Want another baby but will I will be able to cope

[GreaseTrap]

Have 2 older DC 6 and 5. Alison have a new baby 5m old. Really want another one so baby has a close age siblings to play with etc as worked really well with older too.

But...

I'm really exhausted at the moment as baby wakes so many times in the day. I've lost my energy and my whole life is on a hold. I'm enjoying being with baby in my own and this will be gone once another arrives. How will I cope with the newborn stage. I'm stressed just thinking about it but a huge part of me feels I should just go for it and it will all be over in a few years and when they start school it'll be much easier.

Anyone else with 4 kids can tell me how it was?

Only have 2 atm but curious what answers you get because I want to do the two sets of close together kids with about 5 years between sets thing.

You may have just been lucky that your older 2 play well together - I know many, many close in age siblings who bicker constantly and a set of twins who, while they don't actively fight have nothing in common and might as well be 2 only children.

I'd tread carefully with this one!

...and I don't buy the idea that they're easier when they start school - I found my DCs needed me more as they got older if anything, in ways that I found harder to meet IYSWIM?

Hmm. I know. Alot of ppl have the problem of bickering etc but I guess I have been lucky in that sense. They do obviously do argue and have their moments but overall they play very well together.

I find that when they started school they mellowed down and as if they "grew up" in just that first year.

I just hate the baby stage. The first year or so is so so difficult. Im worried about the impact on me and the other kids too

You've got your hands full with three plus your youngest is so young! Honestly I would wait a year at least and see how you feel.

If you're tired now imagine how you'd be with another baby!

If you're tired now imagine how you'd be with another baby!

Yeah but on the other hand, she is already tired, might in the long run be easier to get it all over with in one go than start to feel a bit better only to dive back into the fray?

I have a 6 (nearly 7) yo, 4yo and 10mo. I will categorically not be having a 4th! I ADORE my baby (and the other two, obviously!) but, like you, I'm knackered, everything else is still pretty on hold, the other two have had to wait for stuff so much...nah, I'm done BUT I'm not you. My friend has just had her 4th and is so happy. I'd think carefully about another small age gap though, when it's your 4th not 2nd child...

You have three children and are exhausted. I can't understand why you want another, the gap between the youngest two is not huge. Many people have siblings four to five years older or younger with whom they get on well & once they are grown up, it doesn't matter.

Life can be very good without adding to your family. Try to be content with what you have already.

It's not just the tiredness though. The added work of looking after another baby while you already have 3 older dc needs to be factored in. Getting 2 dc plus two babies ready every morning for school would be hard work, after school clubs with two babies would be a nightmare, watching school plays/assembly's etc again would be tough. Not forgetting the everyday slog of food shopping, washing and ironing, feeding and bathing the dc, homework/reading for the older ones etc.