Anyone manage well with five children under the age of 5?

[tallbookshelf]

Has anyone had 5 under the age of 5, at any point? Did the middle children/all the children lose out?
Thank you very much for sharing any experiences.

[amazingmumof6]

is 4 under 5.5 close enough? that was in 2006

last year when DD was born we had 6 under 11 - is that any good?

I had a C-section with DS4 and with 2 kids in playgroup and eldest in reception at school ( and 3 different "schoolruns" in one day!) I only breastfed baby for 3 months, it was just too time consuming and I felt I couldn't cope if I carried on.
so I guess he lost out on that, but that is the only thing I can think of as anyone loosing out.

I wonder why you are asking - is that your situation or are you contemplating TTC which would make 5 under 5 the case?

[tallbookshelf]

I had 4 under 3.5 years, and I couldn't manage the nursery run, so I've kept them all at home. I can really imagine how difficult it must be to do the school run with lots of tiny ones! How do you manage with 6?
The eldest has just turned 4, and will go to school this September, but I've just found out I'm pregnant, far from intentionally, which would mean 5 under 5. I don't know if it's even feasible, and don't know which way to turn.

[amazingmumof6]

I do understand you are worried, the logistics and practicality of it is daunting right now.

all I can say is that you will need a lot of help, paid or otherwise and you must organize this by the 3rd trimester.

school run - the best thing would be if someone could do this for you or stay home with others while you are out.

this would be my starting point as it has to be dealt with.

so questions you need to ask yourself - how far is the school and can you walk there in 30- 40 mins tops? can some of the kids walk it or will they be able to do so in Sept or after baby's born?
go for a walk and time how long it takes to get there with the children's speed.

I find walking much easier sometimes, parking and in and out of the car can be a nightmare.
is there a school bus available?

if parking is not a problem it might be easier to drive.

what pushchair/s do you have/will you need? can you borrow a triple one if needed or get a cheap one?


then onto the next subject - time management.

what would be a reasonable morning routine? how long would that take to get them ready? can the older ones dress themselves?
and so on.

if you break it down in to small pieces, and think it through step by step (write a list) you'll find out what it is that you need, want or can't do. that will help you find solutions and answers.
however scary, once you start figuring out you'll start to feel better, I promise you.

I wish we could chat about this on the phone!

[5kidsnobump]

Hi tallbookshelf - I have 5 - they are 6, 5, 2, 1 and 6 months. Eldest had just turned 6 when DC5 was born, so not quite 5 under 5, but not that far off!

Our 5th was also unplanned, but now he's here I couldn't imagine not having him!

Getting everyone organised for the school run is probably the hardest thing about having 5 so close together. I found that having a routine is the only way to get everyone out in the morning. Hardest thing is when the baby still needs milk, and all the other kids need their breakfast. We manage it by DH and I always being up by 6am, then he feeds the baby his milk, I sort the other 4 kids having breakfast, then DH leaves for work at 7am, but breakfast is usually all done by then and just leaves me to get all the kids organised for school.

How will you be getting to school? I ended up buying a triple pushchair for the youngest 3, as we walk to school and my 2 year old takes forever to walk! As amazingmum said, I also find it harder when we have to go in the car to places, as it always seems like such a lot of messing about getting everyone in and out of the car, and then you still need pushchairs for the little kids that can't walk!

Congratulations on the pregnancy - I always found that we always just adapt to having an extra baby - and although life is very hectic with 5, I'm sure I'd be very bored if I only had 1 or 2 kids

[Myliferocks]

I had 4 in 4 years and 1 month and an 8 yr old.
I found it easier in some ways when they were little compared to the hormones flying round now they are aged 17, 12,11, 9 and 8.

[tallbookshelf]

Thank you very much indeed amazingmum, 5kids and myliferocks. I am terrified and miserable. My husband and I can't easily find a way to accept getting rid of a pregnancy, but we feel very depressed and worried, so feel in an absolute quandary.
Mylife, we worry about the teenage years too. Do your children all still get on? Do you ever get a moment's peace? Although I suppose we'll be in for what we're in for with 4 even without a 5th.

[amazingmumof6]

I think that although I worry about the teenage years too, (5 boys = toxic levels of testosterone) as my oldest is almost 12 I'm getting a glimpse of it already and I think will be ok.

Your situation is difficult because they are all so little, but by the time this little baby turns 2 or 3 most of them will be in school or nursery sand so much more capable of doing things for themselves!

please find out what help you can get, free or paid, contact Home-start for advice through GP, MW or HV

After DS4 I had a MC and I miss her so much, I'd do anything if she too could have been born!
so please think about what will happen to pg carefully (I know you do) - the first few years will be hard, but you'll get the hang of it.

and you'll be so proud of your lovely big family!

[bigbuttons]

I had 6, 8 and under, does that count? So I would have had 5, 7 and under. I just got on with it and tried to make time for them all. It's actually harder now the older 2 are 14 and 13. When they are all little I found it easier because they all sort of did the same things together.

[Myliferocks]

Sorry I forgot that I had posted on this thread!

DD2 and DD3 are 12 and 11 and boy do they argue!
They have to share a room and they are so different and in to different things. It can be quite demoralising at times.
I tend to be a referee now rather than a mum!

Sometimes the arguing between all 5 can be non stop but when they do all get on it is brilliant.

They all look out for each other ( even if they tell tales ) and woe betide anybody who picks on one of them!