How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

Now that DS#2 is 18 months old and is a full fledged toddler, I miss that baby phase. We have a few friends who have newborns and they are so precious! Plus I want to go for the girl. I'd be perfectly happy if we had a third boy. DS#1 says he wants a BIG family with 10 kids. 10 is too many but 3 may be manageable.

DH said he was DONE but he seems to be budging a little. Before it was straight no. Now it is maybe.

We are finally all getting good sleep, traveling again and have reached work life balance. Not sure if I should rock the boat by trying to have another baby.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

It will rock your world. But if you're both up for it then go for it. I kept telling myself that I never heard anyone say they regretted having too many, kwim? But many ppl said they wish they'd had another. That said it is really A LOT of work and A LOT of chaos. But I think the real reason why I am so overwhelmed is b/c #2 and #3 are only 20 mos apart. The close age difference is what is doing me in. My DD and my middle son are 3 1/2 years and that was so much smoother than this.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

I'm struggling with this same question - I always wanted 3 but, now I'm not really sure. I will say this, my friends with three are all scaring me - they all say if you are on the fence or uncertain don't do it! I don't think anyone ever "regrets" the third child but, I have heard people say they regret the new dynamic, etc. If you are a very hands-on, involved mom without much help something has to give... It's a hard decision I think - at least for me - when your not 100% sure!

Message edited 9/27/2012 2:02:05 PM.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

I am expecting #2 and hoping to go for 3 eventually. DH says he's happy with 2 but he sorta sounds like I might convince him otherwise.

I do have an aunt who has 3 and told me recently that if she had it to do over she would have stopped at 2. They had twin girls and a third girl a few years later. I was really shocked when she told me this. She didn't elaborate on why and I didn't want to pry. It does make me question having 3 a bit but I think deep down I will still want a 3rd regardless of what anyone says. I've always wanted a big family.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

My girls were 5 and 3.5 when their little brother was born. The transition to 3 was super, fantastic, amazing and wonderful...for the first year.

Now he's 23 months and I'm a full-fledged alcoholic who in my "spare" time shuttles varying amounts of children to and from school, soccer, dance, Girl Scouts, and science club with an uncooperative toddler in tow. How is this my life?!?!?

But...I think you should go for it. You want to, your DH is getting on board and your son wants more!

Me personally? I wouldn't have it any other way.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

We are on the fence as well. My girls right now are 25 months and 3 months. Dh has always wanted 4 and we settled on 3. Now that we have two I'm unsure if I want to shake everything up and have a third. Dh wants to start ttc in the spring. He also goes to work and I'm at home so it's easier for him to want a third. My friends who have three are also scaring me. One of my friends told me 2 is hard but 3 will put you over the edge! My other friends have 4 yr age gaps in between their boys and they find it hard to have older kids and a toddler to run after. I think I'm going to stay on the fence a little while longer!

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

Go for it.
#3 was a surprise for us and to quote someone from church this weekend: It's chaos, pure chaos, but it's a beautiful and brief chaos.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

I honestly haven't noticed much difference from going from 2 to 3 kids. My girls were 3 y/o and 4 y/o when DS was born. They were really independent by that age and were huge little helpers so it made the transition really easy.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

I can't speak for myself since I only have one right now but my mom has three and she always told me that going from one to two was the hardest adjustment but going from two to three was no big deal. She always felt the transition was easy. My brother is three yrs younger than me and my sister is three yrs younger than him so maybe the age gap helped when she added the third.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

I just had my third and I love it! My dd is 4.5 and ds is turning 3 next month. They go to preschool full day, so it's definitely manageable right now.

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

Everyone is going to respond differently based on their own personal experiences.

Some of it is luck- your kid's personalities and temperaments and how much help you have in addition to you and DH. I find those that come from larger families (3+) do fine when they have 3 children, they grew up in that environment and can usually adjust pretty well.

DH and I, knowing ourselves, are happy to stick with two kids. When DH's siblings come to visit (they all have 3 or more kids), I don't look at all of those kids running around and long for a larger family, I get a headache. But I came from a family with 2 kids

My boys are 2 and 4 and they are best friends. The only addition we are planning to our family is a dog in about 2 years, and I am stressed enough about that!

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?

Re: How hard is it to go from 2 to 3 kids?