Very early days but think No. 4 is on the way...oh blimey.

[LuckyWeKeptTheCot]

Hi, I have 3 children (7,5 and just 3). DH has always quite liked the idea of 4 - he is one of 4. Anyway, we never ruled it out and threw caution to the wind the other night, although did think these things the next morning:

1. I am 3 stone overweight - one kept for each pregnancy. And had a sort of plan to spend this summer losing weight, getting fit and having some treatment for rosacea which isn't recommended while pregnant. Then I was going to let nature take over in the winter if we still felt the same way.

1. I will be 41 in June so the risks of various things are higher and I feel the impact is greater when you already have 3 children - more implications to consider so should I have all the tests going?

1. REALLY annoyed with myself about not losing weight first - worth repeating!!

1. Just setting up a business with DH so timing not perfect but when is it ever?!

1. Wanted to take the children travelling for 6 months when they are older. Think I still could?!

1. Depsite lots of concerns, when it occurred to me this morning that my period was definitely not showing up and bought a test and guess what...very positive. BUt VERY early days not not saying anything to anyone but DH yet.

We have a 4 bed house and can all fit in easily. They all share at the moment so not stuck on all having their own rooms. Already have a people carrier. And lots of stuff.

Drank lots of wine at the weekend. And had 3 fags after none for 2 years. Went mad at a party.

Not sure what I'm asking really. No sister or mum to talk to - just wanted to list thoughts.

PS First reaction when I saw the two lines was a big grin. Guess that says a lot. Same from DH.

Exactly Diliga - I wouldn't want routine to get in the way of my life and MN!

It's not nosy at all Currant - if it was private I wouldn't have said it! Our 3 are 13, 11 (both dds) and 4 (ds). Dd1 & ds team up all the time and dd2 gets left out totally. Dd1 was that bit older when ds was born and would do everything - cuddles, pacing the floor, nappies, you name it she'd do it. She was delighted when I stopped bf as she could then do that too! Dd2 was only 7 though and a) wasn't as interested because this baby was usurping her as baby and b) is so tiny she wasn't able to help out as much as physically she wasn't able.

I'm really hoping that once this one is born she will identify with this much in the same way dd1 did with ds.

That's my 3 story but it doesn't mean squat for you. I know families where 3 works perfectly well. After all, all our children are different and who knows, I might be storing up mega trouble for myself. What happens if dd1, ds and baby team up and dd2 is still left out?!

I hope it won't work that way - hoping that there will always be a 2+2 combo, whoever the pairs are made up of.

My 3 work very well most of the time. DD1 (7) VERY indulgent to DD2 (3) and so her little sister goes to her when I'm cross. Lots of cooing over each other and holding hands. But DS (5) and DD2 have a very close rumble tumble relationship too - she's a bit of a tomboy and they adore each other but more sparks fly too. But all three a good team and have lovely times together. Still DD2 is a bit left out and attention seeking because the first two are at school and share that and she doesn't. Although starting nursery there after Easter so might make her feel more included. She's great at entertaining herself at home but loves them getting back. If all goes well, we'll have to see how number 4 mixes it up.

i have 5, 1,2,4,7, and 9. tbh after number 3 i never notice the extra children. you are doing the same ammount of work really

We have a 7seater (grandscenic) but seat 6 and 7 arent proper seats if that makes sense. Well we used one for the first time a few weeeks ago and it just didnt look that safe to me but i am a bit of a panicker on the driving front people have driven into me on several occasions its made me nervous so not sure i would want a child in that seat all the time.

So may need to go bigger again car wise!?

And buttonmoon for what it is worth a mum and dad in our village with 4 is always telling me a need four lol. She said exactly what you hope for that hers always pair up and she finds it easier/better with four than she did with three. Although its slightly different i suppose as she had four in five years and her dh was one of four and they said they had planned four before they even started.

My sistuation is my 3 are all close in age and dd1&2 are close and play well not sure if ds could end up on the side lines left out but then again hard to tell yet as he isnt walking etc

grand scenic seats are designed as perminant use seats, the car has a 5* crash rating
you neednt worry
i have the grand scenic on an 04 plate and have no fears when it comes to the safety of the kids in the back
my husband is a mechanic and has always made sure that the kids are safe
as soon as the zafira dropped from a 5 class to a 3 class we changed cars

he recently recoverd a crhysler mpv (sp?) he said it took the 65mph rear end crash well, all rear occupants were safe and un-injured, so if you did want to change id say the were a fair bet lol

we will not be changing our car once no5 is concieved

though once no5 is here we will be getting an erdy trailer!
the amount of crap youend up carrying with 4 let alone 5 is shocking!

Ok thanks so atm do you have any of your four in the back/boot seats?

Just wondered as i did think i could always go in one and then the children in the back and one in the front!?

I may be wrong but i thought our manual said the 6 and 7 seats were not suitable for car seats, but not sure if that includes the 3point seat belt seats although i do like how you can have one seat up then pushchiar next to it.

We would def need a roof box though but were going to be doing that anyway, after our last trip away and stuff crambed in every inch of the car

i have 1 child in the boot at the moment (he shares the boot with the dog )
there is a way to turn your passanger airbag off, when you open your drivers side door, on the side of your dash is a button to turn the airbag on or off and this will show up on your dash display

have just looked in my manual and it says nothing about the rear seats not being suitable am confused now im wondering if one of us has an updated print?

have done some googling and there have been some suggestions that some seats arent suitable for the middle row as the head rests pinch the seat belts against the pillars

i have narrow seats with low backs made by graco
i bought them for when i had my convertable, normal seats were too high and wide for the sports seats and stuck up over the seats in the back of the car so they were all changed

i dont have my eldest in a seat as he exceeds the weight and hight laws so doesnt require a seat, he sits in the middle
next youngest is in the boot on a low backed booster
next down again is again in a low backed booster and sits in the middle row next to the eldest
and the next is in a harnessed seat in the middle row next to the eldest

they all chop and change bar the baby in a harnessed seat
if ever i require the full boot space then baby comes in the front and the boys can scrap it out in the back lol
my youngest is in a rear facing

with the pushchair i have the m&p pliko pramette and that fits exactly behind the rear seats so when 6 is up and 7th is down the buggy still stays behind the seat but leaves a lovely space for the dog

have just gone on my renault a service where you can check all the cars specifics and where renault can try and flog you their latest creation

anyway ive read through the whole thing and the only exclutions on the third row seats are that the 2nd row seats arent collapsed when 3rd row seats are in use
the hand book says about only using certified renault suplied child restraints but thats a general thing that they say so you buy their product over anyone elses

hope this helps a tad
you had me worried there for a moment about the rear seat thing, my husband is very smug and doing the i told you so thing lol
was hoping for my bfp for no5 but this wasnt my month the witch has arrived but fingers crossed for this next month hey x

Oh no its the worst waiting for 'no' period then one arrives...heres to next month

Ill have to have another read maybe ive got it all wrong, sure someone said to me our cars boots seats arent 'proper' fixed seats like a other 7seater eg galaxy.

Ours is an 05 and sure i read it the manual they werent suitable but this was a long time ago and i think it may have said not suitable for the 5point harness seats.

Our current set up is dd1 in middle row at one side in a britax isofix backed booster, then dd2 other side in a britax booster, then me in the middle and ds in a rear facing maxi in the front seat. They would all fit in the back but its safer for him in the front if he want to sleep without being poking lol.

But i have tried and i have a tobi which he will be moving into in the next few months and the two boosters and tobi all fit side by side in the back, bit of a fiddle and pain to get seat belts done up on boosters but hey ho at least they fit.

If we go for four after what youve said it look like we can keep our car would have been a right pain to change esp as it would cost us more and our car was a good buy only done 20,000. In which case think on of the dds could go in a boot seat and im sure they would fight over it too...dd1 is desperate to try one out

ps dont suppose you noticed if there was any advise on whether the middle seat middle row is suitable for a 5point harness seat?

pps i have taken all the headrests out of our middle row while the car seats are in

no i didnt sorry threecurrents
same here with the head rests they were a little annoying when fitting the seats
thats a good deal on the car on 20,000 on the clock
you might want to check your timing chain/belt service interval as age wise yours is due
mechanic husband extraudinair says so