Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
In the year 2024, there was a noticeable increase in the number of babies born to fathers over the age of 60, as reported by official figures. Specifically, there was a 14.2% rise in such births compared to the previous year. Out of a total of 594,677 live births in England and Wales, 1,076 babies had fathers over the age of 60, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Interestingly, the total number of births in England experienced a slight increase for the first time since 2021. Additionally, births where one or both parents were born outside of the UK also saw an increase in both England and Wales in 2024. The ONS highlighted the fact that the rise in the number of babies born to older fathers was particularly noteworthy.
While the trend of delaying childbirth appears to be continuing, with a decrease in births to parents younger than 30, the overall number of live births in England showed a slight uptick. However, Wales experienced a decrease of 2% in live births compared to the previous year. The head of population health monitoring at the ONS, Greg Ceely, pointed out that despite the overall rise in births, the number of births to mothers under 30 has declined.
Factors such as the increasing cost of living are often cited as barriers to having children. The government has launched a review of parental leave amid concerns that one in three fathers do not take paternity leave due to financial constraints. Angela McConville, chief executive at the NCT charity, emphasized the importance of creating the right conditions for families to thrive, including access to affordable childcare and action on the cost of living. Addressing these challenges is crucial to supporting people in their decision to have children
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.