3 kids under 2.5

Posted: Wed, Aug 08 2012, 9:26 pm Post subject: 3 kids under 2.5

Gulp. Chizuk please?

Gold Member Joined: Nov 16 2010 Posts: 1438

All I can think of to say is that right now it may seem impossible but iyh when they are older it will be so beautiful to have children so close in age.

Silver Member Joined: Feb 14 2010 Posts: 600

In my experience, as long as the older two still took naps during the day it was manageable.
Beshaa Tova

Posted: Wed, Aug 08 2012, 10:18 pm Post subject: re: 3 kids under 2.5

Good luck! I hope they are good kids and are calm. It will probably be hard but it passes!
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Gold Member Joined: Apr 19 2012 Posts: 1580

B'sha'ah tovah & I hope you get household help so that you will be able to manage & not get too stressed & overwhelmed b/c 3 kids under 2.5 can DEF be overwhelming.

I wish you hatzlacha managing.

Gold Member Joined: Aug 19 2011 Posts: 1977

One step at a time. You can do it. I had 3 under 3 twice so almost...doesn't seem hard in retrospect but I also don't remember much (good thing I have pictures!). A friend had 5 under 3 (2 sets of twins) Shocked

Everything is relative. Do you babywear? I highly recommend a moby-style wrap for the first 3-4 months. DD was constantly in the wrap. When I next had 3 under 3, I didn't wear ds as much (exhaustion, had extra hands to hold the baby for 6 weeks while I tended to everyone else) and I think he didn't get nursed as often as he would have had I been wearing him. Sad

Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

I had 3 in less than 3.5 & ppl kept telling me it's just a stage, I couldn't believe them at the time but it's true, & that's what I tell others (& myself regularly)

Posted: Thu, Aug 09 2012, 4:42 am Post subject: re: 3 kids under 2.5

I had three kids under age 3.

The best thing you can do is to buy a good stroller for everyone. I have a Valco trimode with an extra seat. Being able to go out is the best feeling. I hated wearing the baby in a sling while pushing a double stroller... sooo shleppy.

What else? Try to have everyone doing the same thing at the same time... while the big ones are eating, put the baby in her highchair. When the big ones are taking a bath, bring the baby's seat into the bathroom and let her watch. If you have a good stroller, you can take a sleeping baby to the park and let the big ones run around and play.

IMO, it's better for your own sanity that you follow parenting methods that emphasize independence and self-sufficiency. For your own sake, don't carry the new baby around with you everywhere.. let her get used to sleeping in a basinette.. unless maybe you love babywearing, but for me, I found it more difficult than it was worth and also, I wanted my baby to be able to go without MY care for an hour or two... if he could sleep in his own bed and take a bottle of pumped milk from my DH, then I could have an hour or two of freedom, otherwise, you are stuck stuck stuck and IMO, it's awful.

Same thing with feedings, don't feel bad about waking up the baby to feed her (because it's been X hours since she last ate and now you have time to feed her and give her attention and maybe in half an hour you won't). Encourage the older two to play together. If you see me at the park, I am *NOT* the mom that follows her kids around and says 'let's go on the slide, let's climb up here, let's go up the ladder'... I sit back and let them play with other kids and with one another... I am not their entertainment director.

Also, if two people need your attention, help the bigger one first. A crying baby can wait an extra 30 seconds while you tie up the toddler's shoes, but when a toddler repeatedly hears that you can't help him because you're taking care of the baby, he will feel slighted and may grow to resent the baby... or he may start acting up to re-capture your attention.. yikes!
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Silver Member Joined: Jul 15 2011 Posts: 989

Try and look at each day as a new day. I remember some days thinking, this isnt so hard- I can do this. And others thinking, ahhhhhhh! Help!!! But when those come just try your best, and start the next day as a fresh new day! Very Happy

Also when your baby gets more awake, have a schedule and try and put the kids on a similar schedule.

They should bring you a lot of nachas.

Posted: Thu, Aug 09 2012, 11:57 am Post subject: re: 3 kids under 2.5

OP Here - Thanks everyone for your chizuk and tips. any helpful advice is appreciated.. from getting through this pregnancy and managing afterwards... I'm not a super-capable person at all. But excited Very Happy

and so is my 21 month old.