So now that I'm having a third dc...

[Fortress]

Does anyone have any advice?! :)

Do we really need a new car for instance? Will we never go abroad again...? Those are the kind of things I've heard....

Tia

I have 3 boys too - 6, 2.5 and 5 mths. They are all lovely, but altogether it is bloody hard work. I finished 'work' (I am SAHM) today at 10pm, only to be disturbed by DS2 waking up 5 mins later.

Yes you need a bigger car - we do too! DH has a big car but still only 5 seats, so we have the same trouble doing up DS1's booster seatbelt in the middle, and the older two bicker and squabble on long journeys.

We went abroad by ferry for a few days just recently and it was fine (apart from back seat bickering) - no harder than being at home, anyway.

You're right that the school run is very hard work, getting everyone out of the house on time. I do wear a very little makeup every day though, just to make myself feel better. Putting it on takes a lot less time than getting everyone in shoes, coats and hats and gloves etc.

We have a Phil and Teds pushchair which I could not manage without.

How old are your DC and when are you due?

School run, hard bit is getting everyone up and out for 8.15am! Luckily DH has been very helpful in the morning, esp earlier on when DS2 still be breastfed. Now he has a bottle easier as he generally feeds himself - alarm goes at 7am and somehow we manage to get out for 8.15am!

If we walk DS2 in buggy and DD (7)and DS1 (4.5) walk - its about 15 mins. If we drive then I have been using sling to save me taking buggy out of car. Put sling on before I leave house and then slot him in when I park.

BTW, 3 boys are great. I thought I wanted a girl the last time until DS3 arrived and turned out to be the loveliest little baby in the world (to me). He is just so sweet.

Only downside is other people saying 'three BOYS?!' as if this is somehow harder than all girls or mixed gender, and then asking if we are going to have another to 'try for a girl'. (Well we might have another in a couple of years... boy or girl)

Ah thanks for the congrats! :)
Still very early days, due mid August. Ds1 will be just 5 and ds2 will be 2.6 when this one arrives. Writing that down is scary!
Okay will work on dh getting us a bigger car... Can imagine they'll need space when they're bickering. Very wise!

Wow, similar age gap to my three - now 9, 7 and 4. I have three boys, they currently sleep in one of [http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.207-1400.aspxthese]. Ds1 is supposed to sleep on the top bunk but they always want to sleep in the double on the bottom. They look unbelievably cute, especially when ds3 sleeps across the bed (with his legs draped over whoever he is next to).

Three child seats were fine while ds3 was in a smaller rear facing seat but since they've all been in forward facing seats, and we have the most immense child seats we found that they fit our volvo estate with some difficulty and v few other estates when the volvo died. We got [http://www.care4car.com/productdisplay/categoryid/3/Car_Accessories.htmlthese seat belt extenders] which worked to some extent although not ideal/perfect.

Three boys is great! Although I do sometimes feel sorry for ds3 because the older two exclude him from the games he just can't join in on, mainly they both dote on him and want him to love them the best! It will be hard work for you when they are little but it's worth it. Ds3 goes to school in september and I'm already beginning to feel a bit sad that for the first time in 10 years (!) I won't have anyone to keep me (non-stop) company on my days off....

Congrats and good luck!

We took three abroad age 1,3 and 5 it was fine, not relaxing but fine.
The next year we did a Mark Warner thing with childcare, that was fab.

Not sure if anyone has said this (slightly skipped through thread but personally I found DC1 to DC2 a much bigger "leap" than DC2 to DC3-I also have 3 boys and LOVE IT! My eldest 2 (4 & 3) adore DS3 and having a gang of lads is fab although I do get the "awww were you trying for a girl?" and "3 boys-wow that must be hard work" comments (probably cos I look like crap always look busy)!

Cos of the ages of ours we did changes cars from an estate to a C-max for 3 "proper" seats in the back (wanted an s-max couldn't afford one!) but other than that the changes have been natural for the arrival of a new baby rather than "WOW 3" iyswim? DS3 is only 7 months so don't know if the logistics will change but I like the thought of being outnumbered by children and I love the noise & chatter of having a house-full (had a playdate after school and there was a lot of competitive burping......nice!)!

Congrats on the pg and enjoy! If it helps I do still have time to swipe a bit of eyeliner & mascara on in the mornings and sit on mumsnet for hours read the odd book still !

.....3 is the magic number ! TBH the only pita is when they are ill at the same time or worse consecutively-we are just coming to the end of a 3 week affliction of sick & flu viruses but at no point did I think "wish i didn't have 3" just meant had to stay in the house for longer! You get inventive........

have rambled....damned wine......in a nutshell 3 is fab and don't be scared !

I love having three. Agree with all the comments about getting out of the house etc. Utter chaos best describes it!

A bigger car/seven-seater is useful, especially when you start sharing the school run etc.

Only negatives? Hotel rooms are a pain - with a family of four it's easy to get a family room, or two doubles, but once they get beyond the age where they can "top and tail" three's a pain. And often "family" tickets to attractions only cover two kids. Oh, and they don't half create a lot of laundry!

But it's great, three is the perfect balance between a big family and a practical family.

I have four and still wear make up and go abroad.... personally i think 2 is saturation point and then it's all just mayhem anyway so you might as well embrace it

I love having 3 dc. Life is busy, active, tiring but incredibly fulfilling. dd1 is 5, ds is 3 and dd2 I'd 1 so still in buggy/sling, so I've not had to worry about nit having to hold onto more than two hands to cross the road, yet.
I try to be organised, try to keep things tidy, but it is hard; and I really wouldn't have it any other way smug

Hiya, I'm 17w preg with 3rd ds, due May.

Carwise, we have a Zafira which has a fold-up extra seat (or 2) in the back. There are other makes, just as good, and I've seen friends cram car seats into a normal 5-seater.
Walking to school - they can hold hands in a chain, surely?
Holidays - no idea - I started wondering about that and the idea of just not mentioning one in a hotel is hilarious (and so practical!)
Makeup is EASY - put loads on on Monday, then don't wash your face 'til Friday.

Like you Fortress I found the idea of a 3rd child daunting at first, but then we were diagnosed with a high risk preg for a chromosomal disorder, possibly a devastating one, and after two hellish weeks of praying for my 3rd beautiful son to make it through ok, he did and he's ok now. I'm so relieved and delighted to still have him that the rest looks manageable. Even hiding him in a hotel room

Good luck. At least it's not triplets (who I'm sure bring their own joys...)

So reassuring to read this thread. Currently 27 weeks with ds3 and have to admit to gettign quite peeved at people commenting on the three boys factor - someone who I met for the first time on Sunday point blank asked me if i was disapointed.

Looking forward to it and just need to be super duper organised I guess for school runs and things. All clothes out night before, packed lunches made night before etc.

As for make up, I have been slack with this since giving up work in Sept and noticed most of the other school mums dont bother either... I do feel good when I slap a bit of blush and mascara on though. I adopt an if there is time there is time attitude.

Thanks to all you ladies to sharing made me feel great going forward.

nope, i didn't find out the sex with any of them

I have 4DC however my middle two are twins so the leap from 3 to 4 didn't really faze me after having twin babies. I still go abroad, work full time and have a full face of make up on.

Car wise I have Volvo XC90 which is our family car but our other car is just a regualr 5 seater but it works fine for us.

Dont worry...just enjoy your children