One of the main reasons not to start a family when you're younger is if you lack the necessary emotional stability. Most of us have to go through several relationships before we meet the right person to have kids with. Also we are often not mature enough to be parents.

Kids may not need a fortune in toys, clothing and equipment, but there's no denying that having a family costs a lot of money. You either have to pay for childcare or be able to live on one wage. It's best to make sure that you have sufficient money put by before starting your family.

Some say that there never is a "right time" to have a family, and that if you wait for that time to arrive you'll be waiting a long time. For most people there is no rush, however. You can wait until your late twenties or early thirties and in most cases will have no problems conceiving.

Getting your career established is important for two main reasons. One, it will enable you to build up your finances to support your child. Two, it will help support you in the future. Start your family before your career has got going, and you will find it harder to get into the workplace.

There is plenty of time to enjoy yourself before starting a family. Have kids too young, and you may resent having to stay at home while your contemporaries are free to do what they want. Life is much more flexible when you are child-free, so do things like travelling while you can.

If you are in too much of a hurry to start your family, you may overlook the possibility that your partner is not the right person to father your kids. It's absolutely essential to pick a good guy who will share as much of the parenting responsibilities as he can (obviously he can't split the pregnancy with you!).

There's a lot of coverage in the media regarding the issue of declining fertility. This may convince some women to start their families before they're really ready. Of course it is best not to leave it too late to start trying, but you shouldn't rush into parenthood either because of scare stories.

Our current society frowns on younger parents, so not many people are pressurised into starting a family young. However, there may be circumstances when it does happen, such as eager would-be grandparents or fathers. You should only be a young parent if it's the right thing for you.

I'm not knocking young parents, as some younger people make excellent parents. There are advantages, such as being a young, active grandparent, and having your children off your hands when you're only in your forties! However, there are lots of reasons to consider postponing parenthood until you are older. Take everything into consideration, and do what is right for you and the children you want. What do you think - is it better to be a young parent, or wait until later?