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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How many kids is too many???

205 replies

applesandbananas1 · 14/03/2026 20:28

More and more I see families have 3+ kids and it blows my mind… in this day and age I cannot fathom navigating parenting of more than 2 kids… it only gets harder as they grow up and I think loads fall into the trap of adding to their family while the older kids are still very young and the challenges of a 21st century childhood are less noticeable.

OP posts:
Besidemyselfwithworry · 14/03/2026 20:34

I have 3 but anymore wouldn’t really be ideal - financially and practically

nobody has to share a room and they all get on so even if I was younger I wouldn’t throw a 4th into the mix

it’s interesting tho as a lot of my kids friends are only children!

Riverflow6 · 14/03/2026 20:32

I have 3 and think it’s completely fine.

id quite like 4 but won’t

Goldeh · 14/03/2026 20:32

"Too many" is subjective, really. I've seen people with 1-2 who parent in a way that suggests zero children would have been a better fit for them, I've also seen parents of 3-4 absolutely smashing it.

It's an issue where it's best to just mind your own business and look to your own choices rather than judging others.

YerMotherWasAHamster · 14/03/2026 20:31

Its not a number imo. (Well, maybe once you get into double digits)

too many kids is when you have more than you can afford, more than you can care for, more than you can find time for, that sort of thing.

NewZebra · 14/03/2026 20:30

Two is enough for me. I can’t imagine affording more. I know someone with 12 though!