going from 2-3 kids - easy/ hard??
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15366
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Topic: going from 2-3 kids - easy/ hard??
Posted By: BaAsKa
Subject: going from 2-3 kids - easy/ hard??
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 2:47pm
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We have firmly decided that we will be trying for baby #3 in august and although im totally excited!! im also curious of how it is going to be going from 2 to 3 kids...
so please share your experiences  especially those with a 2 yr gap
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Replies:
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 2:59pm
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Hmmm, I don't know about going from 2-3, but going from 1-3 was a bugger of a learning curve! And I am terrified about going from 3-4!
But yay about TTC soon! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: my4beauties
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 3:13pm
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Well I have to say, that it's definitely been a lot harder going from 2-3, than from 1-2. They say it's easier, but I'm finding it a lot harder. Extra person to feed, clothe, bath, take out of the house. I wouldn't be without Jett at all and say GO for it with TCC #3, but be prepared for it to be A LOT busier, even with a 2 yr age gap. ------------- My babies: R (9),G (7), J (5) http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 3:33pm
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One thing I have found now that the gremlins are older is that my grocery bill has doubled. They are eating the equiv of an adult meal between them at every meal, and where I used to be able to buy say a 6 pack of raisins for Maya and it would last a week, now we get thru 3 a week. And a small pack of mince would do us for dinner and some left over for Willie's lunch, now we get thru a big pack in one meal with no leftovers. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: kasbee
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 3:35pm
I'm with Emma on this one, nevermind going from 2-3 we just go the whole hog and go 1-3 lol. 
Emma you will be fine with going from 3-4, if you can go from 1-3 then 3-4 should be easier (fingers crossed)  .------------- Kelly, mother to 4 wonderful children. http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 3:41pm
i hear ya on this point already! because Astin already eats almost the same ammount as we do!!!  and i kid you not!! - for eg lunch is - 2 jars of food, a half of sandwich, a banana and a few crackers or a biscuit!! and a drink!! 
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Maya wrote:Posted By: nicolaann
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 3:47pm
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Oh I want to know this too! We haven't decided yet on if or when we will TTC for #3. Some days I think it will be easy, and others I think I must be mad to even consider it! I love the 2 yr age gap between Alex and Sophie, so if we decide to try for #3 it will probably be this time next year. ------------- Nicky, Mum to Alex (5) & Sophie (3) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 3:57pm
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i'll let you know soon...at the moment tho it is easy - but then i have just come home and hubby is here. gabriel is at the moment sitting on the couch next to Eden talking to her...telling her his name and pointing out her cloth nappy and telling her all sorts and it is making my heart melt. oh i just heard him say look at my big feet.... so sweet...
I'm sure later on tho when she is screaming it wont be the same... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: my4beauties
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 4:52pm
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I think the age gap will make a big difference. I think that if I hadn't fallen pg with Jett when I did, I would've wait till early this year to have gotten pg, leaving the age gap bigger. I think having 2 yrs is nice on paper, but I find 2 yr olds more work than the newborn! If the age gap was 3 yrs I think that would've made it easier. Now that Gia is toilet trained too, has made the grocery bill go down a tad. ------------- My babies: R (9),G (7), J (5) http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 5:27pm
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My dad often said that the first was the hardest, then the second was easy (that was me ), but the third was a real shock in terms of doing stuff as a family etc, because all of a sudden when they each carried one kid/baby that left the third one on the loose getting into mischeif. He also reckoned that numbers 4-6 didn't make much difference, as things had already changed with the third.
In saying that though, my elder sister was (is) a spoiled, tanty-throwing nightmare, and discipline was never a strong suit of my mothers. So I can't imagine it would have been much fun with her roaming on her own without #3 and I to keep her in check. My siblings and I are all 2-3 years apart. I was 2 (just) and my sister was almost 5 when #3 was born. From my point of view, having grown up in a family of 6 kids, I'd like to have 3-4, but I'd say it very much depends on the kids you have too. I was 4.25 years when number #4 was born, and apparently I coped really well as a big sister and was pretty helpful. I think you sound like a great mum and you'll do a great job. I imagine its more a matter of learning different ways to manage things. And it can't have been that bad for my parents... they went on to have 3 more! Finally, I should point out that I don't actually have kids of my own yet, so feel free to ignore me entirely! |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 7:32pm
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I am going to go against the grain and say going from 2-3 wasn't that bad - considering I had such a huge age gap you would think it would of been a shock to the system - but except for all the things you expect like gettting up in the night, dirty nappies etc... Its been fine and Rhyley just fitted into our family.
We also went from 2 full time wages to one - that was a little to get use to but we just made sure al our debt (except for mortgage) was paid off before I went on maternity leave. Now that I am back part time that money is just spare. ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: 3boys
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 9:32pm
I have found 2-3 a real shock also, but more in terms of getting out of the house - we just don't seem to be able to do as much anymore, and it is harder to farm them out  but I wouldn't change it for the world. I am lucky in that I only had two under five for six months, and I really love being able to spend the time with Cohen while the others are at school, but they do miss out on one on one time with us. I think three under five must be tough and I salute those who do it.
The only other issue is that everything is too small, our house, our car our backyard our salaries
My biggest problem is that I really feel that I have another baby waiting for me - when I think into the future I just see four kids - but in practicality I can't see how we could do it - so those going from 3-4 please keep us unformed so I can have hope! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 11:05pm
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I found 2-3 the easiest change by far! I told others I felt like I was "gaining momentum" I had some good routines by then and some support systems in place, and that sure helped. ------------- |
Posted By: nicolaann
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 9:52am
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That's very encouraging to hear busymum and AnnC!!! I think the hardest thing for me would be getting out and doing things. I find that hard enough with 2 kids..... I can't imagine what I would do with 3. But I guess you get used to it. I feel like I have another baby waiting for me one day too! It's just DH who's not so sure about it!! ------------- Nicky, Mum to Alex (5) & Sophie (3) http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 10:44am
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I found going from 1 to 2 children harder than going from 2 to 3. With 1, you've figured out how much they can fit around you and how much you have to fit around them, and then you get on with life. With 2, everything changes... what #2 needs affects what #1 gets and vice versa... once you get that figured out life continues.
Going from 2 to 3, you already know how to work things around other children because you've already done it, so that transition of making sure everyone's needs are met is much shorter. I'm imagining going from 3 to 4 will be similar, but ask me again in 3 months! ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 8:30pm
aawww Deb Gabriel sounds so sweet with his sis!! i hope i have a girl next 
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Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 8:35pm
That was my logic when we planned our second - 3ish years was the done thing for me because Bay was toilet trained, sleeping through, independant, not in a pram etc etc and we thought he was just a gem at 2 so we went ahead and then all of a sudden he was 3 and turned into a little punk!!!  he is still in this stage and apparently i was like that at that age so now i am jumping at the 2 yr gap and not the 3.....Bailey has by far been the hardest to handle out of my 2 (after Astin was born of course! he was the easiest before Astin came along)
IM loving hearing everyones experiences so please keep em comming
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 8:39pm
Well I think your insane 
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 8:48pm
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Going to 4 would scare me - in the fact that they would be close together. Also there are other factors to consider as in is your house big enough? car? and yes finances does come into it... some of those reasons are the reason why I am not goign to have a number 4 (and my hubby was the one who really wanted another - is he mad?? ) ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 11:10pm
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ok so I totally missed a heap your pregs Emma WOW your guna be busy congrats, man i really need to be taking more notice in here haha
I dont think I'll be jumping into the number 3 baby unless its another whoopsy i struggled enough going from 1 - 2 I foudn boo turned into a tiny terror when James was born. but my nana did 4 under 4 and said it was the best she just kept gettign pregs so they all learnt how to help out and do things for mum. at least bailey will be old enough to help you out, astin will be prob just curious or ready to help (depending age gap) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 19 March 2008 at 7:10pm
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LOL yep, we slipped up and now I'm set to have 3 under 2 in a few months
I don't find getting out of the house too hard, I just had to develop systems that worked ie. using the twin trolley at the supermarket and Maya walks, carrying them in their capsules when they were smaller if it was only a short journey, and configuring the carseats in the car to make it easiest to get them all in and out. I am worried about getting out of the house with 4. Mostly it will only be 3 as Maya will be at school, but I think puku baby is going to have to live in the sling coz the gremlins still need to be strapped into the buggy, trolley etc. or else they run riot. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 19 March 2008 at 8:04pm
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i think thats what makes it a bit easier - having the older one off at either school or kindy.
i know for me i am planning to do most of my stuff when gabriel is at kindy in the morning so i only have to deal with 2 as opposed to 3. and i can see that i will have to be organised. I had already planned the seating arrangements in the car and plan on slinging this baby too. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 19 March 2008 at 8:08pm
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I have to rethink my carseats plan, when we had Cooper in the capsule the other day I discovered it was a lot more difficult to get the capsule in and out of the back row than I thought it would be. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 19 March 2008 at 9:20pm
I found out about slings just before Kryssi was born and getting one saved my bacon! I had the older two in the stroller and baby Kryssi in the sling, which is heaps easier to get in/out of than a front pack anyway. ------------- |