Suddenly terrified about having three under four...

[BlackholesAndRevelations]

...please tell me it will be ok?! How will I cope with taking them out? I go mad if I don't go out daily. Help!

(sorry, not technically a "larger" family but I'm assuming posters here will have at least three so will be able to help/reassure/advise!)

Thank you!

It will be fine.....especially if you don't have any older ones!

I have 5 who are now 7,6,3, almost 2 and 9 months. When my youngest was born I had 3 under 2 and 3 months. It is hard work, but the hardest thing I found was having to juggle all the things my older 2 do, with all the little ones in tow.

I invested in a triple buggy, but that was mainly as we have to go to school twice a day and quite often DS2 was too tired to walk. I probably wouldn't have bothered if it wasn't for the whole school run thing though.

Congratulations anyway - I think you just have to remember that it will all be fine in the end - it's just a case of muddling through really (or that's what I keep telling myself anyway )

Thanks for your reply! I look at others with three little ones and think if they can do it, so can I! Its just when I'm struggling with my two that I wonder how the hell I'll cope... How do you get out of the house?!

It will be fine, congratulations!

You will have to be very organised- clothes lined up the night before, and they must know that there are no arguments or tantrums. The baby doesn't need to be 'dressed', they can go in the pram as they are. Are you going to use a double buggy? I'd still put the four year old in reins.

I had 6 under 8, I know it's horribly stressful!

We have no choice but to be organised and get out of the house, as the older kids are at school! We do get up very early though - the kids never stay in bed past 6am, so we are usually organised in plenty of time before school starts

Our routine is that DH gets the baby up and gives him a bottle before he goes to work at 7am. I get up the other 4 kids and give them their breakfast while he is doing that. Then I dress the kids, do pack lunchs, organise school stuff between 7am and 8:20 when we leave for school. My kids have never been late for school, and in fact it amuses me that some people with only 1 child can't get to school on time .

Is your oldest at nursery or anything you need to get to in a morning? I have to admit I don't tend to make it to as many activities or groups with the younger kids as I used to - when my older 2 were small we used to go out to something almost every day - now we just do something a couple of times a week as it is quite difficult managing 3 little ones where ever I go! Also as Annunziata says, baby doesn't have to 'get dressed'. I just bought nice baby grows for mine when they were babies, and they mostly went out in those, which was much easier and they always looked more comfortable anyway.

I think you just need to remember although it is hard work, it isn't forever, and they will all get bigger and more independent!

I'll have 4 under 15 months, and 6 under 5! I'm terrified too

I don't have 10 children.... I should have typed that better. I have 6 in total under 5!

I had 3 under 4 (when DD was born DS1 was 3 years 4 months and DS2 was 20 months). I won't lie, it was hard work. You need to be very organised or you will never leave the house

In many ways though it is easier than bigger gaps. I would hate to have had to entertain a baby or toddler whilst schlepping around an older child's activities.

I've got 3 under 4.Eldest nearly 4,youngest about 20 weeks.Some days are hard work and others are fun.It has helped having the older 2 in nursery/pre-school a couple of days a week.I've also got a cleaner to do the main jobs once a week.
I choose carefully where I take them all togethers nd avoid places like supermarkets and softplay because I can't see where they all are!.National Trust places are good as traffic free and no dangers if they run off.
I've got a 3 wheeler side by side double buggy and the eldest manages to balance on the front.I often have to take out all 3 on my own and it isn't as bad as I thought despite mine all being boys and the eldest quite boisterous and naughty.They all seem to know that when they are with me they have to behave and are often better than when DH is also around.Going out for the day with a friend is also good,especially if they only have 1 or 2 as they are free to help out with any problems if you get stuck feeding or whatever.
I haven't found it much more work in terms of organisation so far.I'm lucky that my 3rd baby is very easy and it is honestly so much better than I expected.
Don't worry and good luck!

I had 3 under 4! For the first year DS1 was attending pre-school every afternoon so the four of us were together every morning, then I'd try to get the other two to nap while he was at pre-school so I got a breather. We'd go out to the park, to see friends etc.

It's good because the older two can play together while you feed the baby. I recommend finding a mixed age music class as it's something they all enjoy.

You'll be fine

I had 3 under 4 when my older ones (all teenagers now) were little. I agree with previous posters that organisation is key. My oldest hated pre-school so I withdrew him and had them all at home with me until he started school. I used to get as much ready for the following day as I could, once they had gone to bed. eg clothes layed out ready, packed lunches made in the fridge, next nights evening meal ready to just need reheating, a box of activities. It was tiring but not as difficult as you think.

I would recommend a good pair of harness style reins for when out and about. The threat of having to wear them if they misbehaved, often helped control the older two.

You'll soon find what works for your family and develop your own routine.

Thank you all xxx

(organisation is not my strong point... Definitely something to work on in the calm before the storm!!)