How hard is it to have 3 kids close in age?

Here I am 38, 23 weeks pregnant with baby boy #2 and I would still like to ttc a girl. I was really hoping that this baby was going to be a girl but he's not and that's fine but I still want to ttc a daughter. Other than my age scaring me a bit I am also trying to figure out how the heck you get around with 3 kids? I have my own business but it's hard enough working with 1 and #2 isn't here yet. I obviously don't have too much time to figure out what to do. I hate this age pressure that I have. It's my own fault because my husband and I waited to get married for so long and work was a big priority for me. I could kick myself now!

Years ago, my BIL said that he loves his 3 kids, however, it was much easier with 2 and he suggested to stick with 2 kids if possible. This stuck with me for years. Obviously he knows the real deal.

I was hoping you could share your experiences and opinions on the situation.

Thanks,

Jill 

Well, I can't speak for three yet, but I can tell you that if you have your own business two is definitely easier than one.  This is because they can play with each other and keep occupied.  When you just have one, you're the entertainment!  I imagine you get interrupted a lot!

I just babysat my 1 1/2 year old niece yesterday with my two boys (2 and 5).  They definitely all played together nicely and kept busy.  The only problem I saw was that instead of one cup of juice, you now have to get three, etc.  The kids were constantly coming up to me at different intervals asking for something.  If you could come up with some type of routine (i.e., snack time, etc.) they'll know they need to wait until a certain time to ask for things, which will give you the mommy time you need to work.

Well, we have 4 and the youngest was born just after my 41st birthday. I would say that it was really hard going from 1 to 2 but 2 to 3 and then 3 to 4 have really seemed a breeze! I think it is because life is so chaotic anyway that one more little being actually makes no difference - they just slot in!! What does you BIL's wife say??? I would get the woman's perspective. Also, don't forget, all kids are different. Some are hard, some are easy - there are no rules. I don't think your BIL should be advising you on the number of children you have based on his own personal experience - every family is unique. Age wise, it could take you a little longer to conceive but 38 is certainly not old these days!! Do you work from home? How about working part time and getting some childcare come to you. You may find that you can do more work anyway if it is uninterrupted. Good luck, go for it!! Little niggling question - have you asked yourself what you would do if number 3 was a boy too??

 It's a lot to think about but the age pressure makes my head spin. 

Grateful - Yes, I know it's possible that I could have another boy. I won't lie and say that at first I had some serious GD when I found out that I am carrying a boy but as time passed I am thrilled that my 2 1/2 year old will have a brother to be best friends with and everytime I have an ultrasound or feel the baby kick I melt. As you can see my GD is gone and I do believe in what is meant to be will be. I figure it doesn't hurt to try to chase your dream, however, I just don't know if I can balance everything. Plus, I'll have to wait to TTC until I am 39 so that scares me too.

 

I guess I'll have to wait until baby #2 arrives to see if I can handle things. I just don't want to regret not TTC #3. 

 

 

I only have 2 real close in age and the rest are 4 years apart give or take a few months...

 

I never thought going from 1 to 2 was anything going from 2 to 3 was challenging in the fact that I only have 2 hands to hold on to them with... I really have never found adding another child to the mix that difficult. Now the 2 close in age were a bit challenging, but fun and they do entertain each other fairly well! Even now they are 6 and 7 and they are best friends (sometimes they fight like worst enemiesLOL) but it is an amazing relationship to watch develope...I am sure you will do fine.. Good luck with with baby number 2..

Its better in my opinion if htey are closer in age. dss is 7 and ds is 3 and they do play together but they are into completely different things, so if they have someone closer to their age i think its better!!!

Hi Jill...I have three boys who are very close in age. My oldest and my middle one are only 14months apart and our last and the middle one are 20months apart. None of them were planned they just kind of happened. Had i been planning on having them they deff would not have been so close in age. However that being said i love the fact that they are so close in age now that they are a little older. It helps that they are all boys too. When they were little i thought that i was going to lose my mind. Now i am just greatful to have them and the way i look at it the more noise in my house the better ( sometimes lol). It just reminds me how very luck i am. I don't work outside of the home so i know this doesn't really help you any. But Good luck!

I'm 39, 40 this summer and I'm pregnant with number 3.   My first two are 22 months apart and yes, we meant to do that and we waited for a third because two close together was manageable (man on man defense my husband calls it) but three that close would have been tough~ for us, mostly DH.  Of course we thought that the third would be about 4 or 5 years from DD but..Mother Nature is a little funny sometimes and it was a hard road getting here so it's going to me more like 6 1/2 yrs.  If I had #3 at 38  there was room for discussion for a fourth, now, not so much, having babies over 40 worries me a bit.

We have friends that intended to have 4.  Two close together then a few years later two more close together.  Their third was a surprise, born 12 months after #2....so they're done.  It was alot for them having three under the age of 5. 

My step sister has 5 kids all within 2 years of each other...loves the chaos has never regretted a minute of it.  LOVES IT!

As for your age, I've done nothing but freak out about it for the last 2 years, and my last obgyn was not supportive, "well, you are over 35 blah, blah, blah..."  I've changed Docs and my new guy is great always reassuring me that I'm not old and that he and his wife had their last at 39...and that he'd rather take care of a pregnant, healthy 40 year old any day over a couch potato, junk food eating 20 year old.  Did I mention I LOVE my new Doc?

There was another thread that had a link to a website called www.havingthreekids.com   it's fantastic and worth a look.