oh and mine were 4 and a bit, and 19 months when number 3 camealong

i found 2 to 3 much easier than 1 to 2

i think emotionally when going from 1 to 2 i found it quite difficult to disrupt that bond with my first child. i went through a LOT of "will i love this baby as much as I do ds1"
i found it very difficult not having so much time for him and having to split myself in half and worrying that i wasn't givin him enough

it didn't helkp of course that ds2 was a VERY high-needs baby and i spent an awful lot of the time trying to stop him crying/feeding him/holding him

going from 2 to 3 was easier because i'd already done it once before. adding another one to 2 existing children didn't seem so bad as adding one to my PFB lol
additionally ds3 has been far more laid-back and easier to live with than ds2 was, and his brothers both adore him which has helped

don't get me wrong, it's bloody hard work, and it seems like about double the workload than just having 2,but on the whole i have found it easier

I got told that going from 2 to three was easy.

They lied.

We have found it really hard but couldn't be without our youngest.

I think the age gap is a factor too.

I found 2 to 3 way harder than 1 to 2 (although nowhere near as bad as the initial shock of 0 to 1!!!). Actually I hadn't found the transition from 1 to 2 that bad really at all, so i wasn't expecting any major issues when no. 3 turned up and I was completely floored by it. The age gap must be a big issue though, I have 2 yrs between each of them so DDs were just 2 and just 4 when DS was born. DD1 was at nursery in the mornings (although I sometimes wished she wasn't as the hassle involved in dropping and picking her up with a newborn and 2 yr old in tow almost outweighed the benefits) and DD2 at home. The first 3 months nearly killed me, but after that everything just fell into place - basically coinciding with DS starting to sleep properly. He's 7 months now and I truly couldn't be happier or more relaxed (that's not to say I don't get stressed / shouty etc at times but overall it's all great). DD2 now at nursery in the mornings and DD1 in reception so despite the horrors of the school run my mornings are now less fraught.

In retrospect I think that it was simply the exhaustion that did me in. The DDs were just so unbelievably tiring during the day then DS kept me up all night and I was poleaxed by it. I'm sure it will be easier with both your DS at school, although that said I am very happy that we have the fairly close age gaps and wouldn't change it - it was only the first few months that were bad.

Yes 2 to 3 is easy - i have 4 and again the extra one is not too hard - though i am not having 5 as it is so expensive to do anything

Just be prepared for the costs of extra kids - everything is a how much is it going to cost

e.g. went to France for our hols 2.50 Euros for an ice cream - every round of ice creams cost £10

BUT

Just got back from Tenerife - went all inclusive and it was great the kids had as many ice creams and drinks, toasties etc as they wanted!

It's all worth it as they are all so different

My advice is.... Treat them all differently but fairly and never the same. Dont get trapped by 'treating them the same'

My son is hard to buy for but when we spend it's expensive such as scalextric etc. The girls get loads of bits such as hair bobbles, pens etc... all the time and he excepts. He's also the oldest, so can cycle to his friends but there is no way his younger sister could do that yet...

AND (am i ranting) I go bonkers when they say "Can i have an ice lolly because M** has one" - i say "NO, because the fact your sister has one doesnt automatically entitle you to one"

It is a balancing job and i love it

L
www.magicbeanbags.co.uk

i'm thinking of number 3 soon. i have dds aged 5 and 7 already. i think the age gap is relevant, surely. ..

i expect it it be easier than going form 2 to 3 in terms of having my hands full- as my dds are so independent.

in terms of meeting all differing interests/ needs at once, it may be harder as they get older.

in terms of my own parenting skills, i'll be more relaxed, i hope.

in terms of readjusting to nappyhood, it may be harder.

teameric me too! I have a nine year gap between DS1 and DS2 (who is 8 months now). I am terribly broody, and have been almost since the moment DS2 arrived. I keep putting it down to bf hormones or a reluctance to see DS2 move from babyhood but the desire to have another just won't pass. DH wanted to chuck the stage one car seat yesterday and I was trying to think of reasons for him not to, without actually telling him I'd love another. I really do think no.3 would slot in but I have to be realistic. DH is 47 and I'm 40 in March. We were really lucky to get DS2 after so long of ttc, so I think I just have to be grateful for what we've got. It is wonderful having a little baby in the house again and it's been much easier this time round

Found 1 to 2 more difficult than 2 to 3.

14 months between first 2 which might explain why.

Am preg now with no.4 and not worried about 3 to 4 either - I am already short of hands/arms.

Have 3, 3 is fab! I found the first six months of having my third pretty tough but now, it is great.

I've found this thread really interesting as I'm thinking of going for number 3.
I had a big gap between number 1 and 2 (7 years) and my second is now 3 and she will be starting nursery in Jan.
Love reading peoples experiences, oh I'm so broody