3 under 3!?

[mamamason]

just found out im pregnant again, completely accidentally!

I have a 6 month old and a 2 year old and we didn't plan on having any more kids. Dates would make it 3 under 3!

Any words of wisdom or advice? Panicking right now as we're not in a position to have a third?

I hope you'll have some family help ! Dh and his ex had 3 under 3, and his Mil practically lived there for a couple of years. Good luck !

No advice but I knew a 4 under 4 (twins) and it worked fine. Good luck!

Same boat op and I’m due in a few weeks. Don’t worry it won’t be too bad at all once you are happy to drop some cleaning standards a while and be flexible with everything. I was a nanny for three under three more than once in the past so can speak from experience. All will be fine!!! Plus by the time baby comes, your other pair will be a bit older too and slightly more independent than right now at this moment.
depending on the gender of the baby you might find you don’t need to buy much too which is great, and you may find a baby carrier invaluable for walks if your other two are still in the double buggy. Failing that you might get away with a buggy board for the older child when new baby comes, depending on how much of a runner off they are!

I had 3 under 3 - no multiples- by choice. And I had no family support. No. 3’s first year was exhausting. I barely remember it, to be honest. And she didn’t get any birth presents. I think people were a bit bored of my babies.

Once the exhaustion was over, I went for no. 4.

A friend of my dd’s was also one of 4 - and at one point there were 4 under 18 months. Two sets of twins. I can’t begin to imagine how their mum ever left the house.

I can't believe your family didn't help. Why wouldn't they? @Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies

They couldn’t. My in-laws were old and a very long way away. My parents were fairly young, and only 3-4 hours away - but my dsis was in and out of hospital (often in ITU), and she was, correctly, their priority. In any case, DH and I made the choice to have children quickly, and they were our responsibility.

We live in an age where you don’t have to have the 3rd if you don’t want to have the 3rd.

This is me 👋🏼

We don't have any family support as in-laws live abroad and my father is poorly/mum not alive but we are happy and manage.

Both boys go to nursery and then when I'm on maternity leave, our middle will drop to 2 days and I'll have the two youngest on those days 😊

Go with your heart.

thanks for all your words of wisdom!

we definitely want the 3rd, just having an internal panic about how we're going to afford it and how it will all work!

Exactly

I had 3 under 2yr3m and it worked out fine :). Is the oldest one on pre school? That plus baby in a sling so you can have time with your middle one really helped me.

@anicecuppateaa my eldest is in preschool 2 days a week but by April will be full time so that will definitely help. We have a double for the boys at the moment and the eldest will be fine in a buggy board by the time baby comes as he'll be nearly 3

Congratulations!

I'm 8 weeks pregnant with my third and I currently have a 2 year old and an 8 month old so I'm in a similar situation to you. We got pregnant by choice as we want three and we want the age gap to be similar.

My in laws live abroad and my parents don't do loads, despite only living half an hour away and both being retired but that's just how it is and we are managing. People do it, like some PPS have said, people go on to have 4 under 4 🤪

Good luck!

If it’s something you want OP I’m sure you’ll make it work 😊

Do sort out bomb proof contraception for afterwards though.

Congratulations OP. My motto is you always make it work somehow.

It’ll be hard at times, I’m sure, but how very special for your children to have siblings so close in age. They’re very lucky. x