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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Is 3 children under 3 1/2 too many?

50 replies

tulip27 · 26/05/2007 10:20

Have just discovered I am pregnant with thrird child, it unplanned and I have dd who is one and ds who is 21/2. Is it possible to stay sane with son many small children?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

CarGirl · 26/05/2007 10:58

My youngest three are withing 3years2months it was in hard someways but really good in other ways. The baby just slotted in and now 18 months on it's much much easier, I'm really glad we did it.

scorpio1 · 26/05/2007 10:59

i had pnd after both my boys. at one GP appointment the doc said to ring the college and ask to speak to the course co-ordinator for the childcare BTECs/diplomas, he knew they were looking for placement.

i spoke to her and said that if any of the students needed a childcare placement, i had one going spare!i had a student the following week.

my local college requires the students to do a home placement as well as a work placement to see the varying environments.maybe yours will too?she was very good and i reported back to the college weekly on her progress.

juuule · 26/05/2007 11:00

I had 3 in 2 and half years. It was great fun. Very busy time but I loved it. Had a 5yo, too.
Couldn't have been too bad as a couple of years later I had 3 in 3years.
I didn't have any help, other than dh taking charge when I needed to catch up on sleep a bit.
Not sure I stayed sane. But then I'm not sure I started off sane in the first place
Try not to panic. Take it as it comes and things will fall into place. It is possible to give them the attention they need.

Original poster

tulip27 · 26/05/2007 11:02

Nemo you are who I aspire to be! You make it all sound so easy. What are your top tips?

OP posts:

Original poster

tulip27 · 26/05/2007 11:03

How do you cope if you have been up all night with a tiny baby and then you have two toddlers wanting you to jump around with them during the day?

OP posts:

Nemo2007 · 26/05/2007 11:04

Tulip you obviously want this baby and it really doesnt have to 'ruin' your dhs life. While there is a little extra work[hell you are already bound with 2] the rewards are sooooo much more.Have a look on my profile at some of the pictures of my kids, see how happy they are and I would never change that for the world. I pretty much cope singlehanded with my children[thats another story] but they adore each other soo much and get so much from each other..even the baby that I would never put anyone off having them so close. When I was pg I did gedt some funny comments due to DD1 only being 4mths when I found out I was pg and DD2 was planned!! However now they are here people stop me to comment on how lovely they all are,what a credit they are etc.

Nemo2007 · 26/05/2007 11:06

Top tips...ermmm...use mn a lot!!!
Seriously though when the baby has been up of a night[which is realtively short term for most people unless you have my children] then you just get out the next morning with them all to the park etc, tire them out, put youngest 2 down for a sleep and then stick tv on for oldest while you snooze.

Original poster

tulip27 · 26/05/2007 11:09

Nemo your pictures have just brought tears to my eyes ( I'm not mad I've just finished a twelve and half hour night shift) it just made me see how it could be.

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scorpio1 · 26/05/2007 11:11

i have had 3 under 3 at one point-i had ds2 when ds1 was 2 and 4 months, and dss was 2yrs and11 months.

it was ok, i was tired for a few weeks, but the baby slept through at 5 weeks which helped.i went to playgroups, cried at my mum and just went out and about a lot-better than staring at the walls. they all had a nap after lunch-i went to bed as well, or read my book.

now the 'baby' is 2 1/2, and its so easy! they all entertain each other, and daddy takes them out on weekends to the park!

scorpio1 · 26/05/2007 11:12

nemo - beautiful pictures

fillyjonk · 26/05/2007 11:13

yes i am very convinced that some method of transporting this tribe is a necessity

for me, after dd was born, i NEEDED to walk. I needed to get in the car and DRIVE and then WALK.

It made SUCH a difference

Nemo2007 · 26/05/2007 11:16

Ok your last post has just summed it up..you have just finished a 12 hr night shift despite having 2 under 2 1/2 and you are worrying about a third!!!! I could not have done that at all. Will you be giving up work to have the third? Also I take it your oldest will be starting school nursery/playgroup soon ish? I started Ds in playgroup 3 mornings a week the month before he was 3[I was 6mths pg by then] and it made a huge difference for him as he got to go and play, I had some 1-1 time with DD1 before DD2 arrived and now when DS is in playgroup the house actually seems tooo quiet! Ds starts school nurseryin sept for 5 mornings and I am already thinking how much I will miss him and how strange the house will be.
They dont miss out on anything because to be frank they are too young to miss out!!!
We dont have a lot of money at all[have posted on numerous occasions about our finances] however our children are more than provided for.

As for the not brushed hair etc, it happens to all of us most of the time..lol Regardless of if it is 1 or 3 or 6 being a mum means some other things get chucked to the wayside.

Nemo2007 · 26/05/2007 11:18

Fillyjonk I agree transport is everything, a car and a pram will definetly provide you with a ton of sanity. On that note time to pack up the herd for DS swimming lesson!!!

hatrick · 26/05/2007 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

tulip27 · 26/05/2007 12:05

Sorry had to go and pull a sickie for work tonight, realised was not going to sleep and needed this time without children( dh taken them to mil while i sleep)to think all of this through.

All you mummies with three are you sahm's. I ask only as i have been for three years just doing nights when little ones asleep and not aware but not sure my sanity would survive another 5 years!

OP posts:

Ceolas · 26/05/2007 12:09

I have 3 and am expecting a fourth soon. When the 3rd was bor, the eldest was 3y 4m. It was hard. I won't kid you on that. I didn't have a whole lot of help. But perfectly possible to stay sane

scorpio1 · 26/05/2007 12:10

i am a sahm/student.dp works full time. the children go to nursery and school when im at uni, when im not at uni ds2 stays with me.

quadrophenia · 26/05/2007 12:11

I had three of 15 months and under if that makes you feel any better. Advantages of them being small together is definately that they tend to slip into eachothers routines, also my eldest three now are very close and happy to share me, my youngest is quite posessive.

Original poster

tulip27 · 26/05/2007 12:12

ceolas you are a machine!!!! x

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quadrophenia · 26/05/2007 12:12

I worked when my first three were small, allbeit part time and around my partners shifts. I gave up work when dc number 4 was born, he starts school in september and I start work again next month.

Original poster

tulip27 · 26/05/2007 12:13

3 of fifteen months and under?!

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quadrophenia · 26/05/2007 12:14

I had twins and when they were 15 months i had my ds1

Original poster

tulip27 · 26/05/2007 12:14

How did you feel about giving up work?

OP posts:

quadrophenia · 26/05/2007 12:16

It just seemed the right thing to do at the time, i think i missed working for a bit, and financially it has been very tough. that said i would do the same again, we have hada wonderful four years, being at home to settle the others into school has been great. I'm going back to work reluctantly but I believe once I'm there it will be good for me.

quadrophenia · 26/05/2007 12:17

btw my twins were 3 when ds4 was born.

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