Families with 5 or more children

[Hokey Pokey]

I'd love to hear your experiences :)

How many do you have and is the change from 4 - 5 really that hard?

[zenifa]

We only have 2 girls, but just wanted to pop in say hello :wave: as its been ages since I've seen you on here!! Welcome back!! and :goodluck: with no 5 if you are heading in that direction

[Hokey Pokey]

Thankyou so much :)

[my-fab4]

Hi Oopsie.

What a shame you don't have many responses, as I often wonder this too. Have you seen the Large Family Section? Maybe some-one there could help you. :goodluck:

[bgbgbb]

We have 6. Our #5 brought along a friend so can only comment on transitioning from 4 to 6. To be honest it was pretty easy. I think the hardest is from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3, mainly because you have to get over the fact that you cant indulge yourself as much in your pregnancy as you have other little ones to take care of.

The positives with having a large family: they can spend all day entertaining one another in ways you never could (it's during these times that we look at them all & think, we did this!:p)

The negatives: when they're fighting (we look at them all, shake our heads & think, we did this!:no:)

But seriously, as they get older you have to really tighten the purse strings. Getting drinks & sundaes for 6 kids at Maccas can cost a small fortune, as can holidays, school books & clothing. But if you're great with budgeting & very organised then you'll be fine!:thumbsup:

[MrsTwith3]

We just had #5 nine weeks ago and to be honest the transition was as easy as. I found it harder going from 2-3.
I have to say that I agree with bgbgbb with the expense thing. My DH isnt on the best income but we do manage to have our bills paid and rent up to date and food on the table as well as clothes on my kids backs all due to being frugal and not overcomitting ourselves financially (we dont own credit cards) We get to take our kids on holidays interstate every 2 years, and within the state anually. Hand-me-downs are a blessing...lol
Having 4 means having to be super organised to go anywhere so it is no suprise that having 5 requires it as well.
Goodluck if going for #5 is on the agenda and welcome back to the hub as well.

[Hokey Pokey]

Hi Oopsie.

What a shame you don't have many responses, as I often wonder this too. Have you seen the Large Family Section? Maybe some-one there could help you. :goodluck:

Will check that out thankyou!


We have 6. Our #5 brought along a friend so can only comment on transitioning from 4 to 6. To be honest it was pretty easy. I think the hardest is from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3, mainly because you have to get over the fact that you cant indulge yourself as much in your pregnancy as you have other little ones to take care of.

The positives with having a large family: they can spend all day entertaining one another in ways you never could (it's during these times that we look at them all & think, we did this!:p)

The negatives: when they're fighting (we look at them all, shake our heads & think, we did this!:no:)

But seriously, as they get older you have to really tighten the purse strings. Getting drinks & sundaes for 6 kids at Maccas can cost a small fortune, as can holidays, school books & clothing. But if you're great with budgeting & very organised then you'll be fine!:thumbsup:

Great tips there and yes I am pretty frugal now anyway! We do have a mortgage and our kids go private schooling.


We just had #5 nine weeks ago and to be honest the transition was as easy as. I found it harder going from 2-3.
I have to say that I agree with bgbgbb with the expense thing. My DH isnt on the best income but we do manage to have our bills paid and rent up to date and food on the table as well as clothes on my kids backs all due to being frugal and not overcomitting ourselves financially (we dont own credit cards) We get to take our kids on holidays interstate every 2 years, and within the state anually. Hand-me-downs are a blessing...lol
Having 4 means having to be super organised to go anywhere so it is no suprise that having 5 requires it as well.
Goodluck if going for #5 is on the agenda and welcome back to the hub as well.

Thankyou! And congrats to your 5th!!!

[7rugrats]

I have lucky enough to be a mum of seven little blessings.
I found the change from 3-4 harder...as we had to chnage car and house.
% was easy as it slotted into what we had already.
#6 was also a big change as we needed an bigger car and house again...#7 has just slotted in again. :fami01:

[loving6]

I found it very easy, in fact the easiest of all upgrades. I must admit though my other had already started school when he came along. I love being a mum of five. I haven't noticed the extra expense yet and i probably won't as my eldest will be leaving us next year (2012) to go to uni down south. I would highly recommend being a mum of five. I have two big age gaps and that really helps too.

[sammyplus3]

i was kinda wondering the same thing but from 3-4 or maybe 3-5 i would imagine 3-4 would be hardest finacially as we will have to upgrade car and poss house i would love to upgrade house we rent so that wont be too hard just cost a little more

[Hokey Pokey]

i was kinda wondering the same thing but from 3-4 or maybe 3-5 i would imagine 3-4 would be hardest finacially as we will have to upgrade car and poss house i would love to upgrade house we rent so that wont be too hard just cost a little more

Yep we had to get a new car :yes:

[bgbgbb]

We had to get a 7-seater when we decided upon #4. Then we thought we had 1 seat left in the car, so why not try for #5, but when it was twins we had to upgrade again, using the extension money to do so. So now we have a wonderful 8-seater van & 6 kids in 2 rooms.:o

I find with so many kids you haven't got as much time to entertain them at home or when out in the park, so they learn to entertain themselves and one another. As a result I actually get to relax at the playground, as my lot are usually happily playing with one another or organising games for all the other kids to participate in, like they do at home. They also dont play up as much in public, partly because it would be anarchy if they tried, and partly because we tell them that if they do EVERYONE will be denied privileges. Its amazing what a bit of peer group pressure can do.:p

[my-fab4]

We had to get a 7-seater when we decided upon #4. Then we thought we had 1 seat left in the car, so why not try for #5, but when it was twins we had to upgrade again, using the extension money to do so. So now we have a wonderful 8-seater van & 6 kids in 2 rooms.:of
:hugs: We have an 8 seater and I often think we could fit in one more...... not sure about 2 more though. I am in awe of how you manage your 6 little ones.

[loving6]

We have an 11 seater. There is no way I am going to fill it up. :laughing: I already know I'm crazy but that would send me insane. :froggy:

[my-fab4]

We have an 11 seater. There is no way I am going to fill it up. :laughing: I already know I'm crazy but that would send me insane. :froggy:
:laughing:

[bgbgbb]

I am in awe of how you manage your 6 little ones.

Sometimes I wonder too how I cope, its hard to believe that I was ever carefree and single.:p I get no family help at all and DH works long hours and away a lot (and from March will be in Europe working for the next few years). But I'm very strict with routines with the older kids and dont sweat the small stuff with the babies. The kids all have to be in bed by 8 so I can get at least 1 hour of kid-free time to chill out. I pay the school age kids pocket money, but they have to earn it by helping out with the cleaning and entertaining the babies, which is a big help, and teaches them responsibility. I use bribery a lot! :laughing: I insist on keeping the house as tidy as possible so it doesn't get away from me. And I put our terror of a 3yo into creche 3 days a week to avoid me slitting my wrists with frustration:hair: (every family has 1 horror child and she is mine). Finally, I insist on getting at least 1 hour of free me time a week, whether it be an exercise class, or a cuppa on a Saturday in a cafe. I don't think enough mums realise that whether they have 1 or 10 kids, that they still need some time out when their name is not "Mummy".

[7rugrats]

We have an 11 seater. There is no way I am going to fill it up. :laughing: I already know I'm crazy but that would send me insane. :froggy:
That is what we need!!
Because we have an 8 seater and 7 kids and 2 adults we have to take two cars if we go anywhere as a family.
Even a 9 seater would do as there is no way we are having any more!!! I am already insane :freakingout::laughing:

[Hokey Pokey]

We have an 11 seater. There is no way I am going to fill it up. :laughing: I already know I'm crazy but that would send me insane. :froggy:

Oh why not!!!

:laughing:

[blessingsfromgod]

Go for it! I have 8 so far...

[uptheduff]

We're expecting our No.6 in a few weeks. I think our transition from 4-5 was one of the easiest yet. No.5 just slotted right in. I honestly didn't think he would, as the pregnancy was a huge surprise, and i didn't feel ready to have a no.5 at all.

As for cars, we've recently upgraded to an 11 seater Transit as well :) And i freaking love the thing!! WE made do with an 8 seater Tarago until now (our kids are all still in boosters/carseats, so it's squeezy), but there's so much space in the Transit! And it's very easy to drive, believe it or not!