Anyone had/ have 3 under 4?

[happypiglet]

DS1 is 2.8 and DS2 is 13m. I would like another but due to my age need to 'get on with it'. If all goes well conception wise it will mean my eldest is still under 4 when DC3 arrives.
I sometimes think I could cope and other days think I couldn't.
DS1 & 2 have 1 day in nursery but other than that are at home with me.
Am I mad even considering it? I am not so worried about the early days but once no 3 is weaning/ moving etc!
Please let me know how it was for you good or bad!

My baby no2 was 2y7m and baby no3 was 15m when baby no4 was born. My eldest was 5. I enjoyed it most of the time. I found the first couple of months very tiring but I think that was because baby no4 didn't sleep for longer than 2 hours day or night. Once the baby was 6-12m they more or less just did much the same thing together. Eldest was at school and no2 started playgroup 2 mornings a week when baby was born. It soon passes and they are great friends for each other.

For a time I had 3 under 3! Make no mistake, it was very tiring, especially as one could toddle, one could crawl and one could bawl. I used to breastfeed the baby while I read stories to them, sitting firmly between them to stop them biting each other! The up side is that as they get older they can play games together that require compatible skills e.g. board games, Top trumps etc. Think of the alternative option - potential problem pregnancy etc. as you will be older. That outcome may never be resolved, whereas toddlers grow up fast.

I did - ds1 was 3.5, ds2 was 21 months when ds3 was born.

I worked from home (still do) so I didn't use much childcare, I think just ds1 was in playgroup 2-3 mornings but that was all.

Tbh, I didn't find it too bad but I'm a real routine person so I had 3 good sleepers, both at night and during the day so it was easy to arrange activities around these. I also had a great network of friends from the antenatal group I went to when pg with ds1. We all had a first and second child the same age and so we'd all meet at each others houses and the toddlers would play.

I think my life might have been a bit more stressful if it wasn't for my friends. It could be very lonely and isolated without 'things to do'.

Overall, I found it fine - the upside is that with smaller gaps you get them all into nursery/school much sooner! I'm just now coming into a much easier phase as ds3 has just started morning nursery 3 mornings with ds2 and then when ds2 goes to school nursery in the afternoons ds3 will sleep. So I'm getting a lot more time now to work during the day and run errands etc and this is only 5.5 years on from having ds1.

Also - they are pretty much entertained by teh same things now that they are 5.5, almost 4 and 2. Going on trains, to the park or whatever is fun for all of them. They are a great little gang and play together well (most of the time) and I think in some ways that could be easier than having a bigger gap.

There are pros and cons to both small or large gaps though - it's whatever you think will suit you!

Gosh Lockets - that was me 2 years ago!! Can't believe it's gone so quickly! I didn't find it bad either I must admit - routine was the key for me though. I think getting a good nights sleep makes all the difference.

Same as GDG and Lockets really. When I had ds3 ds1 was 3.8yr and ds2 was 1.10yr. It wasn't hard work - ds3 just slotted in just as ds2 had done. I work from home but the children are with a childminder some of the time, and ds1 was at preschool in the mornings.
Ds3 is now just over a year old, and ds1 started school in September so we are in a new era! I love them being so close in age, they play together - ds3 tries to join in but doesn't always get it!! and they really look out for each other.

We've all got same sex children too look! I think that can also be another advantage although I'm sure it's not a huge issue if they aren't the same.

Different sexes weren't a problem for us. My 3 were boy, girl, boy. Eldest was a boy. Having said that as they grew up the girl was a bit of a tomboy

Thanks for the positive postings. I huess we just need to 'shut our eyes' and get on with it!!!

guess not huess!

I had 3 under 4 and next March will have 4 under 6. Just don't think about it.......

For a while I had three under the age of two (twins) in case you are interested. Anyway, it can be done and although its hard work, they all seem very close so think there are positives to having children close in age

Oh no that came out wrong!! I meant don't think about if the time's right or wrong etc, just take a deep breath and jump in!!

my cousin had four! her oldest was 4, her next one was 2, then she had twins! she's also a district judge married to a physicist!

but then, she's dutch, so....y'know.......i think she has a lot of help with childcare.

I say get on with it.....
I have 3 under 6 at mo- were 3 under 5, now 5.5 3.5 and 1.5 its hard work sometimes but wonderful the rest and yes they play together and fight and stuff but I love it and am glad that they are close together they will always have each other have lots of fun getting on with it...

DD was 3.5 and DS1 exactly 2 when DS2 was born. He just slotted in. I found it much easier than going from 1-2.

It is a bit more difficult when the third is toddling but the eldest is probably at least in part time pre school by then.

(we then went on to have DS3 2 years later )