With more children being born to older mothers, it is important practitioners understand their unique needs, finds Charlotte Goddard in the first of an occasional series

Download the PDF of this article

 

When the actress Rachel Weisz recently revealed she is expecting a baby at the age of 48, she was the latest to join the fast-growing demographic of mothers over the age of 40. In 2015, the fertility rate of women aged 40 and above surpassed that of women aged under 20 for the first time since 1947, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

It is something that early years practitioners are noticing in their settings.

‘We have definitely seen an increase in the number of older mums,’ says Jo Morris, manager of Playsteps Day Nursery in Swindon.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Unlimited access to news and opinion

  • Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here