Thinking about a third.....

[jigger]

Just wanted to know whether anyone had any thoughts to share on having a third. DS has just turned 3 & DD is 10 months old. My husband and I have talked about it and both of us think we want 3 children. Body has just about returned to normal after #2 as well so about time to kill it off again!!

DS & DD are both absolutely lovely & I love them to bits, they can be quite hard work as you would expect. Part of me says "get on with it" since DD is settled now and I haven't any plans to return to work in the near future. The other part is not so sure, not in terms of managing but, in terms of our relationship with the 2 kiddies we already have as they are so lovely. Is it a case of "the more the merrier" or will having another take away from what we already have. Or should we wait & have a bigger gap???

Would love to hear from anyone who already has 3, or if you too are thinking about it.

Hi, well I have 5. Intended on having 4 however was doubly blessed with twins. I found having 3 easier than having 2. Not really sure why. It just changed the dynamics. 2 seemed too neat somehow. Of course 5 is just a number, but hey... each to their own. IMO Go For It!!!!!!

I've got 3 and currently trying for no. 4. I agree, 3 is easier than 2 & doing the baby thing a 3rd time has deffinitely been a doddle - can't say I found no. 1 easy - although hje was a "very good" baby, just so much to learn. No. 2 wasn't that easy - also a "very good" baby, but with only 17 month gap was just shear hard work. this time I've loved (nearly) every minute. Got loads more time for baby as ds 1 & 2 play with each other & with baby too.. For the 1st time I've really enjoyed the baby & the boys have really loved having a baby in the house. they're very proud of him & tell every one in the street/that we meet about baby & what he can do. they're thrilled by his development - smiling at them, waving at the, babbling to them etc. It's been a wonderful experience. I say go for it too

I have 3 (although they're all grown up now - youngest 15)totally agree with Marslady and ernest - having three is easier than 2, but not quite sure why. Now have grandson to care for - so ended up with 4 really. If that's what you want to do...go for it. I loved it when they were all little.

My mum said having 3 was like having 4 . But then, I was the 3rd.

I think if my dd hadnt had special needs and I hadnt lost my sister when i did I would have had a third by now as it is I feel i have left it too long to have a third now (ds is 3) and think it would be too big a gap once I got round t it. Still am undecided. i would say do whatever if right for you

I have 3 and I love it. Got 3 ds's age 3yr8m, 2, 12 weeks.

I've always wanted 3, coming from a family of 3 kids myself and I loved the fun, the noise, the interaction you get with 3. Can't wait till mine are a bit bigger and are all talking and interacting even more.

For me, the jump from 1 child to 2 children was much harder than going from 2 to 3. You've already done the 'new baby plus toddler' routine so you just do the same again except you've 2 toddlers!

It's absolutely fab seeing ds1 interact with baby because of course he was a bit young to take much notice when ds2 was born. He says lovely things to him, sings to him and is really concerned if he cries etc - it's so cute!!

If I were you I'd go for it. 3 is lovely - both coming from a family of 3 and a mother of 3 perspective

I have 3....aged 5, 3 and nearly 10 months......tbh the 3rd one just seems to fit in....IMO 3 is no more hard work than 2. good luck!!

Fio - if all continues to go well, I'll have an 8 year age gap. 3 years is nothing

I keep thinking about having 3 as well. However, I'm finding the amount of laundry generated for a 4yo and 7mo hard enough as it is. My machine is on almost everyday.

Do those of you with 3+ find any time to do laundry and housework?

do NoT mention laundry.

The first thing I do in the morning is put a load of washing on....and then last thing at night as well! I do the housework as best as I can but admittedly, its no palace.....will be better once we move.....5 of us in a 2 bed first floor flat at the moment so its more a matter of we havent got room for things, and the place gets untidy easily, than the place is dirty.

thanks tinker, i do appreciate that we are having genetic counselling atm though because dd is undiagnosed so it will be more than 3 yrs if we have any more, it might even be 8, so let me know how you find it.....I really wish you well sweetie (bit gushy for me)

Metrobaby - just thinking that while I was cleaning my windows! Some people have said it's easier with 3 than 2! I found the transition easier than from 1 to 2 but it's harder work with 3 - even if you just consider the laundry. It's THE main thing that pisses me off!! I must do about 4 loads every day - seem to be constantly, washing, drying, folding, putting away....

With 3 you have 3 to get fed, to get dressed and out the door in the morning and that's clearly harder than 2 - just because there is more of it!!!

3 is great though and I wouldn't have it any other way!

I have three and at the moment would pay someone to take one of them away

having a bad hour!

Gobbledigook - my friend with 3 says exactly the same. However she is currently considering going for 4. She and her dh say the best thing about having 3 is seeing all their little faces smiling at them together.

I have 2 at the moment and I am thinking about having a third. DD is 8 and DS is 5months. I really want to start trying for number three NOW, but DH want's to wait until DS is atleast one.

I think I will speak to DH and show him this thread about 3 being easier than two. (Even though I am finding my two really easy as DS is really placid and happy, and DD just goes with the flow.
So FIO I haven't found a problem with the big age gap I just keep reassuring DD that everything is the same between us, and she absoloutly adores her brother.

Sorry I am just waughling now.
Take care all.
Fio2- Good luck with everything
Jigger- Goodluck with the trying and enjoy hope all goes well.

Would love a 3rd but am 40 so feel it might be too late.
DDs are a lovely unit (nearly 4 and just 2) and I wouldn't want to spoil that but still hanker after another. A lot of people are prgnt and there seem to be a lot of no 3s.

As DD1 and 2 were so different I don't have a clue what no 3 would be like anyway.

Sigh........

I am seriously considering No.3, I keep changing my mind, I have a dd who is 7 on Sat and a ds who is 4, just got my freedom back, you would think that was enough, but I still want another, I think I will just be careless for a while and see what happens, I hate making decisions

Oh go for it jigger. I had my DS3 in August and I'm very very very happy

I would love three children but the idea of being pg/THE BIRTH really really puts me off. And I have a job I love and don't think I could afford to go back if I had three. But I LOVE the idea of three children soooooooooooo much..........help

I want 3 .. DH only wants 2 .. I think I'll just go down and unfreeze some of his sperm .. he never needs to know

I want 3 .. DH only wants 2 .. I think I'll just go down and unfreeze some of his sperm .. he never needs to know

it really gives me panic attacks actually so maybe I'll stop at two

I'd like another one too

i have 3 girls, 7, 5 & 3. I like having 3 - they all play together, or 2 play while 1 goes & does something else - means that they have options about who to spend time with & so I think get on better. I think the smaller the gap the better in the long run, although its harder in the first 6 mnths. A bigger gap means as they get older its harder to please everyone with trips out - films, legoland etc, whereas 4 years between oldest & youngest seems managable.