Yes, no, yes, no, maybe?!?! Hmmm?!

[Sunnygal]

Hubby and I are considering no. 3, I really really want another bubba, but am a little nervous about how it will work!?
So for those with three kiddies whats it like?? Is it alot harder? Is it really hard getting out and about??

At the moment in our household things are finally running smoothly (or as much as can be) which is why I am a bit scared to add a third :cool:

So tell me all the ins and outs - don't hold back on the scary details or the beautiful one :p

[Betty Boop]

Hi Sunnygal:wave:
Well, we liked having three so much we went and had a fourth!!!! I dont know but truely it seems easier now with 4 than it did with 2! I think you get more organized and better at dealing with the "new additions". Things get busier of course - school runs to be done with babies having to fit in, more kids to give time to and more $$ for food, but for us it is worth it. Good luck with your decision:reindeer:

[Areca]

Ok we went from a smoothly running two children household and are now in the midst of a rather chaotic three children household. Granted DS is only 5 weeks and we've had to organise DD1's 4th birthday party and have Christmas upon us too so it's a busy time of the year anyway but busy it is.
We still get out of the house, you have to. Life doesn't stop and there's three of them so I have to be more organised. It does mean that DS just has to cry sometimes. I try and minimise it as much as possible but at the end of the day if I have two starving kids at dinner time and a baby who is tired but won't settle he goes in the swing and has to deal for 5 minutes while I whip something up for the older two. There's only one of me and I can only do so much.
I had to laugh today when a woman at the grocery shop asked me how old DS was and when I said 5 weeks she asked if it was his first time to the shops. Monday's are my grocery shopping day..he was born on a Monday so the next Monday he and DD2 (2 years old...DD1 stayed home with DH cause she didn't want to come) hit the grocery shop with me. We have to eat and my DH works long hours so no leaving the kids at home with him while I go and do the shopping.
DS is unsettled from about 4am onwards so I might get one hours sleep tops after 4am and don't go to bed until around 10pm...there just seems to be a lot of things to do. A nap through the day doesn't really happen. If I manage to get all three kids napping at the same time there's too much to do to lie down and nap myself. I've managed three in 5 weeks and DH was home for two weeks. So whatever sleep I get from 10pm until 4am (with two wake ups in between from DS on a good night and then if DD1 and DD2 wake as well it's less) is the sleep I get.

DS was a surprise baby and I would never give him back but I definitely feel the extra work load and I do look forward to the day it slows down again but not sure if it ever will tbh. Another year and I'll be doing school runs and school activities, pre-school runs for DD2 and will be doing it all with a one year old.
DH is also a fantastic help when he is home....I don't know if I'd be coping so well without the help he does give me. I found having two under two a breeze...it was an easy transition for me. Two to three has been more challenging. I'm on top of it all but feel like the ball could drop at any given minute and I don't feel like I can truly relax because there's always something that needs to be done, or someone that needs my attention.
I imagine it would be different if my first two were older as well...three under four is not something I would choose to do myself no. If I could go back and be surprised with DS but pick the timing I'd pick it for him to arrive when DD1 was at school and DD2 in pre-school. As it is now DD1 is only in pre-school one day a week and DD2 doesn't go anywhere.

I had a woman tell me once (we were discussing how I was done with two kids) tell me that you have to have the third to realise you should've stopped at two and I think about that and giggle to myself almost daily at the moment because it is sooooooo true (at least for me and DH).

[muminshock]

I'm with BettyBoop - we'll go for a fourth soon too :D

It sure can be chaotic and challenging but I'm sure you're up for the challenge. I think the first 6 weeks with a new born baby, no matter which number they are, is a nightmare. No sleep, sore boobs, exhaustion, bleeding, unsettled baby. Until you all get sorted it can be horrid. My #3 has just hit 7 months and in the last couple of months everything has fallen into place and it's (dare I say it)... easy... :o

DD is at Kindy this year so 2 days a week bubby will almost always want to fall asleep at drop off or pick up time, but we've managed. You just do.

The main thing that has changed for me is organisation. I have a family planner on the fridge and once everyone is in bed for the night, I pack bags and make lunches for the next day. Always make lists, plan ahead, stock up on essentials so you don't run out (you can forget about "popping" to the shops with 3! :laughing:)

It's not for everyone but you said you want another baby, so do it, you'll work it out - and if you ever need help there's always bubhub ;)

[Shellfish]

I have been told by several different sources that 3 is the most difficult combination - on one of those shows on tv where they have 14 kids, the mum said after 3 anything was easier, she said she could have 30 and it would be easier :laughing:Don't ask me how perhaps the older kids help out (a helluva) alot

[muminshock]

I have been told by several different sources that 3 is the most difficult combination - on one of those shows on tv where they have 14 kids, the mum said after 3 anything was easier, she said she could have 30 and it would be easier :laughing:Don't ask me how perhaps the older kids help out (a helluva) alot
I've heard the same thing but I have also heard that having the second is the toughest because not only are you as parents adjusting to more than one child, but also #1 is no longer the only attention receiver. When you have #3, #1 and #2 are both already used to not being the only one around so not as big an adjustment for the kids. True in my household anyway :yes:

[LuvMy4Babes]

I didn't find number 3 too much harder to slot in, though she was a very good baby which helps enormously.

Number 4 slotted in just as easy but he was also a very content happy baby :)

[Blueberry Crumble]

There is no way we are going for another one! To the point that DH and I are too scared to have sex! (2 times in 7 months!!) We figure there is currently one adult per child, the ratio is perfect ;) But yea, everyone's different

[2boysfornow]

We have three, always wanted 3 so did it in the end. DS1, DS2 and then finally got DD1. (thought I was going to end up with 3 boys...lol) DS1 and 2 are only 20 mths apart but then ended up with PND so gave it a rest for a while. Took way to long TTC #3 but was worth the wait. Luckily they were all good babies which is no doubt why i went to 3 but must admit DD1 is now comming up to 2 and when all three are screaming i do get a little flustered. DS1 & 2 are both in school (grade 1 & 2) so makes life a bit easier during the day but also DH works ALOT of hrs and sometimes doesnt even make it home before they all go to bed so gets tuff at times. You will find on the tuff days you look at them and they are the ones that get you through and you know you did the right thing..for me anyway Good Luck with your decision:smiliedance:

[swedishchick]

I’m also debating this dilemma– except there is no we, it’s just me, so apart from completely making my own mind up, I also have to convince my other half... he is very settled on just having two, and my brain does very much agree with him but my heart really really wants just one more...

In a way it’s not fair on him, as I’m the one who’ve changed my mind. When we met and before having any kids I only really wanted one but I thought I’d have two so #1 wouldn’t be lonely – I was never a real baby person – and had no idea that I’d love being a mum so much, but not long after having my first a little seed started to grow inside me wishing for a big family.

In my mind two is a small family and three is a big one, there is no real in between. I think I read this on this forum one time “2 is company and 3, or more, is a party” and I guess you just have to decide if you want a party in your house all day every day. Though I’m sure I’ll get really sick of it sometime – I think that I like the idea of that slightly chaotic warm fuzzy feeling that you get in a busy big family home.

But then I’m not even sure I know what I’m in for – I’ve been blessed with having two fairly easy kids and I do think I could handle another one “like them” but I’m aware that a #3 might not be as easy. Then of course there is the economical issues as well and putting off travel and holidays for another couple of years until I go back to work...

It’s a tricky one....

[2made3]

I've heard the same thing but I have also heard that having the second is the toughest because not only are you as parents adjusting to more than one child, but also #1 is no longer the only attention receiver. When you have #3, #1 and #2 are both already used to not being the only one around so not as big an adjustment for the kids. True in my household anyway :yes:

This is what I am HOPING for too!!!!



I’m also debating this dilemma– except there is no we, it’s just me, so apart from completely making my own mind up, I also have to convince my other half... he is very settled on just having two, and my brain does very much agree with him but my heart really really wants just one more...


This was me at the beginning before we ttc #3 :D My heart was soooo wanting another, but I was terrified coz I knew DH only wanted 2 and I wasn't really sure whether I could handle 3 (as DH isn't much of a help :rolleyes:).

But at the end of the day (and MUCH consideration on both our parts) I didn't want to regret missing my opportunity to have another and didn't want to feel like I missed out and resent it later in life. I figure, if it's something you FEEL you really want, then do it. The practical and logistical stuff will always work itself out when it has/needs to.

It is a hard decision and unfortunately there is no right or wrong answer, just what is in your heart.

DS1 & DS2 were 21 months apart and I seriously struggled with them both and got quite depressed. I didn't start to feel better till about 9 months after DS2 was born. Even with this in mind, my feelings towards having one more were so strong that we are prepared to do it one more time (it will be our last - but that's what we said last time :laughing:).

Good luck xxx

[rinkeroo]

I try and minimise it as much as possible but at the end of the day if I have two starving kids at dinner time and a baby who is tired but won't settle he goes in the swing and has to deal for 5 minutes while I whip something up for the older two. There's only one of me and I can only do so much.

Glad its not just me then, you just described the situation here last night :laughing:

I think that for us, number 3 was our first real 'decision' in terms of children - we knew we wanted the first one, then number 2 was sort of a no-brainer too for us, because we wanted a sibling for DS1...but number 3 felt like a much bigger decision. Ultimately though, we went with our hearts and DS3 is now 10 weeks old :D


I've heard the same thing but I have also heard that having the second is the toughest because not only are you as parents adjusting to more than one child, but also #1 is no longer the only attention receiver. When you have #3, #1 and #2 are both already used to not being the only one around so not as big an adjustment for the kids. True in my household anyway :yes:

This has been very true for us too :yes: DS1 & DS2 still have each other for company when I am off tending to DS3, which I think definitely helps. Also, life kind of turns upside down when number 3 arrives, but his brother is the one thing that stays consistent for both my boys.

I also think it can depend on the age of the other kids for some people - as others have said, having them closer in age can be more challenging (at least, it would be for me). My first two are only 18 months apart and I know I couldn't have managed with another gap that size. That said, DS2 is a bit of a handful so that might have something to do with it too!

Thankfully for us - so far, its early days - things are going pretty well. DS3 is a great baby, and usually seems to just fit in with whatever the rest of the household is doing. I think as parents, DH & I are more relaxed about how we do things this time round too, which probably helps...

The going out thing is definitely harder though, sometimes I miss not having to bother with a stroller/sling/nappy bag...and DH has to buy milk on the way home a lot more often cos I can't face the supermarket (I've discovered online grocery shopping though :smiliedance:)

Good luck with your decision!