37-Year-Old Woman Says Friends Fear Her Timeline for a Baby with New Boyfriend Is Too Rushed

A 37-year-old woman is questioning whether she’s rushing things with her 38-year-old boyfriend after six months of dating.

The couple were friends for four years before their relationship turned romantic. Writing on Mumsnet, the woman explained that both she and her partner are financially secure and envision a shared future. While marriage isn’t yet on the table, they plan to move in together next spring and begin trying for a baby toward the end of 2026.

“I was chatting with some girlfriends over the weekend about these plans, and they essentially told me that I’ve lost the plot and that 18 months in is far too soon to try for a baby,” she wrote. “For context, my mum and sister both had healthy babies at 40 on their first attempt, but of course, I know fertility is unpredictable and there are no guarantees for me.”

She added that she feels their age “compresses the timeline,” especially if they might want a second child later on.

The poster also suggested that her friends’ personal situations could be coloring their opinions. “I’m trying to figure out if our timeline is actually rushed, or if my friends are just projecting their own pace,” she said, asking fellow users, “Is this timeline mental? Feel free to be honest!”

Most commenters encouraged her to follow her instincts.

“Sounds fine to me and is pretty much what I did! As long as you’re both on the same page about the baby, I would crack on,” one person wrote.

“If you were 30, it would be too rushed,” another commented. “As things are, not at all. In fact, I might consider shortening it a bit! It’s also very significant that you have known each other for four years, not just the six months you’ve been together.”

A third added, “If you had the luxury of time and youth, I’d say what’s the hurry? I would suggest you even move in sooner, as that’s when you get deeper insight into your relationship — how you work as a team, negotiate, share, etc.”

“Honestly, at your ages, I would just go for it,” another user said. “Doing a year settling-in period won’t make any difference once the baby comes — you’ll either make it work or you won’t.”