Was it hard adding a third child to your family?

Question

I am pregnant with my third child and I am always afraid that it's just going to get harder. ie: sharing attention between kids and husband, financially, clean up. etc. Some people tell me yes it will be extremely taxing on you but I have also heard from others that no once you get past two it doesn't matter how many more you add. So, my question is was it difficult adding baby number three into the family dynamic or was it no problem?

Answer 1

I have three children and I can tell you adding number 2 was way harder then number 3. My oldest two played together and that gave me time with the baby. I think you really learn to schedule and divde you time when the 2nd comes along, so when 3 comes it's alot easier.

Answer 2

I agree with Wendy S. having my second child was way harder than my third. I am already used to multi-tasking, and sleep deprivation. Nothing fazes me now.

Answer 3

Im a mom of 4.  My last pregnancy was unexpected - and was twins!  I was shocked and overwhelmed, as you can imagine.  I had finally accepted there would be a third child when I learned it would be two more (at the same time).  Now, I thank God for my large family.  

When you have one or two children life goes on.  You are still able to enjoy many of the things you always did, there are enough hands to go around and plenty of energy to manage crisis situations.  When you have 3 or more, it seriously becomes a balancing act.  You have to learn to tactics to keep em cool in public (bubble gum is my friend), you will be starred at for two reasons because some with think you must be superwoman or because some think you are an absolute nut case.  You will feel like both, but learn to smile through the prozac.  Me, I try like h**l to laugh most of it off.  

You will learn to be free.  You will see beyond the endless dishes and laundry and join the children more...because as your oldest gets older you will see  how little time there is to enjoy with them at home.  That is a lesson all us moms learn, eventually.  You will even find you have more free time as the children get older and entertain each other.  My three youngest are best friends.  

Having a crew at home has brought me back to my own childhood and its a blast!  When it comes to sharing attention with them it can be challenging but as you get to know your children you begin to see ways that you click with each one individually and uniquelly - and use that to share your time.  Like with my family...my daughter and I really love to dance while the other three (boys) think its wierd so I make a point of blasting the radio every now and then and dancing around with my girl while the boys hide in their rooms.  Or with my twins, they love helping me around the house (yay!), and naturally the oldest two wont...so when its time to do some chores I call them out and they love sorting the silverware or just taking a wet rag and wiping spots on the walls.  It is nice to have that time with them because its quiet and a great opportunity to introduce preschool skills when that just isnt possible (or quiet enough) with the oldest two around!

Good luck with your decision!

Answer 4

I'll admit, I found adding a third child changed the dynamic of my family.  If nothing else, my husband and I were outnumbered, lol!  I believe once you have three, you could have 4, 5, 25 kids, and it wouldn't make a difference.  

It was hard for me initially.  I don't know how old your other kids are - mine were very young when my third was born (one was 2 1/2, the other 13 months) - so mainly the logistics of having three toddlers was hard - chasing after them, dealing with different schedules, etc.

they're 7, 5 and 4 now, and I wouldn't change it for the world.  I love having three kids.  You'll make it work.  Good luck!!!!

Answer 5

I had 3 daughters in 4 years and it's true, adding the 2nd is more difficult at first than adding the third. By the time you have 3, it's just not that big a deal to add more. You already KNOW you can love more than 1 child, deal with the housework, the toting kids around, etc. It's not that much more difficult with 3.... or 4 or 5..... I've always taken care of children so I have had at least 2 to 5 kids with me for the last 37 years! You'll do just fine!

Answer 6

My third was definitely the easiest.  We had already established all our routines and sense of "family;" baby # 3 just fit in seamlessly.  Maybe we knew what we were doing by then.  Maybe it was because we were pretty sure she'd be our last and wanted to savor the experience.  Whatever the reason, it just felt natural and right.  By the time she was 5, we knew that three was the perfect size family for us, and we were ready to move out of the baby stage.

Answer 7

My 2nd and 3rd children came together (twins) - so it was a very hard adjustment, but in time it was no big deal.

Answer 8

I just had my 3rd child 3 weeks ago and i'm not really finding it hard now having 3 kids, i found it harder going from having 1 then having a 2nd, it does involve a bit more work having 3 and sometimes you feel like theres not enough hours in the day to get everything you need done but after a week or 2 you adjust and settle into a pattern and it becomes easier.

Good luck

Answer 9

for me it was a piece of cake but then my first were twins so when you start out with two, one more seems like nothing LOL. I don't know what it is even like to have one child...never experienced it. After having twins and going through everything times two, having my third seemed easy because it was like "oh gosh I only have ONE baby to feed and change, etc..."

I now have 4 boys and again I don't think adding the 4th made it harder...just different. The thing is once you have had two you are pretty experienced and into a good routine and more comfortable with everything and so it seems easier each time although it does make more general work, you are used to it.

for the record we are done having children and are content with 4.

Answer 10

I have to tell you I stopped at # 2.  Enough for us to handle!  

I am child # 3 of out five though and always have felt shafted in the attention department - even as a grown up.  Just make a conscious effort to give the third one your attention.  Good luck.

Answer 11

It was harder for me to get adjusted after the third child but I did I found that if everyone is on the same schedule it made it alot easier on me it is of course more cleaning and more laundry but it was all worth it I could not imagine not having her now