I'm tempted to go to 3, DH is happy to stick at two or go to three

[sheeplikessleep]

Tell me, did you know you definitely wanted your 3rd/4th ... child?

I am definitely feeling that I could manage 3 OK (DS1 is 4.11 and DS2 is 2.6) and I've always wanted 3. I love the idea of having a bigger family and love seeing the bond between DS1 and DS2. I could imagine us as a happy family of 3. I also get quite jealous when I see other families of 5.

DH isn't against the idea, he really can't decide (I've asked him to be totally honest, if it was solely up to him, what would he do). I've said that it's a no go unless we both want it. He's said he loves the idea of 3, but concerned we would be too tired (he doesn't sleep well anyway at best of times) and that things would get just too unruly (state of house) and how much time we invest in our kids would be stretched etc.

Anyway, waffling over, I just wondered if others know or whether you debated it for a while? If you debated it, how did you eventually decide? Feels like we're going around in circles. I'm 35 and a half, so if we do it, I feel we don't have the luxury of seeing how we feel in a year or so. Likewise, with the close age gap between DSs, I'd like a third to be reasonably close in age.

Thanks

happy family of 5

Crack on 3 are great!

Seriously though my DH was happy with 2, I wanted another as somebody was missing in our family and we now have 3 and it suits us so much better than 2 - I doubt any if that makes sense to a rational person tough!

though not tough!

yellow - same as us, dh is happy with two, it's just me who can't forget about the idea of 3!

Got four would have gone for five. b b g b. would have liked another girl but I cannot complain. I am one of seven.

If you would like another, why not. You do not want to look back wishing you had. All the best in making up your mind.

we have 3. I am one of 3 and so is dh, so that may have influenced us!

3 is great, less pat and more interesting than 2 if you see what I mean. But I do notice that when there are 3 there is often one that gets left out. Any 2 of mine will get on fine, but ds and dd1 clash. Not sure if they would still clash if there was no dd2.
I think from 1 to 2 was harder than from 2 to 3. Now my 3rd has just started school, life is getting more organised again.

I really knew I wanted the 3rd and when she was born I really knew that the family was complete. Can't explain it!

You sound like me OP! I have one of each (3.3 and 1.6) and now starting to think I can't really imagine our "family" without an extra one! However it is practical things holding me back at the moment:

• only have 2 bedrooms, our current 2 share. We are getting an extension done next year hopefully;
• the car! Sounds stupid but just bought a new (to us) one and it only fits 2 car seats in the back!

People often also say that days out are built for families of 4 but to this day we've never taken advantage of one as we do center parcs for holidays and live in london so most things are fairly local.

I'm 32 at the moment so thinking, see how school applications and extension go next year and if all favourable then go for it. I have terrible pregnancies though so couldn't look after the two I have and project manage extension AND vom every morning for the first half of pregnancy!

I think you should go for it. :-)

"our current 2"?! Obviously our "current" children are our permanent children!

I wanted another, dh was happy either way. I am now 9 weeks pg with no 3. Ds will be 4y 10months, dd will be 3y2m when it arrives.
I am one of 4, dh is an only but loves the relationship I have with my dsis's and dobro.
This is all the more special as this time last ear I was about to start chemo and thought I could not have anymore

I'm currently 14weeks pregnant with no 3.I am 39 and felt lucky to have the 2 I do have(18m & 3) as I thought I was pushing it age-wise, and would have been happy with 2 or 3.DH suddenly got keen for a 3rd so I was happy to go along with it,with the proviso that if nothing happened by the time I was 40,that would be it.Luckily it happened v quickly.We are both one of 3 so that maybe influenced things..we both liked being part of a bigger family.I'm now really excited about having this baby and just hoping it all goes well..

Car seats - if you can't fit 3 seats in you can think about oldest being in booster with a back, or do what my friend did, one child on front seat and adult sat in middle of back

Thanks for all your thoughts, very encouraging! Lots to think about ...

Very happy family of 5 with baby number 4 on the way :-)
Read the post on here 'families with 3 children', I've just commented on it as I can't say anything negative about having a big family if I'm honest x

Just remember - number three can turn out to be numbers three, four and (occasionally) five...