Is it really easier going from 2-3 children then it is 1-2?!

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Just found out I'm pregnant, there will be 20 months between my youngest and the new baby. I found it incredibly difficult adjusting with going from 1-2, I've heard it's easier she number 3 comes along. Is it true?!

I can never understand it when people say 3 was easier than 2, 4 was easier than 3, etc.

I have 3 and of course having a newborn and 2 children was much harder than having a newborn and just one child. I also found that when it was just a baby and an older DC, people/family might offer to help or take your older child out for a few hours, but I could forget about that when I had 2 plus newborn.

The upside is is that you know the baby days just fly by, you have experience and you're so busy with older DC that there isn't the loneliness/relentlessness/isolation you (may) feel after a first baby.

I have a three year age gap between all mine. They were born Sep 01, Oct 04 and Aug 07, meaning a three year school gap between 1 and 2 and a two year school gap between 2 and 3.

The hardest part I found was when the middle one started nursery which meant doing the school run three times a day with a new born.

Other than that it was no difference really.

I have dd7, ds2 and ds 5 months. My middle boy was almost two when baby was born. I spent the whole time I was pregnant worrying but can honestly say 1-2 was far far harder. I had a 5 year gap between 1 & 2 and has immense jealousy and showing off from the 5 year old for. A whole year. And tantrums etc.

My third baby has been an absolute dream compared to middle boy who is a complete live wire and trashes my house.

Having any child is hard. Agree you are outnumbered but my dd is of an age where she can amuse herself so it’s only live wire middle child I need to closely monitor at the mo.

I love love love having three, best decision I’ve made & wouldn’t change for anything. You will be fine and adjust.

I also at pp who has the child that split the bumbo, my boy did this too, glad to know someone else had a split bumbo!

Good luck op

I'm more laid back with baby number3 but it's defiantly harder going from 2-3 imo. Logistics are the older 2 always want to do something different. School runs are all about time management. It's crazy but you'll love it!

I have 3 sons. 3 yrs gap between 1st and 2nd then a 2 year gap between 2nd and third. It was easiest for me going from 2 to 3.

0-1 when a baby was no problem, very low maintenance and portable.

Then 1 baby to 1 toddler was, er, challenging followed by the hell that was 1-2 and then even worse if possible was 1 baby plus 1 toddler to 2 toddlers

We don't have a third.

I do think it depends on the personalities of the babies. Ds1 was hard work, never slept, always on the go so I found going from 0-1 the trickiest. Ds2 was easier but so different to ds1 and ds1 was still very challenging so going from 1-2 was next trickiest. Ds3 was a dream baby. Really chilled, slept well, fed well and by that point ds1 was in playgroup then school and ds2 was not too tricky. Therefore going from 2-3 was a doddle! However with different personalities it could have been a different story!

Well my baby 2 was my easiest and baby 3 the hardest so 1 to 2 was obviously way easier for me than 2 to 3!! Think it depends as much on the babies themselves as the number change!!

I went from one to three... that was a bit hard 😃

I found 2-3 much harder than 1-2. Mainly because of the sleep thing - DC2 was the best sleeper of my three and DC3 was the worst. That’s it in a nutshell!

The bumbo stories are brilliant! I couldn't break a bumbo if I tried!! How on earth do they do it?!

I'm hoping that since number 2 has been the child to make me question everything I thought I knew as a parent, I'm due another easy baby!

Also thinking, eldest will start school a couple of months after it's born, my current youngest should be following some basic directions and doing mostly as she's told (please god!! )

Also thinking maybe a sling?! I've never used one but may make life easier at home if baby won't be put down and 2 year old needs my attention.

Talk to me about double pushchairs/double prams!! What would you recommend?

2-3 has thus far been so easy though she's only 3 months old and I have 3 year age gaps.

Caveat: Number 3 hasn’t slept more than 90mins in the year he has been alive...

I found 2-3 the hardest gap yet. Dc1 and 2 were under 2 years apart and I never really left the baby stage. I just carried on doing toddler groups/classes and dc2 tagged along. Dc2 and 3 are just under three years apart and dc1 is now at school. It’s not been so easy for dc3 to jut slot in. Plus the logistics of three car seats, multiple changes of clothes, different activities and interests.

But, I have been lucky and dc1 and 2 do play with each other a lot so I felt less guilty than the change from 1 - 2.

I'd say yes to the sling, it's a life saver if you have an elder child who might smash toys in to your new baby's face while you are off doing something.

The bumbo split over the between the leg section. The bar just broke away where he was pushing it back and forth. He's a strong lad, my middle one. Today the Ikea table has had to be thrown because he's snapped a leg off and he actually picked up his play pen and moved it once.

I've got a City Jogger GT with the infant carrier attachment. I tried an inline one and it was too heavy to get up kerbs, was really difficult to turn around and I couldn't actually see the one at the front very well. Love my side by side completely, but it does take more room in the boot and it can't take a car seat attachment. It folds beautifully (for now, I think older ones get a sticky/faulty fold) and doesn't get punctures. Lots of seat room for my little tubby one as well.

What car have you got? I had to buy a new car as well.

For me dc3 slipped quite easily into the family routine we already had with dc1&2 . The key is to be as organised as you can all bags prepared and clothes lifted out the night before etc.
What I found hardest was your now technically outnumbered. The costs of holidays are more expensive. Organising extra curricular activities for 3 is a nightmare there's not a single day we're not going here there and everywhere. Also days out are fewer now 1 due the expenses and 2 it's hard to find activities that suit everyone.
My head is pickled most of the time. Good luck 👍

I went from 1 to 3, that was hell! However, 3-4 was so easy. Not sure if that helps.

I found 2-3 much easier than 1-2, DC were nearly 2 and 3 when DC3 came along.

DC3 is now 2 and I’m due with twins in the new year, I’m not looking forward to 3-5

2-3 was much harder for me with 12 months between them!

I don't think you can generalise really, it's a combination of age gap/personality/stress levels from other factors in your life (including the birth). DC3 is just one week old so really I know nothing yet but so far it's been a lot easier - I just feel much better equipped than before. 0-1 was total hell, 1-2 was exhausting because as a SAHM I had no childcare for DC1 (then 2 1/2) plus we moved house when DC2 was 10 weeks old so that was stressful. This time we have much more structure in our lives with school and nursery, plus most of my friends have stopped at 2 kids and are very willing to help with the older 2. The worst thing by far about having 3 kids is that I'm already dreaming of a 4th which has shocked me as I really thought we'd be done now!