Anyone BTDT with 3 under 3?

[Anonymous]

Currently have 2 young DDs (4m and 20m) and know that DH and I ultimately want a 3rd child. Anyone BTDT with 3 under 3? If so, what was your experience like? I’m currently a SAHM but would eventually like to get back to my career so I’m hoping to minimize the amount of time that I’m not working. My girls are both very easy going and great eaters/sleepers. But consistently sleep through the night (usually 7 to 7) and older DD is almost fully potty trained. If you were in my shoes, would you go for a 3rd sooner rather than later? Just looking for some insight on what other parents have gone through and what challenges I may want to consider. TIA!

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t wait too long - you don’t want two really close in age and third caboose years later because it can affect how close the kids are and make sibling rivalry worse.

[Anonymous]

No way for me. I feel like you don’t get to enjoy each child.

[Anonymous]

Sorry that should say “Both* sleep through the night.” Not “But”.

[Anonymous]

Give it a few months. You want to give your body more time to recover. After two close pregnancies, I wouldn't try until youngest is at least a year. Then the oldest will be 3 and that should be a bit easier. You can always get a nanny if you really want to get back to work sooner.

[Anonymous]

Hell no. I would not upset that amazing situation you have going on. My boys were both horrible sleepers.

[Anonymous]

Just a word of warning (sorry): my oldest has always been a great sleeper—started STTN by 8 weeks old and has never looked back (he’s now 5). My 2nd child was a great sleeper from newborn until 9 months old. She went through what I thought was typical sleep regression and I thought it would be over in a few weeks. She’s been a horrible sleeper ever since and she’s now 4 years old. She typically wakes us up 1-4 times per night for often unexplained reasons just screaming, crying, talking nonsense. We’ve tried everything including hardcore sleep training twice when she was a baby. She would cry/scream until she vomited.

I tell this horror story to let you know that when my kids were the same ages your kids are now, I too would’ve reported they were wonderful sleepers and I too considered having a 3rd. Ultimately we couldn’t have a 3rd right then due to other life circumstances but now knowing about the sleep issues we’d be going through w our 2nd and generally just both kids getting more difficult as toddlers-preschoolers than they were as babies, I’m relieved we didn’t go for that 3rd child after all. I would’ve been spread way too thin and completely exhausted w 3.

[Anonymous]

Everyone I know with 3 has warned us that the third is seriously next level. Just make sure you are aware of what you are getting into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t wait too long - you don’t want two really close in age and third caboose years later because it can affect how close the kids are and make sibling rivalry worse.

I'll come out and say that as thr "caboose" baby, it's not so bad (brother and sis are two years apart, I'm six years younger than sis). As adults, sis and I are actually the closest.

[Anonymous]

I have a 13 and 28 month old and found out yesterday I'm pregnant so I'll let you know

[Anonymous]

No.

Our first 2 are 18 months apart. I just had my third now, and my middle son is 4. It’s GREAT. The older 2 are helpful and play together. The baby is just along for the ride.

I’m so, so glad we waited.

[Anonymous]

I’m middle of 3 and we are all within 4 years of age (so 3 under 4) and it was great. Super close with sister and brother growing up (closer with different ones at different stages, brother is only 15 months younger and sister is 3 years older) and now super close as adults as we are all going through relatively the same stages of life together. I overlapped both in college for example, my brother and I got married the same year, and my sister and I had babies the same year. It’s fun, my parents survived, and then we basically entertained ourselves/each other from early elementary on!

[Anonymous]

I have 3 and you couldn't pay me to do 3 under 3 and mine are close! My oldest turned 5 right after I had my youngest. So I had a 5 year old, 3 year old and newborn. My first two are 19 months apart. It is pretty good now with a 6 year old, 4 year old and 15 month old. Baby is insane but the older two are pretty good at being self-reliant when needed and are potty trained and can get their own water/snacks. 3 under 3 is A LOT of work in the beginning. Probably fun later but still a lot of work trying to manage all 3 of their schedules/emotional needs/lives.

[Anonymous]

only you know. but as someone upthread said - you can't control sleep, you can't control how your third baby will be etc. etc.

[Anonymous]

I had a 39 month spread for three kids. Would not change a thing. YMMV.