Those with 3 children…

[Lemonyzesty]

How is your third? Did they just slot in?

Pregnant with our third (have a 4 and 2 year old) and got all sorts of thoughts whirling through my mind. One is, we’re crazy. Another is, how exciting.

😂😭

Personality of the children makes a difference. Mine does not just slot in. She's very determined after a life of trying to keep up with dc1 and 2 (nearly 3 and 5 years older) and probably hits most milestones the earliest. She is also the best at sharing and absolutely adores her siblings.

It's chaos and a juggle but I wouldn't change it.

I have just had my third - so navigating this!! I have a 5 and 2year old. And baby is 8 weeks.

the first 2 weeks where omg!! What have we done. It didn’t help they were born just before Christmas which is an intense period with no access to school/ childcare. Once school started again and breastfeeding started to click it’s gotten easier week by week. I think we are good now. He’s deffo just slotted in - he is sleeping really well at night which I think is probably because he doesn’t get the opportunity for long stretches in the day as I often have to disturb him to go on school run / activities with the toddler etc. good luck!!! It’s going super fast.

She was happy and slotted in really well. Some might say moderately neglected due to the chaos of the other two who were very time consuming. When they were at school and nursery I made up for it.

Slotted in! Lol autistic and loud. None of my children slotted in very much except the eldest was a dream until she was 18 months and had a sister

Number 3 slotted right in. But DC2 decided to unslot herself when DC3 came along. I mean, they slot in and it can be hell on wheels all at once.
Lean into the crazy and ride it out.

My third is the most chilled of my DC and always has been. They learnt to nap on the go as when they were born I was doing three school runs a day (Reception and Nursery). They can share and get on with both of their siblings.

Things were hectic when they were small.

Our third is brilliant and whilst he slotted in initially and was a dream baby is an absolutely wild and unruly 3 year old. Wouldnt change the chaos for anything but the juggle of three isn't easy a lot of the time. They are either all best friends and inseperable or there is a lot of falling out and shouting - never a happy medium!

When my third was born we had a 4 and 6 year old....he was just taken to everything the others did... maybe as a result he can make fun and friends in any situation...

He has never been in the same school as his siblings so has always had a real ability to be his own person...

I think the older two benefitted from having a little one around and considering more than their own needs...

Who really knows, whatever you choose or are lucky enough to have is your family and you make it work...

Always considering gold fish instead of children and pets in my next life...
Enjoy the magic...

3rd (now 18) slotted in easily as a baby. Had feeds around school runs (8,10,12,2 and 4)
He was quite demanding as a toddler mainly so he could get heard above his 2 sisters. In primary school he was constantly on catch up with them.
Now he is so lovely, sociable and friendly.
3 was a juggle though. I forgot I'd taken him with me to school one day and left him in the playground. Another parent came running after me as I was walking out of the gates.

Have a 6, 3 and nearly 1 year old and it's been hard but amazing. Baby is an absolute joy, the easiest of the 3 and so happy and lovely and sociable. BUT I'm convinced a lot of it is personality and if my eldest had come third I would be singing a different song!

I've found that it's just been more of everything - more love, more tears, more tantrums, more cuddles, more laundry, more laughter, more noise etc.

Wow OP, I couldnhave written this - am in the same boat.

My concerns are I also as I'm the third child i worry how they will fit in. My siblings were always super tight, and still are, and I am (and always have been) a third wheel. Hoping history doesn't repeat!

3rd slotted right in here also, Now 3,6&8 and absolutely love it.

We have 4. Number 3 and 4 slotted in, and I was far more relaxed parent by then aswell!

I have three kids and the third slotted in so easily. It's like she's always been here. My oldest was 4yrs2mths and my middle child was 1yr11mths when my youngest was born. They are all so close and absolutely adore eachother

Nope, spent the first six months thinking 'why did we do this?'. Didn't help that he was a crier for months. Now they are older, 13, 11 and 8 and it is bedlam most of the time. Not sure I'd even have one given my time again though! There are lovely moments, but an awful lot of shouting and bickering between the three of them. A lot of very strong characters!

We are the exact same, 2 yr old and just turned four year old and a new baby! She just slots in and the other pair adore her. I’m sure they will fight when they are older but right now it’s absolutely lovely (baby does have reflux however though is starting to ease off now a bit at the seven week mark) meant a lot of screaming in the night, but the other pair slept through for the most part as we slept at the other end of the flat with the baby😂 going out takes ages to get everyone ready though!

Let's just say it's easier now they're in their 20s...

My third tries to rule the roost! Older brothers 12&11, she's 8 and puts them in their place. With my older 2 being older when she was born I found it a lot easier.

oh wow, yes we’ll be very similar! Except my eldest will be 4.5, youngest nearly 3. Eeeeek. Our flat is tiny so I’m expecting the nights to be hectic 😄😂 Do you have boy boy girl?

Yes you are crazy.

but it is blimming wonderful.

Never quiet though.

@BitingtheSkirting @OlgaRhythm Thank you for your honesty!! I worry sometimes that I might look back and think “why on earth did we do this”

Agh, this is also one of my many thoughts. My two are so incredibly close, I do worry if when their sibling comes, they might be a bit like 😬 just so many unknowns. When are you due?

My third baby just slot in, my older children were 4 and 21 months when she was born. From the moment we brought her home it was like she'd always been there.
They're all 6, 4 and 2 now and although the littlest is the naughtiest who winds her big sisters up silly, they absolutely adore her. I really love being a mum to three children, it's so lovely. All the best OP. 😊

I absolutely wouldn't be without my third child, it goes without saying.

But oh god, the nights. For years.

Not sure she just slotted in, but she definitely found her niche as the family comedian - she realised early on she wasn't as fast or as loud as the other two, but she could make everyone laugh.
Someone once said to me third children do not get brought up, they get dragged up - and that's always rung true!