge issue because it would force a lot of people to have abortions who were morally against it. If your culture/religion makes you marry by 14, they say that it's a wifes duty to pleasure her husband, you find most contraceptives to be against your beliefs, but you can't legally have a kid until 20? That's a LOT of abortions.
05/13/2012
Contributor: xilliannax xilliannax
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I heard someone say this the other day in a stand-up routine (I watch so many of them that I'm not sure which one it was), "We've got a minimum age to drink, fuck, go to war, smoke cigarettes, and drive. Why do we not have a minimum age ... more
Age requirement? No. Intelligence requirement....income requirement... maybe
05/13/2012
Contributor: ghalik ghalik
In an ideal world it might be a good idea but in reality, it would be an absolute nightmare. Age 30 is also fairly old, fertility-speaking. Many people have reduced fertility by that age.
05/13/2012
Contributor: TheSinDoll TheSinDoll
The Husband says that you should have to at least have $50,000 in the bank and own your own home before being able to have a child. He also believes that all boys should be fitted with contraception at birth that could be removed once those requirements are met.

Not a bad idea, in my opinion.
05/13/2012
Contributor: Ryuson Ryuson
Quote:
Originally posted by TheSinDoll
The Husband says that you should have to at least have $50,000 in the bank and own your own home before being able to have a child. He also believes that all boys should be fitted with contraception at birth that could be removed once those ... more
That sounds like a better idea, putting contraception in the boys. But it also seems like it could be seen as a way to keep the poor/disabled from reproducing, especially if they live in South Africa where no one can even think of saving up more than $50,000!

Interesting topic!
05/13/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Ryuson
That sounds like a better idea, putting contraception in the boys. But it also seems like it could be seen as a way to keep the poor/disabled from reproducing, especially if they live in South Africa where no one can even think of saving up more than ... more
I think most people are going to respond to this in terms of United States issues/laws/income/pov erty levels. South Africa never entered my mind while I was thinking on the subject.
05/13/2012
Contributor: quinceykay quinceykay
I'm not one to judge - it mostly depends on maturity and how capable you are. I'd say mid-twenties is probably the best age.
05/13/2012
Contributor: xOhxSoxScandalousx xOhxSoxScandalousx
Quote:
Originally posted by Ryuson
That sounds like a better idea, putting contraception in the boys. But it also seems like it could be seen as a way to keep the poor/disabled from reproducing, especially if they live in South Africa where no one can even think of saving up more than ... more
That would be WEIRD. I want to have control over my own body and not have others tell me when I can and can't have kids. Sounds ridiculous to me. It would be disgusting to put contraception in boys to keep them from reproducing. They should have the right to decide when they want children. If the US decided to start doing that crap my ass would be out of this country asap. I think that kind of law would go against our rights.
05/13/2012
Contributor: Ryuson Ryuson
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I think most people are going to respond to this in terms of United States issues/laws/income/pov erty levels. South Africa never entered my mind while I was thinking on the subject.
Ah, okay. I just saw the figure and the first thing to pop into my mind was considering much poorer countries. It seems like it would be a lot more like something that China would do than the US, especially since there are already people upset about having to disclose health information to more people due to the 'Obamacare.'

Oh, but to play along if this was going to happen I would say that it should be the same as age of consent in your area. It would be strange to have it be higher/lower than age of consent because consent is (in some peoples eyes) along the same lines.
05/13/2012
Contributor: MistressDandelion MistressDandelion
This is a terrible idea.

Age =/= maturity. I'd say future parents would have to get a parenthood course, and then tests about various subjects: caring for the infant, answering a children's questions, understanding a child's psyche, how to raise the child's self-esteem and be a stimulator in their lives, general knowledge to pass on, financial budgeting with a child, time monitoring with a child, how to let your child develop their own identity, how to not impair your child curiosity while still keeping them away from danger, etc.

There's too much parents raising bratty, snotty nosed potty mouthed kids around here. They don't even care for their children. They walk literally feets before them. I could totally kidnap one, have a nice walk, get them some icecream and bring them back to their parents an hour later, and the parents would barely notice. Children are not accessories or pets.

You can manage being poor and have children: breast feeding for as long as the child wants (not as long as society prescribes as socially acceptable), washable diapers, limiting toys (replacing them with human, parental interactions), transporting the baby with a baby scarf instead of a stroller, buying used clothing (they'll grow out of them soon enough anyways), etc.

You cannot manage raising a child while being stupid. Well, you can, but you'll raise some bigoted, bully asshole that won't bring anything good to the society.

Also, if you only have chidlren by age 30, most children would be born with major malformations or disabilities. That's not a life you want for your children... Also, there are 14 years old that'd probably be more concious of the nature of life than some childish 35 years old that had it easy all their life... :/ Think about it.

I do agree male should be fitted with contraception at birth, tho. It wouldn't be worse than child circumcision :/

There's something already invented in India that'd be perfect: it's some kind of material they inject in the appropriate canals and they can later dissolve them with a very simple injection. I wonder why it's not here yet...

Anyway, that's my opinion.

On another topic, I also find it terrible that children can't vote. If you explain them what's going on, they can judge fairly (with the information they have). It's unfair that the citizens of the future's voices are impaired...If we would take time to explain, leave them participate.. We wouldn't have such a disinteressed youth. I mean, ask any 12 years old about the elections, they'll probably say "I don't know" or "I don't give a shit".
05/13/2012
Contributor: potstickers potstickers
One problem is that women over the age of 35 have an exponentially increased chance of having a child with Down Syndrome.
05/13/2012
Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
only self enforced. most age restrictions only require mild government intervention (only issuing licenses to certain ages, fining businesses that sell liquor to minors, etc) the type of government power needed to enforce age limits for children would be too onerous, even with the benefits.
05/13/2012
Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
Quote:
Originally posted by MistressDandelion
This is a terrible idea.

Age =/= maturity. I'd say future parents would have to get a parenthood course, and then tests about various subjects: caring for the infant, answering a children's questions, understanding a child's ... more
i disagree strongly with the last part. you give children the right to vote (children who just barely gained object permanence) and an already iffy political system would be harmed moreover. Best case they'll vote for whomever their parents direct. worst case, dear god I don't know. politicians pandering to twelve year olds, crooks elected by children swayed by promises of free candy and flashing bright lights.

our schools have abandoned civics and american history already, let's at least wait until people have hopefully had a chance to either learn about it on their own or gain life experience before letting them vote.
05/13/2012
Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
Quote:
Originally posted by TheSinDoll
The Husband says that you should have to at least have $50,000 in the bank and own your own home before being able to have a child. He also believes that all boys should be fitted with contraception at birth that could be removed once those ... more
so children are a privilege of the wealthy?
05/13/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
I think one of the most important factors is providing for the child, a good steady job with a future should be one of the first requirements. This puts the age at 16, although at that age you are limited to where you can work. Maturity, ya that might help but that comes with age/experience. An education would certainly help but as a high school drop out I can tell you that is not a factor.

I think the biggest problem with the idea is the enforcement, I do not feel that anyone has the right to force a boy or a girl to use any form of contraception. When you add in religious beliefs that battle would get ugly. Nor do I believe that anyone has the right to tell a girl she has to get an abortion or give up a child just because she is not old enough.
05/13/2012
Contributor: vanilla&chocolate vanilla&chocolate
Very, very interesting topic...I've honestly never thought about this.
05/14/2012
Contributor: SimpleTeaser SimpleTeaser
I tell my children all the time to wait until they are out of school and have a decent job so that they will have the ability to raise a child.

I did type out more to my response but, decided to just stick with the first part.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Geogeo Geogeo
I think it would lead to a lot more abortion issues, an already too packed adoption system and infanticide issues.

Shit happens...then what? These people that are having kids too young aren't generally doing it on purpose; they're accidents. A law won't stop accidents, just add more problems while these poor teenagers are trying to avoid the fine.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Geogeo Geogeo
Quote:
Originally posted by TheSinDoll
The Husband says that you should have to at least have $50,000 in the bank and own your own home before being able to have a child. He also believes that all boys should be fitted with contraception at birth that could be removed once those ... more
People can absolutely raise a child with less than $50,000 in the bank. My sister is raising two kids while living paycheck to paycheck and those kids have great lives and no one could love them more... and there's nothing wrong with raising a child in an apartment, in my opinion.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Geogeo Geogeo
Quote:
Originally posted by MistressDandelion
This is a terrible idea.

Age =/= maturity. I'd say future parents would have to get a parenthood course, and then tests about various subjects: caring for the infant, answering a children's questions, understanding a child's ... more
"I do agree male should be fitted with contraception at birth, tho. It wouldn't be worse than child circumcision"

Have you ever read about or seen videos on female circumcision? I wouldn't compare anything to that being 'OK.'
05/14/2012
Contributor: Geogeo Geogeo
Quote:
Originally posted by T&A1987
i disagree strongly with the last part. you give children the right to vote (children who just barely gained object permanence) and an already iffy political system would be harmed moreover. Best case they'll vote for whomever their parents ... more
I agree absolutely. A child knows what their parent tells them, and would vote what they are voting. They don't really have enough independent, rational thought to vote seriously.
05/14/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
Self-enforced? Definitely. In general? I think there should be birth control given freely and a lot of heavy encouragement to only have kids after you have enough money to take care of them. If someone is pretty young but has a great support system and the finances to take care of the kid, I'm not gonna judge, but I judge people of any age who have kids they can't afford to take care of financially or emotionally.
05/14/2012
Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
for parents of teen girls, have you considered putting birth control in their cereal, or claiming that they MUST take the pill every morning without explaining its purpose? that way they will HOPEFULLY still have the guy wear a condom during sex (teach your kids about condoms people) and won't have complete faith in the pill, but will have a safety net in case they act foolishly and have what they thought was unprotected sex. There are ethical quandaries sure, but it is any worse than santa, the easter bunny or russle brand?
05/14/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
I think one of the most important factors is providing for the child, a good steady job with a future should be one of the first requirements. This puts the age at 16, although at that age you are limited to where you can work. Maturity, ya that ... more
"I think the biggest problem with the idea is the enforcement, I do not feel that anyone has the right to force a boy or a girl to use any form of contraception. When you add in religious beliefs that battle would get ugly. Nor do I believe that anyone has the right to tell a girl she has to get an abortion or give up a child just because she is not old enough."

This is a very good statement. I find it insulting that a minimum age would be set on having children with penalty. Seriously, what about when BC fails? What about rape victims? Not everyone can take hormonal birth control and putting it in your daughters cereal is NOT something that should be practiced. While you are the parent and you make the choices for them, it is their body and if they don't want to take BC they don't have to. Why can't parents just take responsibility and TEACH their children the responsibilities about being a parent. Make them babysit a new born for at least 8 hours with no extra help. Have them watch videos of natural births with NO drugs, and let them talk to teen moms, so they KNOW what is up. Accidents happen, but fining people for this is just ignorant.
05/14/2012
Contributor: WD40watcher WD40watcher
I don't think this is out of the realm of crazy, but it would be odd to have requirements on this. I think if there was serious talk about it I wouldn't go with the age of 30 because that seems a bit high for me. I think above the age of 25 is good. Usually by then you have earned a college degree and have a job. Also you are a lot more mature than you were just a few years ago. I'm 25 years old now, no kids yet, but where I am now to where I was just a few years ago. I can tell you I wised up and don't do any of the ridiculous stuff that I'd get in trouble for if caught.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Youssii Youssii
So much hype is made about teenage pregnancy that people forget that a good portion of those young adults are having children then on purpose, and that many who do have them, intentionally or not make fantastic parents regardless of age.

No two young people are going to be the same in terms of maturity or what they want out of their lives, so this suggestion is pretty bad.

Also, it would force people to abort if they didn't want to, and if fines were used to enforce the law, it would penalize the poor worse than the rich.

However, someone mentioned fitting boys with contraceptives at birth to be removed at a certain age. I think boys should be fitted with them after puberty if they want them (regardless of what their parents want), until they go to a clinic to get them removed because they want to try for a baby.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Youssii
So much hype is made about teenage pregnancy that people forget that a good portion of those young adults are having children then on purpose, and that many who do have them, intentionally or not make fantastic parents regardless of age.

No ... more
Yeah, I was hung up on the "at birth" issue there. People are quick to say that a child shouldn't be circumcised at birth because they aren't consenting to having a portion of their body removed, but it's okay to insert contraceptives in a male without their knowledge, but with the parents' approval? Seems kind of like opposite sides of the same coin.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
Good in theory, terrible in practice. Like most things in life.
05/14/2012