If you can afford a baby earlier, nothing wrong with it. For women, hate to say it but they can get an older/richer spouse to afford babies earlier or independe

If you can afford a baby earlier, nothing wrong with it. For women, hate to say it but they can get an older/richer spouse to afford babies earlier or independently make something like 150k/yr these days (thanks to covid inflation). Basically, it is society's fault. Kids in developing countries living in slums and dumpster diving daily love their parents just fine and can turn out ok. But in the US at least when your baby grows up they will think they're life has been rough and have other issues (absent parent, etc...) if you are struggling financially. Affording a baby without undue financial stress means a combined income of close to 150k. Most adults if at least one spouse has a degree and live in big city can reach that but it is uncommon before their 30s, and even then they get into debt with houses, cars, student loans too early -- that's baby money they're giving to uncle sam and corporate america, it won't get easier until their mid 30's typically. Or they can avoid debt, rent an apartment in are with crime issues and bad schools be thrifty and teach their kids different valued and they will be fine in my opinion but most will get into more debt/mess trying to get out if such situations.