Do you wish you’d stuck at 2 DC?

[Goostacean]

Just that really. Mulling over a third. Do you wish you’d stuck with two? Ignoring the fact that of course everyone loves their children and (I assume!) you’d not want to get rid of them now, that is.

Oh, and obviously if so- why? Or why not?

Until my youngest was maybe 5 or 6 I wondered what on earth I'd let myself in for, but ever since then I've been delighted to have three.

The first few years was unbelievably hard work.

God, no!

Guilty, yes. No one can really justify having a third child. But I definitely don’t regret it.

I don't regret having a third at all, if anything I think it's made me a much as a mum, I always felt like two were in a competition with each other for most attention having a third has meant they get along better with each other and although they still seek my attention, it's much less one-up-manship between them.

No. In the baby days maybe.

I have 2 grown up sons 22 & 19. For 10 years I was more than happy to be a mum of 2. Then something suddenly changed.

I now have my sons (obviously) and a sassy little handful of an 8 year old daughter. Going back to the baby days (nappies, sleepless nights) I guess I questioned my sanity. But now? No. Not for a second. All 3 are so different & so amazing. Couldn’t regret any one of them.

• Much better as a mum

No - I had three very close together - that was always the plan though. I'm one of three and DH is - it felt like the right number for us.

No. Youngest is the cutest little man. Hard in the early years but definitely worth it

Oh dear, I was hoping you’d all put me off

No! I felt like my third completed our family, plus she's amazing.

But of course the years with 3 kids under 5yo are not years that I would like to repeat any time soon...

Would be good to know what some of the age gaps are- we’ve currently got DC1 2y3m and DC2 5mo...

3 - All 2years apart. Hell.On.Earth until youngest turned 8 and now it’s great, would I have 3 again - No!

Ah, you want to be put off? Well, our lockdown food bill (at bloody Morrison’s, not Waitrose) this weekend was £190 and they appear to have eaten most of it by Tuesday. Does that help?

Age gaps are two years and then four years here for the accidental extra.

I have never met another mum of 3 or more who says she wished they'd stopped at 2. I have met a few mums of 1 or 2 who said they knew they definitely didn't want anymore...so I kind of think you know. Sounds like you should crack on OP .

I knew I was done at 3, whereas DH wanted 4. Guess what, we have 3. No regrets. If I'd been 5 years younger I would probably have had another.

Oh, and they used to split the nights between them in awake-shifts. The little buggers all got plenty of sleep individually but just never all at the same time. For years.

And our food bill is WAY over £190. Might be all the wine.

Mine are 6, 4 and 2.
We always wanted 3, and can't imagine life without the third. She is amazing, so easygoing and so so so loved.
Childcare is expensive but otherwise so far so good.
The other two adore her, and she them. They are never bored and there is a lot of laughter. And I get to have a little one around for longer.

3 under 3 here. Wanted 5 originally. Had my tubes out during section with number 3. He was such a hard baby. Colic reflux. Screamed for the first 5mths of his life. Hes 9mth now. So glad I didnt stop at 2. Hes the most jolly little thing and laughs at everything. Its amazing seeing them all interacting together.

Go for it

Ignore my user name

I've got 4 - 9, 11, 13, 15 - and tbh I do sometimes wish we had stopped at two. Food bills are immense, school uniform bill is eye-watering, shoe shopping makes me cry and foreign holidays are the price of a family car (our car is fucking massive too)

However, during lockdown (and when we do holiday) they have had plenty of company to choose from, I've not had to entertain them at all and the older they get the easier it gets (ask me again when they are ALL teenagers though )

So some days, yes and some days no is my totally unhelpful answer (sorry)

@frazzledmomof3 3 under 3?? Wow, well done you! I don’t think... in fact yes, that would now be physically impossible for us, which is okay by me. You must be Wonder Woman!

Interesting that people often know when they’re done. I feel like it’s a decision partly of head, partly of heart... Seeing the two boys together is lovely though, so I can just imagine a third cutie adding to our fun. Once they all sleep through...

I did at 4.50am this morning when I was downstairs watching peppa pig with the toddler, and the two older ones didn’t get up until 8am! And homeschooling would certainly be easier without him destroying the house at the same time.
But generally no. He’s completed our family.
Age gap 20 months for the first 2, then 3.5 years until the 3rd.

I’m pregnant with my 3rd - but I have big age gaps.

Ds is nearly 18 and Dd is 6.

I wouldn’t have had three close together, I am in awe of those who even have two close in age!

If time was on my side (I’d have had to have stated very young!) I’d have waited until Dd was 12 before a third too

I have a friend who had 4 under 3.5. None multiples!

I have a friend who had 4 under 3.5. That would be madness for me! I hope we won’t have the homeschooling challenges in the future that parents are facing now, but who knows... that’s definitely a factor too! The general unpredictability of life.

I know they advise at least 18months between birth and the start of the next pregnancy, so will at least stick to that next time (didn’t quite manage it this time!).