Preparing for Third Child

It is not much harder than 2. Your older kids will looooove the baby and will help you a lot. Scheduling events, classes, school pick-up/drop-offs and your new baby's nap time will be tough, but doable. You just need strong time-management. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

Hey MP,

I am the mother of 4, ages 16,14, 3.5 and 21 months and a 15 yr old step daughter. It might seem hard at first, but you will get used to it in no time! I had 10 years inbetween my 14 and 3.5 yr old and I always had the older one help out, getting me a diaper when I was changing the baby or getting me the wipes. Now I have the 3.5 yr old help with the baby, or todder rather! It will take time, give your self a break and enjoy you kids! It will all flal into place.

Good Luck
M.

Don't worry...I've heard a lot of people say that having the third was the hardest but I do not agree...especially if your oldest is six. For me at least, the hardest one was the first because I was so clueless about what to do. After having two, number three was so much easier because I knew what to expect. I also had a 5 year old to be my extra set of hands...run to get a diaper or hold the baby for a minute if needed. You'll do fine!

im glad everything looks brighter for you. i hated being pregnant always sick and throwing up and feeling like a bloated hippo, but thats the only down side, lol. i have 3 girls, the youngest is 8 yrs younger to the oldest and 5 yrs apart from the middle child. the older ones took care of the younger ones as well as each other, some of it out of love but mostly to tattle tale on each other, lol.

now they are 27-24-and 19. they do get into each other nerves at times but i tell they are super close, just last night all three went to L.A. together to drop off the older one off, the youngest keeping the sister driver company and for her not to be alone. i think really the 2 younger ones wanted to get rid of the older one, hahaha!

Our first two are exactly three years apart as yours are and we decided to go for #3 and we ended-up having TWINS...wow, that was a surprise, we doubled the size of our family just like that....and yes, I/we vasilated back and forth about having just one more (#3) and ended-up with TWO more. So, be prepared for that incase it happens and good luck, you just deal with what life gives you and really, it isn't that difficult...I did have 3 in diapers at the same time as my 3 yr old at the time wasn't too quick to potty train. Go for it...we don't regret it a bit!!!!!

Dear MP,
Relax, you 6 and 3 year old will not be as demanding as a 2 year old would. I found the second child more difficult than the third. One trick I found that helped was to bath and care for the baby when the others were in school. If they are not (as in the summer) they can watch and hand you things. If they are girls they will be more excited about this. Also reading to the others as you nurse helps them not feel it is time taken away from them. If they are use to going to the park, make sure you take them and then sit and watch them while you hold or have the baby in a carriage. (I like to use a snuggly that held the baby on my front and I could even push swings with it. They will like to push the stroller and walking is good for getting back in shape too:) I am sure you will adjust quickly.
Congratulations on your third blessing!
H.

I have three kids all three years apart as well. They play well together but someone usually gets left out. That has only happened in the last year or so that it's been annoying (my youngest is six now). You will be outnumbered and busy but it's easier than when you went from one to two. Good luck and enjoy!

Hi MP,
congrats on baby #3! After 2 yrs. of trying to decide to have #3, we finally did and we are so happy we made that choice. I have a 9 yr and 5 & 1/2 yr old and #3 just turned 1 yr. I would have to say the hardest part is juggling nap time/feeding time with the older kids schedules.

My 1 yr old has had to adjust to naps in the car, feeding on the run and has done great. You just have to give up your idea of perfection and just go with the flow at times. You also just have to make sure you are spreading yourself evenly with all the kids. You really have to remember to spend time w/ the oldest child, and don't focus all your attention on just the baby, (easier to do by the time the baby is 1 yr and older.) The older kids will love to help out w/ the baby and will entertain the baby for you when need be.

overall, don't stress. this is more of a blessing than you know now, and your family will be all the better for it. I love being a mom of 3. Remember, things just have a way of working out, and you'll be great!

i had a 5 yr old and a 2 yr old (who were soon to be 6 and 3) when i had my third last year in february. and i will tell you that is was easier than i thought it would be. aside from some really annoying PPD, life was getting better and better, i was figuring out how to do the housework and it was easier with my oldest, he was made to be an oldest child! i love him so much!
now we are pregnant with our fourth due in july! talk about being clueless all over again! im praying for help and i know i will get it.
having more kids is so much fun as long as you can handle the amount you have! ive known women who had a blast with 9 kids, and some women who could barely handle 2.

just make sure you have the space and stay healthy. health = energy!!

good luck! i know you can do it!

Hi MP... It's like riding a bike.... 3 years isn't too far removed at all. You are NOT clueless.... Give yourself some credit. Pray, relax and press on. You are going to be great at raising 3 little people. My husband and I waited 6 years between our 1st and 2nd, then quickly had #3. I was nervous too but once you get your routine groove it's great.. It will be bumpy at times but I wouldn't change a thing. Many blessings!

3 kids is crazy. Fun and crazy. Hopefully the 2 older kids can be helpful. No more 4 door sedan, it's time for the minivan or SUV. It will be an adjustment-just like when you had your 1st and 2nd kid. I frequently feel overwhelmed....but, step back and enjoy your babies!

Well,I can't walk form experience since I only have one... but one of my friends has 5 kids and she said that the second one is the hardest to adjust to, and everything after that comes easily! I guess once you're used to multi-tasking, it doesn't matter whether you have 2 or 3, or 5! LOL
Good Luck!!!

Everything was fine until I was about 5 months pregnant with my 3rd; I just had a melt-down.
My saving grace, every day, is www. flylady.net. It's free and it's amazing. No gimmicks, just excllent guidance.

good luck

Congratulations! It'll be great! I noticed that you've spaced your kids about 3 years apart. In many ways, that's optimal spacing. The fun thing about your two kids' ages is that they'll be able to enjoy the baby, too. You might want to take inventory of your home and your schedule and see what adjustments you might need to make to integrate a third child. Where will the baby sleep? What activities are your kids involved in that might need to be curtailed for awhile? Do your kids, even your three year old, have chores that can help you when the new baby arrives? The good thing about pregnancy is that you have time to think these things through and talk to your husband about them, too. If your feeling particularly terrible in your first trimester, these things can wait. Just take care of yourself for now! God bless you!

http://www.mamasource.com/article/pros-or-cons-to-having-...

check out this link from Mamasource dated June 2007.

My husband and I have discussed that we are done with two. But a small piece of me still think about a possible 3rd. :) It's hard, because there are things we want to do, travel again like we did before we had kids, save up for our two kids college etc....me finishing up my Masters, going back to work to bring in more income etc.

So with a 3rd, we're not sure how long until we can start doing this...I'm not old, but in my mind, a 3rd child means delaying more time....I can honestly say, that if I had the financial ability, I would have a 3rd child in a heartbeat.

I know this sounds bad - & all about us and finance only etc. But for me...to be good parents to our kids, we have to be happy with ourselves. And if we feel stressed or unhappy that some of our dreams are being sacrificed to raise a 3rd child. It could be a bad decision. Doesn't mean that we won't love our 3rd. But not good for a new baby coming into a home filled with stress. I know people say, "do all that later".. to travel in old age, when we retire...pursue dreams later on etc. But that's just not who we are (no point winning the lottery when you're 85). Every family is different, with different goals...and only they know the magic number to making their family happy & healthy (be it 2 or 3 kids).

Therefore, I think that just by you (& your husband) wanting another baby & trying for one..has already mentally prepared you both to raise this new baby in a happy loving home. It's great that you and your husband really wanted and was trying for this child. Really, you ARE prepared...as much as you don't think you are. I just hope that if we ever end up pregnant with a 3rd, we'll be like you guys...purposefully & mentally prepared for one...

Much congratulations.

I'm a mom of a 6 and 3 year old and 6 month old. We were done with 2, but God decided otherwise and blessed us with our 3rd girl. I didn't enjoy the pregnancy mostly because it wasn't planned, but now that she is here, she is such a joy to our family. We love having 3. God always knows best. It has been much easier than i anticipated. Once you do 2, the 3rd is no big deal. They just tag along and fit into the life you are already living. You will kick right into baby mode, it's like riding your bike. Mine is very easy going and most moms say their 3rd was easy going, really they just don't have time to complain or ask for anything :) Hope yours is easy too. God's blessing to you.

Dear M P,
I just had my third child 3 months ago the other two are 8 and 6. It is an adjustment at first, you feel like you don't have enough hands, but after a while you get used to it. The third child is not as pampered as the first one might have been with lots of mommy alone time, but he is a very happy and easygoing baby and the same is true for my friend's baby - same situation.
It will be hard for the 3 year old to adjust at first, but if you let him/her be a helper, and make sure, you give both older siblings special attention every day, it should work out fine in the end. I read a lot of books about getting another sister or brother with my kids and then I could tell them "remember how the older brother said, that it is time for his babybrother to be small and get all the attention? He was small at some point too and now he is big and a good helper!" We also looked at their baby pictures together and I told them about funny things they used to do as babies.
Hope that helps! Enjoy your children!