should I have a fourth child?

[Alderberry]

I have 3 children, ds age 6, and dd's age 4 and 20months. I would very much like a fourth but dh is not keen. His reluctance makes me doubt whether it would be the right thing to do. Whats it like with 4? And does anyone have any ideas as to how to persuade dh?

7, 5 and 3.

lol at gorgopues!

yes, you should have a fourth.

Don't worry about age gap - DS1 and DD1 three year gap didn't get on but DS1 and DD2 get on fantastic despite seven year gap, likewise DD1 and DD3 and ten years gap, again small gap between DD2 and DD3 and lots of rivalry. It is more of a personality thing than age. DD4 is a friend to all.

If you have more than five year gap you can enjoy having the baby on its own during the day without all the fingers and thumbs of a first timer.

Thanks. I think I'll wait and try and persuade DH again in a year or so. This website is great, I've just discovered it and its been so useful getting other peoples views on things!

God no and don't have a 3rd either!!

I have 4 and it's great - BUT I have huge age gaps (oldest is 19, youngest is 4) so I've had teenage babysitters, time to recover between babies etc. I really don't have a clue how parents with 4 or more close together in age ever manage to get out of the house in the morning. Alderberry - if your youngest is only 20 months you have plenty of time to think about it, assuming there isn't a biological clock ticking.

strange that once you have a large family you don't really notice it you just get used to setting lots of places for breakfast and weekends and the thirty-odd shirts each week and the speed the big weekend tidy up happens (one person per room even for the youngest now of school age)even food shopping isn't so bad using internet.

Oldest two now at university so really notice it when they get back now have got used to the reduction in number for most of the year