AIBU to have a 3rd?

[toni76]

Cons: No sleep for a year

• I prefer older chidren: I find babies incredibly tedious from 3 weeks to 14-ish months
• My life is getting easier all the time - my youngest is 18 months and my oldest is 4 - they're lovely and get on well

- We'd be outnumbered

• the cost; altho' we could just about afford it

-I've spent 6 months running etc to get a just about tolerable shape

• No. 2 took 45 mins to be born - this one would probably have to be a home birth; which I don't want
• I'm on the coil, and it's a faf to get it out
• DH leaning towards 3rd but says it's up to me cos I'd have to do all the hard work
• work - freelance - would take yet another hit

Pros

• I can't get it out of my head that I want another. That's it really.

Tell me waht to do?

Hi all - thanks for the posts.
fish, tedmundo - many congrats!
rainydays: I would wait, but my ovaries are rapidly ageing...so now or never really.
Posh: you've nailed it really. that's exactly why I want another one..
"A child's existence depends on the say so of MN" -Buttwart - lighten up... bettter the say so of MN than 8 sambuccas and a rebounding pill....

I've just had a particularly traumatic teatime - yoghurt in my hair, on the floor etc, and peppa pig is on. not having another one means moving ever closer to never having to watch peppa effing pig again. Now that is a persuasive con.....

Go for it if finances allow and you and your dh are in agreement. We have 3 and have never regretted it. 2 years between dc 1 and 2 and 18 months between dc 2 and 3. Don't put it off... A big age gap is one thing I couldn't cope with as they'll all be at different stage.

Don't forget potty training!!

I would never want a 3rd, for all the reasons you say, but then there are logical reasons not to have any children.

If you are coping well with the ones you've got, then it sounds to me like you really want to go for a third

( )

Get the Radio Times, find CBeebies and Milkshake, and start researching what other 5-minute programmes there are apart from Peppa :o

Actually "no sleep for a year" would be reason enough for me. But that's just me.

I do sometimes look at families with 3 and think there's something nice about bigger children

... bigger families

Yeah, Dipdap is a lot better than Peppa

I have 3 and, like you, just couldn't stop thinking I wanted 3. The idea of stopping after two made me cry.
I do love, love, love dc3 but it is more emotionally, physically and mentally draining than I expected. Plus, on a practical note, car, holidays, keeping an eye on them when out is all much harder.
But with all that said, I wouldn't change it (not having #4 though!).

from reading your cons list, the question that came to my mind is whether your existing children would benefit from you having a third? if finances are going to be tight especially. i know it sounds awful but i know but when i was little if i had been given the choice between another sibling or nice holidays and more attention i know what i would have preferred!
we have 2DDs and hve had the 'discussion' about a third. ultimately, we have decided that there is no way our children would benefit from it. although they and us would love another child if we had one, it wouldn't ultimately improve our lives.
i am very practical about the whole thing though :) plus if i'm honest, i'm only in my mid-20's. i admit i might feel differently about it if i felt time was a factor.
i'm sure whatever you decide will be the right thing for your family.

I always thought I only wanted 2 but changed my mind. I'm now pg with dc 4 and ds3 is 16 months old.

I have got big age gaps with the first three though, exactly 8 years between each which has made it easier.

I always wanted 3 & am blessed with 3 healthy children. I am grateful for that.
But its hard work. Dc2 and 3 push me to the boundary of my patience and i think i would have been a better parent sticking at 2.
What personality do your current 2 have? Are the easy to parent?

Personally if felt some of the things you said on your op i wouldnt inflict myself on another child.

I couldnt shake wanting a third it was always there is my head with no rationale. Took a bit of persuasion for DH but we got there. DS1 is 8, DS2 is 5 & DS3 16m. It's the hardest thing I have ever done, and there are v real practicalities- space/car/exorbitant holiday costs but every time I have a bad day DS3 smiles or does something that puts it into perspective. I look at friends with 2 and sometimes think where our lives would be if a 5 yr old was our youngest but it's all just ages and stages and you know deep down if you want (and could cope with) 3.
Know it sounds like sentimental crap but trust your gut! And btw don't believe that "labour gets shorter each time" bollocks