Study Shows That Waiting Until Your 30s to Give Birth Can Increase Your Child's Intelligence

We already know that waiting to have kids comes with its fair share of perks. Aside from getting to enjoy your prepregnancy bod for a while longer, there are also some scientifically proven benefits, such as memory loss prevention and a longer lifespan. Now there's another reason that further solidifies why delaying pregnancy is the way to go.

Researchers at the London School of Economics looked at data from the Millenium Cohort Study and found that older moms, specifically those in their 30s, are more likely to give birth to intelligent children than those who have kids a younger age. The study, which looked at 18,000 British children and the impact of their mother's age at their birth, discovered that children of 30-something mothers outperformed the offspring of 20- or 40-something moms on cognitive tests. Their reading, thinking, and remembering skills were tested when they were 10 or 11 years old.

The reasoning for these findings appears to lie in the fact that women who delay pregnancy typically do so because they chose to establish a career rather than bear a child in their 20s, according to Daily Mail. As a result, 30-something mamas are able to provide their tots with more resources and attention because they are already settled in their jobs, the research suggests.

Though the research was originally published back in 2015, its findings are making their rounds on the internet again, with many 30-something moms-to-be excited about the prognosis. The analysis also demonstrated how delaying birth to ages 40 or older can be associated with a heightened risk of obesity. This is all the more reason to shoot for that sweet spot of your 30s for your first pregnancy.