Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Please, come and tell me the good things about having 3 children under 5!

28 replies

bitofasurprise · 05/05/2009 16:57

Just found out I am pg after a careless drunken night with DH on holiday . We already have DS 3.8 and DD 11m. We have always been fairly sure we would have a third but I loved the almost 3yr gap between DS and DD and would ideally have had a similar gap next time but this means DD and baby will be 19 months apart. So I am scared of the inevitable chaos of the first year and most of all a bit sad that I won't get the time to just me and DD that I had with DS before she came along (DS starting school in Jan so I would have had whole days with her until next baby arrived).

Please help me feel more positive before I break the news to DH - who will be happy but like me, a bit apprehensive I think!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sweetkitty · 05/05/2009 17:00

It's great chaos yet but good fun.

You have a gang and the way the older two adore their baby sister is lovely. Mine are 4 1/2, 3 and 9 months. There is 18 month between my first two and I love that gap, they are the best of friends now and into the same sort of things.

sarah293 · 05/05/2009 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

4andnotout · 05/05/2009 17:14

I have 4 who are 7,4,19m,6m and it is lovely, at one point all should be in the same school together, i always think that they will never be lonely ans always have someone in their corner.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

Original poster

bitofasurprise · 05/05/2009 17:14

aargh - the thought of 3 under 3 makes me shudder!! No wonder you lost weight!

OP posts:

pepperrabbit · 05/05/2009 17:19

They'll all enjoy CBeebies at the same time
Mine are 4, 3 & 6 months.
The two boys absolutely adore their little sister, they're never lonely and i get a little bit of time with each depending on whose awake/at pre school/ school/ my mum's at any given time.
Though i do drink a lot more wine than I used to.....

Original poster

bitofasurprise · 05/05/2009 17:24

drinking more wine than i do already probably wouldn't be a good plan

Do you think there is likely to be less jealousy from DD as she will be so young? I feel like she will be the one to miss out on attention between the demands of DS and baby...

OP posts:

4andnotout · 05/05/2009 17:34

My dd3 was 13m when dd4 arrived and she wasn't jealous at all, she loves kissing her and taking toys over to her and one of her plainest spoken words is "Tilly" (dd4)

ahundredtimes · 05/05/2009 17:35

Yes I think so, and also she's used to sharing you already. I can't think of anything good to say about it. Except one day you wake up and they are 11,9,7 and that's v. nice.

I always seemed to play to the mean age at any time. It's nicely chaotic. It's hard work. That passes. You have a ready made playgroup. They all play in different ways with each other. It's an adventure! The lack of gap means that you aren't doing long division with one while trying to breastfeed. The ages shrink and expand at different points. When it's time to do a New Thing everyone is pretty much ready for that walking holiday/ swimming pool or whatever and it's less of a juggle in that way.

It's good fun.

2HotCrossBunsAnd1InTheOven · 05/05/2009 17:37

Interesting question. I am pg with DC3 (DD1!) and DS1 will be 4.2 and DS2 2.3 when she arrives at the end of July. The 22 month gap between the 2 DSs has worked well - it's hard work in the short term but the 2 boys are now "best brothers" to quote DS1 and love each other dearly so long term benefit!

Originally I would have gone for a 3 yr gap this time but it happened sooner than anticipated and whilst I am dreading the demands of 3 so young I'm hoping that I will get out the other side quicker! Fingers crossed they will occupy each other more happily than with a larger gap... and it's too late now anyway !

stuffitlllama · 05/05/2009 17:42

erm ..

three under four here (way back when)

erm..

you are very fortunate and will have lots of fun ..there's drudgery but my goodness you will feel blessed

FabulousBakerGirl · 05/05/2009 17:44

I had 3 under five.

FabulousBakerGirl · 05/05/2009 17:45

DS1 was 4.3 and DD was 22 months when DS2 was born. DS1 loved him and DD was too young to really care.

They are 8.1, 5.9 and 3.10 now and they have their moments. Good and bad.

lockets · 05/05/2009 17:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

pepperrabbit · 05/05/2009 18:43

Tho as triple bathtime looms in the pepper household, the attraction wanes....

sweetkitty · 05/05/2009 19:44

Waves to lockets

Forgot about the weight thing I am now a stone and a half lighter pre DC and a size 8

It can't be that bad we keep thinking about no4

Original poster

bitofasurprise · 05/05/2009 20:24

well the weight thing is promising at least, one of my concerns is that I have only just (after stoppping bf) started my campaign to lose 1st to get back to pre-pg weight and fitness....that will obviously have to be abandoned

also dreading the thought of dinner/bath/bed with 3 - I usually have to do it by myself, 2 is manageable but 3?!

More please, I still need cheering up!

OP posts:

Original poster

bitofasurprise · 05/05/2009 21:35

Anyone? There must be more parents of 3 little ones who think it is great? [hopeful emoticon]

OP posts:

bosch · 05/05/2009 21:45

I have 3 ds's aged 7, 5 and 2. It's fun having three fairly close together and they are great friends. Yes it's hard work too, but you just have to do what planning ahead you can. They love sharing a bath, and tonight as dh is away they had books together and then all in bed for 8.

Ds 1 is neurotic (my pfb, he could smell my fear at being a first time mum!). Ds3 is having a bit of a terrible 2's phase but is generally v laid back so it's not too bad. Ds2 is always the best behaved so I don't think he's missed out on one to one time with me!

Can't vouch for 3 young ones helping to keep your weight down unfortunately .

Good luck and have fun.

psychomum5 · 05/05/2009 21:47

there are 8yrs between all my five, and at one point I had four under five, three of those under 3.4yrs.

t'was fun and hell, and noisy, and messy, and joyful, very giggly, very hard, very easy.

I have to say, now I have two teenagers, I would go back to the three under three in a heartbeat!!

congratualtions. you will find it hard, but my god it is fun and you will love it ((eventually))

whyme2 · 05/05/2009 21:51

Well, I often feel a great sense of achievment at the end of the day when they are all in bed or when we've had a really nice day in the park or whatever.
I have 4, DD1 is 5.5, dd2 is 4, s is 2.5 and DD3 is 8 months.
I think you are allowed to look a little rough around the edges as I often do on the school run.
It is easier having a baby when you haven't got older children to get to school and they are all entertained by the same thing ie cbeebies.
Oh and they all fit in the bath at the same time too.
The dinner/bath/bed thing still baffles me though.

Loopymumsy · 05/05/2009 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

bitofasurprise · 06/05/2009 22:31

Thanks for the encouragement everyone, I am still scared but now feeling more positive, even a bit ummm...excited! Now all I have to do is convince DH to feel the same, can't wait to tell him when he gets back from abroad on Saturday - his face is going to be a picture !

OP posts:

Lizzylou · 06/05/2009 22:35

DS1 and DS2 were 24mths apart almost exactly, they are the best of friends.

My friend had 3 under 3yrs and they are lovely, so close and no jealousy. I never wanted more than 2, but seeing my friend's DC makes me question that everytime I see them.

liahgen · 06/05/2009 22:37

yummy story and bed time.

ds (5 yrs)
dd (4 yrs)
dd (2 yrs)

When they are all sitting looking at me expectantly in bed, and giggling at my stupid excellent impressions of the characters.

Oh yes, and all the other aspects of parenting littlies.

Fennel · 06/05/2009 22:39

We had 3 in 4 years. I like it, more as they get a bit bigger, it was hard at first. But I have similar pluses to some of the other posters - it's lovely to see them all playing together so constantly, they are very compatible in their interests, being close in age. So it's easy to find activities which suit them all. You can go on holiday without worrying whether there will be other children for them to play with (which is nice, but not essential). They watch the same tv programmes. Go to bed around the same time.

They look out for each other at school too, fight each other's corner.

Flip

1 2