I have 2 daughters aged 6 and 1 and am contemplating a third. I am not currently working and so spend a good amount of time with both kids. The age gap is great for them and us (they don't have rivalry but adore each other, and have quite distinct needs which makes life easier for us!). I would love a third but don't want to screw up the lovely way things are now. I feel I give both girls a lot of my time and what they need. For parents with three (or if you grew up with two siblings) do you feel you get the balance almost right or are you always feeling you aren't with each enough? Many thanks
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HoggyDunlop · 07/01/2024 21:17
I would say - why rock the boat?
We have 3 and it is very hard work. It's almost a completely different lifestyle to my friends who have 1 or 2 children - you can't please all of them at once so there's usually one whinging, and it's a lot to juggle logistically. I do sometimes see pairs of happy kids and feel envious but of course wouldn't be without mine.
I think the jump from 2 to 3 is quite a big one and has to be something you really do want to do - for the whole family. It sounds like you've got a great set up and unless you're planning on waiting a while for a similar gap, you'll be treading into multiple toddlers/young kids territory which is a whole different ball game and will take significant time and attention away from your eldest.
Please note my opinion may be influenced by the last 2.5 weeks of school holidays and 3 children out of routines driving me mad 😜
GingerSquid · 07/01/2024 21:20
It sounds like you do have time for a third; however, your current set up sounds really lovely too! I’m about to have a girl after two boys with the same age gap of just under 3 years each time. Obviously a smaller age gap is a lot harder and it might shock you if you had a tricky baby whilst your middle daughter is still a toddler. What gap were you thinking?
carrotsnparsnips · 07/01/2024 21:22
quietly watching this thread. i have 2 and currently 22 weeks pregnant with third and starting to panic :’)
RosaSkyes · 07/01/2024 21:24
I have 3 girls - 6,4 & 1
I always wanted 3 and feel very lucky it happened for us.
I think the comments above are all really honest though. It definitely takes a lot of logistics and I agree that at this age, somebody is generally unsettled or in our case this winter, ill.
but, the flipside of that is that they totally feel like a little team and the older ones have been fabulous with the baby. I would say my eldest is very mature and quite independent by nature which probably made the transition easier for me too
Think about the knock-on in terms of childcare, before and after school club costs if you want to return to work, bedroom logistics, holiday logistics, car seat logistics… I knew the consequences on all of the above, but the desire to have another and see the family grow one last time was bigger than all of the above. It’s a very personal decision, good luck!
RosaSkyes · 07/01/2024 21:24
I have 3 girls - 6,4 & 1
I always wanted 3 and feel very lucky it happened for us.
I think the comments above are all really honest though. It definitely takes a lot of logistics and I agree that at this age, somebody is generally unsettled or in our case this winter, ill.
but, the flipside of that is that they totally feel like a little team and the older ones have been fabulous with the baby. I would say my eldest is very mature and quite independent by nature which probably made the transition easier for me too
Think about the knock-on in terms of childcare, before and after school club costs if you want to return to work, bedroom logistics, holiday logistics, car seat logistics… I knew the consequences on all of the above, but the desire to have another and see the family grow one last time was bigger than all of the above. It’s a very personal decision, good luck!
Minglingpringle · 07/01/2024 21:28
Depends whether you want one or not…
I kind of enjoy having three because I decided nobody could expect me to have everything neat and perfect the whole time, instead we are just fun and busy. Plus it’s an extra person to love. And my third turned out to be gorgeous.
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