Pregnant with 3rd. 3 under 4

[Mriomom]

Hi all,

Not sure if I'm in the right forum, or if I'm doing this correctly.

I have currently have a 3 year old, almost 2 year old and found out I'm pregnant. Mu children will be almost 4 and 2.5 when this baby arrives.

Im obviously absolutely petrified. Can't stop crying when I think of how I may have screwed up my current children's lives as everything we do is going to come to a halt.

Can I please have some positive stories??

I had 3 under four when baby number two happened to be twins. You just manage. Everything won’t come to a halt, you’ll surprise yourself with how much you can still do. Get a double buggy and a sling, get out and about. It’ll be fine

Hi OP. Well it’s gonna be busy but excluding major health issues etc there’s no reason why you can’t manage this. It might take good organisation and hopefully some help from DP, family and friends.
plenty of people have three children and there’s no reason why you can’t have a happy family.

what are you scared of? maybe if you write it out, you can work out how to sort it?

I have a 2 year old and a one year old and now expecting another ( unplanned) so I will have 3 under 3 for a short time. Count yourself lucky 😉😂 you'll manage will be very full on and busy but you will be fine! Good luck X

Looking at the positives about your age gap, there are lots of things you will want/need to do which will suit all the children. Reading stories/rhymes, play doh, train set, duplo, etc and if the eldest needs a bit of peace to do something they can sit at a table. Going to the park. Eldest will probably soon be at nursery/preschool do you can take the youngest and toddler to soft play etc. if the eldest is only 4, there is no pressure for them to be doing too much proper swimming or cycling which might be hard with a toddler and baby as well, but you should be able to do preparation for these /introductions.
By the time the eldest is 7 and ready for bigger days out, the youngest will be about 3 and ready to drop naps nappies and baby food so much easier to go further afield. Disney films etc/CBeebies suitable for all, simple children’s games with baby sitting on your knee!

When DC3 was born DS1 was 3 years and 11 months and DD was 2 years and 4 months so almost exactly the same as yours will be.

It was tough and chaotic I'm not going to lie and you never have enough hands!! but it was good having them all going through the same stages at the same time eg they were all ok to go to toddler group or all enjoyed going to soft play or watch the same film at the cinema etc. meant I never had to juggle the wants of a teen, child and toddler all at the same time like other friends.

Mine are all in secondary school now and I have 2 going through GCSE years so thats fun!! but equally it is still easier to find things that everyone wants to do or watch.

I had a double buggy with a board attached which worked well for us. We went to a lot of soft play as it was contained and I could let the older 2 run off and play while dealing with the baby. I found going out in groups was good as if you are busy feeding the baby someone else will grab or deal with the others for you and vice versa!

I would also make a room of your house quite childproof - our lounge had doors with high handles so the kids couldnt get out, meant if I was stuck on the sofa feeding the baby I knew the kids couldnt get out to the kitchen etc and i could see them playing.

Thank you all so much for your replies- they really have made me feel much better. In the long run this age gap will be better, and I did always want more so better to do it now than later. I'm worried about the girls missing out on holidays etc, but they would have already been aboard 3 times by the age of 3 and 2, will just have to pause it for a year or so. I found 2 under 2 really hard, so I'm also worrying about that but maybe I'll find it easier this time (wishful thinking). I'm yet to tell my husband- probably will wait a bit longer until I've fully processed it.

My eldest was 3.5 when number 3 was born, it was hard for the first year but now the youngest is 2 it's great. They play so well together and it is easy to plan outings and activities to suit them all. They will spend a good chunk of their childhood in the same school too which i like. (As an extra bonus, due to the close age gap nothing goes into storage in our house it just gets handed down to the next in line so no bags of clothes and shoes lying around waiting to fit younger siblings).

When my fourth child was born I had a 9 year old, 3 years 11 months, 13 months and a new born.
You will be fine. Yes it's busy and sometimes a bit crackers but just think how quickly time passed with you older ones.... it probably only seems yesterday they were newborns.
I found getting out and about was much easier than staying in the house. Toddler groups were a godsend everyone wanted to have newborn cuddles and I could watch the others while having a cup of coffee.
If anyone offers help take it. Don't feel like you have to be super mum!

I had a 2 year old ,who was 2 weeks of being 3
a one year old
and a newborn
it was absolutely fine ,
they are now 25 ,23 ,22 and still absolutely fine

Hi op, how is everything? Considering a 3rd. My current children are 3 and 4