According to a study conducted at the Australian National University, babies born to mothers who are more than 30 years of age are more likely to do well in school and to develop good social skills than children born to young mothers who are teenagers or in their twenties.

Economists Andrew Leigh, of the ANU, and Xiaodong Gong, of the Treasury Department, found the above conclusion.

Professor Leigh said, ''For cognitive outcomes, young motherhood appears to be a marker, not a cause of poor child outcomes. Really, we know the kinds of women who tend to have kids early tend to have lower education levels, are less likely to be married and likely to have lower incomes, so it's those other things that are really driving it.''

He added that older mothers were better qualified, had more incomes and were more balanced and capable of taking care of their children as compared to young mothers who might not be that educated.