Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Family planning

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Coping with the longing for a third child, any advice?

2 replies

Fateofopheliaa · 02/11/2025 17:21

Hi everyone, this is my first post, though I’ve been quietly leaning on this community since becoming a mum in 2020.

Long story short, my husband and I have decided not to have any more children. We have two wonderful daughters, aged 5 and 2, and life has started to feel more manageable now that our youngest is out of nappies and happily settled at nursery.

While I understand and agree with the many sensible reasons behind our decision, I still feel a deep emotional pull towards having a third. My husband is firmly against it, and we’ve reached a clear, mutual decision to stop - but my heart hasn’t quite caught up with my head.

I’m finding it hard to quiet the yearning, and I feel mentally unsettled despite knowing this is the right path for our family. I’d really appreciate hearing from others who’ve been through this, any tips or coping strategies that helped you come to peace with the decision?

Thanks so much in advance.

OP posts:
Outside9 · 03/11/2025 22:56

@Fateofopheliaa how old are you and your husband? It's not unheard of for men to miss the baby stage after a couple years.

Fateofopheliaa · 30/11/2025 20:25

My husband and I are both 35, so I do feel like I’d need him to change his mind pretty soon if we were to go for it!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page