Is it selfish to squeeze 5/6 kids into a 3 bed semi????

[QueenofMean]

Title says it all. We have 4 and want (well I do anyway) more. With me not working we just about manage mortgage and bills etc without killing ourselves so no real hope of moving anywhere bigger and I do love this house anyway.

Would having 5/ 6 kids be madness in this type of house? Anyone done this or is everyone with large families living in mansions of being housed by the council?

We have a very large garden if thats any compensation!

Our grandparents often lived liked this, my nan had 4 children in one bedroom, 2 bunk beds,

We have 3 children in 1 room (well will do once the baby leaves our room).

As long as your children are happy, healthy, well looked after, and you can fit the beds in then so what?

I'd say it was fine. Be prepared for mayhem at night though when they are all chatting

Suppose it depends on the size of the house/bedrooms and the sex of the children. Once had a neighbour with 4 children (2of each) who eventually had to convert the garage into an additional bedoom. Another big problem was only having 1 loo, so she had to have another put in.

It is more the living space as bedrooms are just somewhere to sleep if there are other play areas.

Three of my oldest dcs have moved out now,but at one time we had the 3 boys in one room and 3 girls in another,in fact when they were really small they often all went in together by choice,no real probs.

ahh yes -we could possibly extend to the side and into the loft but the way things are at the minute it would be way down the line when they are all in school.

And yes, would love a brand new 4 bed home! Sadly as we're on average income we can afford an average house lol!!!

Would love a big family though

Also if you are scraping by as it is, then how can you afford more children?

ooh thanks for the positve stories!! We have 2 reception rooms and a kitchen diner plus a conservatory which we use as a playroom/ den. Also have a large garden.......

It's by no means a large house but bedroom spave was my main concern. We have 3 girls and a baby boy at the moment and I have eldest girl in single room and 2 middle girls in 2nd bedroom, baby in with us.

I was going to put baby in with 2 girls as the room is much bigger and eventually move 3 girls together and put DS in the single room.

Could fit 2 sets of bunks in one room and 1 set in another so if I could have another boy and another girl then that would be perfect lol!!!!! The have 4 girls in one room and 2 boys in the other but these things rarely go the way we want......

primark - I dont really find subsequent children as being that much more expensive tbh! We are doing a bit better than scraping by and mange a UK holiday once a year and can (usually) pay all the bills with enough money left for a few treats here and there.

We have a big enough car already and my DH job is secure. We have no loans or debt other than the mortgage either.

I didn't think having number 3 would cost us anymore but he did!

There is nothing wrong with children sharing a room. Kids never used to all have their own room, anyway.

I feel an 'in my day' speech coming on...

in what way NAB??

I question your sanity but don't think it is selfish by any means! DH had 3 younger sisters and they all grew up in a 3 bed semi - 3 girls in the second bedroom and DH in the box room.

There's plenty, nappies alone, plus once ours were weaned we realised how much our food bill increased, it more than doubled from what it was before we had children. Also clothes, hand me downs are okay but surely noone has a child that only wears hand me downs?

He cost us a bit in nappies as I bought new washable ones but I have sold quite a few and got some money back.

New things bought just for him -

cot bedding
some clothes
shoes
coats
booster seat for dinner table
bottles and cups after I stopped BFing
food - he likes his dinner!
Some toys.
Redecorating of his room.
Bath sponge.

nope my mum grew up in a 3 bed end terrace and there was 6 of them aged 16, 14, 12 (3 girls all shared) 8 (boy) and twins who shared with the 8 year old when old enough (had to jiggle it as 3rd bedroom was a box room.) but all fine - and they're all very close as well - of course it did help that at 21 my mum (the eldest) moved out and got married but ho hum! still 5 after that.

QofM we have 4 and are currently living in a 3 bed terrace (3 boys all share and one girl in own room) we have sold our house and are moving to a bigger house but its still a 3 bed semi this time though and with a big garden

....but we have just found out no5 is on its way so i'll let you know how we cope!

our plans are to extend new house in a couple of years though, and we had decided on this before we knew i was pg

I wouldn't say it is selfsih, but what about when they get older?

We live in a 3 bed semi, and have four children, and it is a squeeze and they do get on each other's nerves a lot in the winter. I have two double rooms, and one box room. ATM the 2yo twins have the box room, and the older two g/b share the double room. Eventually they will swap and the three boys will be in the double and dd in the box room.

We have enough fighting now, I couldn't imagine trying to squeeze in another one! It's also difficult for me to give them individual time.

I really don't buy the another child isn't more expensive neither. I thought that, but then had twins. As your family increases, you have to think about bigger car, more entrance fees when you want to go anywhere, holiday cost goes up, clothing bills (they won't want hand me downs forever), food bills, out of school activities. My petrol and food bills are astronomical with 4 I know I couldn't afford another one! I've sometimes said that maybe if I won the lottery, I would, but I don't think it would be very fair to have any more atm.

Re op
I grew up in a three bedroom semi. I was one of eight children. The four boys slept in one bedroom. The four girls slept in another.

There were things that I didn't like about being one of eight children but the bedrooms were FANTASTIC !
I loved going to bed. We used to chat and play and giggle - the very, very best time of the day. Loved it loved it.

( during the day we were mostly shut in the garden)

i agree chopster it is harder financially, you can't seem to do 'normal' things we always end up having to get x2 family tickets for entrances on days out etc

maybe we'll qualify for a group entery after this one!!

ooh congrats sparkles.....would love to hear how you get on and what the bedroom allocations will be!!!

I use reuseable nappies so no nappy bill....will also assume on bf until weaning time so no formula bill.

Food bill I accept will go up - with 3 children eating proper food already I'm quite good with a limited food budget so thats not a problem.

Clothes - well we do have hand me downs but also buy new stuff as and when needed. I always buy new shoes though....

all in all not a huge increase imo but anyway am sure we can afford more children was just more concerned about the space and whether it was fair or not.

or entry even

for me space isn't an issue really as well they just fit where they fit, my only concern is the time i will have individually with them which will once again be tight pushed

thats what i feel guilty about, will i have enough time with each of them, i'm sure i will i do now so will make the time - i just worry!