Help! Having a 3Rd Child Under the Age of 3!!

I only have given birth to the 2 kids, 13 months apart, but for about 3 years I was raising 8 kids, my 2, my ex's 2 from previous, & my sister's 4. Their ages when my daughter was born: Tia newborn, Cody 6 mos, Brody 13 mos, Jasmine 18 mos, Lizzie 3, Patty 4, Tyler 4, & Sassy 8. talk about chaotic! lol. I'm not gonna lie & say it was ever easy but it was still worth it. the easiest thing about it all was that once you go from 2 to 3 kids, it all gets easier in a way. everything you do, you learn to do in an assembly line style. *hug* if you ever want to vent, scream, laugh, whatever, just give me a shout, my YIM is almost always on (eaglesmaiden3) and am willing to talk if you want.

I have no expert advice, beleive it or not the second child is much harder to adjust to than the third, but all families and kids are different, my children oldest to youngest are 3 year and 3 months apart with one in the middle, so not as close as yours but still close enough, lol. REally though it's going to be fine, you'll figure it out, they make strollers for three, and a good chest carrier or sling so you can wear the baby would be very helpful to you, but it won't be any different than how things are, you'll just do everything one more time, you change one diaper jsut make it three, get one drink, make it three ect and so one, it comes together rather quickly. and even at 2 they can be a big help, let them get things for you and help out, it really will be fine. good luck.

While not as close together as yours, my kids are all young too. My daughter was almost 2 when our son was born, and he was almost 15 months when the second boy came along. It's tough, but just take it one day at a time. (Currently we have a girl who's nearly 7, a boy who's nearly 5, a 3 1/2 year old boy, and a 9 month old girl.)

Like some of the other moms said, there are days I want to run away, but in the end someone crawls up in your lap & tells you you're "the bestest Mommy I ever had," and it's all worth it.

My kids fight all the time...and play together all the time...it's chaotic, but at the same time it's a blessing. They're all close.

Honestly the addition of a third wasn't as traumatic as I thought it would be. They all seem to entertain each other and now that we have baby #4, they all take turns entertaining her.

You can do this.

At the risk of sounding cliche, God won't give you more than you can handle. The first year or two will be exhausting (I can only imagine), but it will get progressively easier after that.

Five years from now (when all three can buckle their own seatbelts, feed themselves, tie their own shoes, and play together while you read a magazine) you'll look back and know that it was all worth it. And think of all the love and hugs you'll get in the meantime!!

Hang in there! Good luck to you!

My oldest was 5 when I got two more, 12 months apart. Mine are adopted.
Somehow you just do it...My husband was not around at all when the kids were little. I remember some mornings when I would go out to warm up the car, I was sorely tempted to just drive away and leave the kids behind! I never did though, and my kids are all teenagers now.
The great thing is that they will all be close emotionally and be able to support one another as they get older. I had a friend with 10 kids, all under 17 and she home schooled them all!
Have faith in yourself, you must be a great mom for God to trust you with three of His special spirits.
It sounds as though you get to stay at home full time, but you might want to set up some sort of child care so you can get away from the children just a little bit. Maybe you could work part time somewhere, even if the money only paid for your expenses to work; it helps to have something other than mothering to do in order to not lose perspective. Perhaps you could get your sitter to stay a few extra hours so you could just rest!

I am having my 3rd child and they will all be 3 and under. We PLANNED to have them this close and wouldn't change it for the world. When people see me out with my 2 boys people make stupid comments. "Did you PLAN that?" "You must be busy." "Are you out of your mind?"
People who complain about accidentally getting pregnant add fuel to these peoples fire. You know how this happened and it could have been prevented, so why complain about it. Mothers that complain about their children being so close together make the families, like mine, who plan it look ridiculous.
My husband worked swing shift for 2 years before he joined the Navy. There were PLENTY of days that I was tired, but I 'm the mother and I made the choice to have them. Be thankful you have children, as you know, some people can't or have a hard time AND that you have a great husband.
Good luck!
It is nice everyonce in a while to hear those comments like, "I admire your patience...." and NICE, unsarcastic things like that.

Hi Amy,
First of all, ditto on Jennifer S.'s response. She's got it covered in a nutshell. I have 4 and also no family nearby. I also work full time which can be quite crazy but actually helps with MY sanity :) The hardest for me was from 2 to 3 only because they were only 19 months apart. But it was really only those first 6 months then life got easier. You get more sleep by then, the baby eats more on a regular schedule like the rest of the family, and he/she's big enough to be 'durable' as in holding their head up, being entertained by toys (and siblings!) and rewards you with all the smiles and giggles.
You are being so wonderfully blessed and I know you know that! Trust yourself and your abilities and embrace your now 'big' family. Truly when you move to 3 or more you get to see so many new interactions and as a family you really depend on each other and help each other.....even amongst the children and even when they are as little as 2 years old. It is the most amazing and rewarding thing ever to watch all their personalities develop and especially their relationships with each other. Hang in there during the pregnancy and those first few months (through the winter, I know). You'll emerge next spring with your crew and you won't be able to imagine life without your new baby.
Best wishes and please do call on us here on Mamasource because we weren't made to try to do this alone!
Take care,
L.

Bless your heart! Really!! I have five altogether and only the last two are close in age being 13 months apart. My 4th was a high need child. He was 5 mos. old when we moved to Ohio. We were 3 hours from dh's family and 14 hours from mine. I had one friend close friend and she lived over an hour away in Dublin. My son Jack was still crying all of the time. Mark was going to TDY after TDY. We were here less than a month when I found that I was pregnant. At first I wanted to die. My support system was gone. My hubby was gone. My sleep was gone. My sanity was gone. It took me a minute to get on board the baby train this time. God is faithful. I prayed for this little girl. Firstly that she was a girl because I wanted my son to feel like he was still in a special position. Second that she had an easier disposition and was healthy. I got the sweetest child out of it. I do not know how to exsist in a world that doesn't have a Lila Rose. This is but a short span in a long life and it will be hard, but like I said, God is faithful. You can do this, Amy! You were made and born to do this! You were gifted this baby for a reason and even though you may not know what it is right now (at the time I was lookin' at God goin, "Oh, so you've got jokes, huh?")there will come a moment when you are holding this little one and you will realize that all is right with the world and he or she is exatly where they were meant to be. You were meant to be that child's mommy and that baby was meant to be your child. It will not be seamless, but it will be wonderful in the end.

Good luck and God bless you with a healthy pregnany and a happy, healthy child.

Amy,

It might be of little conselation right now, but having 3 children that close together will be nice in a couple of years. Although mine are not quite that close, I have 3 daughters that are 22 and 18 months apart. Now, they are 11 , 9 and 7 years old. I am also a single parent. They might fight like sisters, but they are also each other's best friend.

I am sure you will find ways to have your older children 'help out', ie getting diapers, throwing away diapers, fetching washclothes, etc. and they will feel included.

Congratulations & Good luck!
S.