So whats it like going from 2 to the magic number 3?

[MiMao]

Just wondered because we have planned to do just this later on this year.

Is it much different from 1 to 2?... I found the first year quite tricky

My friend said she did not notice much of a change from 2-3, the 3rd just seemed to fit in.

What about bath time? I bet that is noisy!

I am dreaming about Christmas mornings and three children running to see their gifts and all chasing each other in parks and all of us sitting around a table trying to get their word in

But whats the reality???

Oh I've already had all the "wanting a boy" "better be a boy then" "was it planned" and of course if it is a boy then DD2 will be left out (anyone who knows DD2 will know she will never be left out of anything)!

I will have 3 under 3 in a few weeks (well not quite, the oldest will be 3y1m) and I am more relaxed about it than I was before no.2 was born. I feel it will be less of a jump and like a lot of you I am really looking forward to a few years down the line when we can all do fun family things together and the dc will (hopefully) all enjoy same sort of things!

when my youngest was born my oldest was 3.2yrs and I really love it. We have some bad days but no more than if we only had one child. The lack of sleep is a bit of a killer but copable..we are currently discussing pros and cons to a 4th so cant be that bad.

I have 3 gorgeous girls. Dd3 is 8 mths dd1 is 7yrs and dd2 5. I swear going from the eldest two to the magic 3 has been heaven and I am doing it all alone. Of course all babies are differnet but dd3 has just slot right in and I am finally a family of four again its brill

0-1 was really hard, had PND and all the usual worries about am i doing it right ect. 1-2 was also hard but for different reasons, felt very guilty about not spending as much time with ds etc. 2-3 piece of cake!! Feel much more relaxed about the whole thing and dd2 is an absolute delight and fits in really well. Older kids love her and are really good with her. Seriously considering a fourth!

I found 1-2 much more challenging than 2-3. No3 is just more "portable", you worry less and quickly establish some kind of routine, as they have to fit in with the others. In the first few weeks, dd2 was bundled everywhere and her marathon breastfeeds had to wait until I'd been and done everything with the other two! My ds had just turned four when dd2 was born and he doesn't start school until sept, so currently have ds 4.5, dd 3.2, and dd2 4m. I have bundled dd off to preschool with her brother a term early, don't think I'd be sane otherwise!
The getting in and out of the car thing is a definate art - requires thought and practice and at least one that won't run off while you get the other two out!

OOH, this is all very reassuring! I have ds1 (6) and ds2(nearly 3) and am planning to start ttc no.3 in April, but keep getting cold feet! Thanks for all these lovely posts. I found 0-1 VERY hard, 1-2 I think was actually easier than having just 1 after the first year, as ds1 was very high-maintenance and took a lot of entertaining, whereas ds2 and ds1 now play together and are SO sweet together. They are both desparate for another!

Mine are ds 8, dd 6 and dd 3. It depends on so many things. We had only wanted two but after they were born I felt someone was missing. And GOD how she changed everything. DD3 is very demanding, sometimes ill with asthma, has numerous allergies that mean I have to cook everything for her. She rarely slept for the first 12 to 18 months and woke for a feed every 1 or 2 hours. Then I was up again with the other 2 at 6am.
I must admit I do not now know how I got through the first 2 yrs of dd3!
I would NEVER wish her away but think, in hindsight, I probably should have stopped at 2!!
But, dont let this put you off - everyone is different

Mine are DS1 just 4, DS2 2.5, DD 7m and I have loved it all. having 3 at home is hard work but we don't have any morning deadlines that are as critical as school and that helped. DD is the easiest baby and LOVES her brothers (and vice versa) and she has fitted right in. You do have to be mega organised though if you do want to do anything outside the house!

Mine are now 7, 4 and 2. I def found number 3's babyhood the easiest, partly because the older two are such good friends and partly because I was DETERMINED to enjoy it! It is hectic and there have been times when I have been on my knees with it, esp during last year when I had ds1 in Year 1, dd in nursery 5 mornings and ds2 at home - it was a lot of school runs back and forth plus meals for everyone (ah for the days when ds2 only needed a breastfeed) and entertaining a young toddler. I didn't have any help with them for about 18 months (we don't have family close by and hadn't replaced our au pair as we were doing building on the house) and I have to say it was tremendously hard work, but now we have a new au pair and ds2is doing a bit of nursery and suddenly life is significantly easier. But even in the hard bits, I love having three, I love the chaos and the way dd acts as a go between to her brothers. I have a fave picture of them taken last summer, all piled on top of each other, and I always look at it and think how lucky I am.

easy peasy 2-3, however no more thinking 3-4 as would have to buy a bigger car/house/table etc!!

I love having 3 children too! Yes, it's hard work but they play together very well, and them working through the different sibling relationships is a crucial part of child development (so I tell myself anyway!).

I have big age gaps between my 3 girls (17, 9 and 21 months), this was not intentional but just the way things turned out. We were planning to stop at 2 but no 3 was a pleasant surprise (although initially a total shock!). I have found going from 2-3 very difficult, maybe it's because I am older but the sleep deprivation, the mess and the noise have been hard to cope with at times. I love them all but in my experience the change from 1 to 2 was much easier.

Ive got 4ds and my third fitted in like a treat but I think that was more down to his calm nature. I found 1-2 the hardest in many ways but 3-4 has'nt been a doddle either!
Much better now I only have one in a pushchair and none in nappies!! I love having a big family but there are limitations......... It is near on impossible to have any time alone with dp, It is verrrrrry hard to get babysitters and if dp and I want a night away (something we have done once in the last 5yrs) its hard to find anyone who is happy to take all 4!

2 - 3 far, far easier than 1 - 2 IME

i found 2-3 a real struggle tbh
but then, no1 was only 2.5 when no3 was born, so perhaps i took a lot on at once...

now that no3 is 2, it is wonderful. really really great. am even thinking it may be time for no4

Sorry but have also found 2-3 quite hard work and frustrating at times, although it's a real quandry as the baby is just divine- it's just all the work that goes along with him (oh to be able to afford a cook, cleaner, laundry maid, nanny etc).

blissful, divine, wonderful, fab

i adore having 3, it is lovely

mine are 5, almost 4 and an 11 month old, so for me 1 to 2 was horrendous hard work and 2 to 3 a dream in comparison
first few months a bit tricky working out routines for bed etc that fitted around newborn feeds but after that, easy peasy
have to say though that ds2 was terribly colicky baby and dd1 is so relaxed it is like comparing chalk and cheese, another baby like ds2 would have sent me mad.

I too have read this thread with interest - would love a DC3 but DH is not so sure...

I think by the time you have number 3, you appreciate so many things so much more. By this I mean, how fast their babyhood goes. I had dd1 and dd2 19 mo apart and it was the happiest time for me, I adored pushing my two little girls about in the double buggy ! Was broody for another dc almost immediatley but didn't have ds until dd2 was 3. He is now 9 mo and utterly adorable, the most perfect baby ever ! I think I have learnt so much from having the first two, that I am a much better, calmer, more fun parent now with three. I just want to cuddle ds and kiss him all day long because I know how quickly the dds changed from being my little babies in the buggy to the opinionated independent little girls they are now.
Sorry for rambing I am on the wine !
But in short, its fine. If you can cope ok with two, then three isn't much harder.

yeah, i've found this thread full of interesting info too. in a months time i will have 3 under 4. to think of having another baby in the house is a bit surreal actually! i'm really looking forward to not being pregnant though! i can't wait to be able to bend, walk normally, (and i know people may laugh at this) but to getting my energy back too. i would really like 4, but the thought of being pregnant again with 3 is a bit daunting.

Have gap of 4.5 yrs between dd1 and dd2 and then 2 yrs between dd2 and dd3. Have found the combination of baby, toddler and school run (home for lunch every day where I am) really hard. Plus the whole homework thing with a toddler and a baby difficult. End up putting DD3 to bed first and then dd2 so can sort h/w with dd1 (7yrs). So DD1 goes to bed far too late really. But.. always wanted three children and can see that in not too distant future itwill get easier (dd1 can listen to dd3 read!!) but just right now I seem to be on the go 24/7.
Well you did ask!!

I've been avoiding this thread like the plague but curiosity got the better of me tonight. I thought it would be all about how hard it is so I'm really pleased I've had a look and found out I was wrong.

DS1 is due a week after DD1 and DD2s 4th and 2nd birthdays and I have to say I am strangely relaxed about the whole thing (despite suffering a pretty nasty bout of depression atm). I spent most of my pregnancy with DD2 wondering how I'll cope, now I know the answer is 'you just do'.

3 just feels 'right' to me and I think I have come to realise that whatever you are going through at one point it is pretty fleeting and that overall, the whole experience of children is just about the most fulfilling (and knackering) thing you can do.

Just wanted to say thanks to all who have posted with their experience. Not going to check back again as it's probably all going to turn to 'arghhhh worse choice I ever made'

one child is easy. two is a little busier..three is well...CRAZY.