Transition from 2 to 3

[hayleyvt]

So,
We are pregnant with #3 and I have no idea what to expect. The transition from 1 to 2 was very difficult for me, and I feel like after living through the colicy sleepless nights of our second, that I will be prepared for #3, but then again DH and I will be outnumbered, and I love sleep so much, it is like gold, and I feel like that will be the biggest challenge; caring for two older kids while I am so tired I can't even get off the couch. hmmm, do you think that the transition from 2 to 3 will be easier than the transition from 1 to 2?....I hope so.

[jillmamma]

:

Wondering the same thing myself...

How old are your current two? Mine are 6.5 and almost 4 and will be 7 and 4.5 when the new baby comes. My biggest concern is working with a baby and nap and feeding times around shuttling my older ones to preschool and after school stuff. Oh well, at least life won't be boring, right?

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

My girls were 4 1/2 and 22 months when I had #3. I had a terrible time transitioning to two children, and was really worried about going from two to three. It was actually extremely smooth - it's like adding a second taught me how to divide my attention between kids, so adding a third was a piece of cake.

Now that we just added #5, I still say going from one to two was my toughest adjustment. All of the others were easy!

[lindberg99]

Mine were 6 and 4 when #3 was born and it was not hard at all. Going from 1 to 2 was much worse, of course my oldest was not quite 2 then and #2 was a preemie and was in the hospital for 5.5 weeks.

So I'm sure at least for the second poster whose children will be 7 and 4.5, it will not be nearly as difficult as you think. I could see it being harder if you other children were 3 and 18 months or something though.

[geo_girl]

Originally Posted by lindberg99

I could see it being harder if you other children were 3 and 18 months or something though.

Hilarious in an "UH-OH" kind of way...

DD is going to be 3.5 and DS is going to be 17 months when the new one arrives!

should be fun!

cheers,
charlene

[gothnurse3]

I agree that 1 to 2 was MUCH harder than 2 to 3.

My DH and I were just "so in the groove" that it was no big deal. DD #1 was 35 months, and DD #2 was 13 months. We pushed a twin size bed right up to the king size bed and co-slept the whole family. 3 in diapers.... wow. We lived to tell too!!!

[angelcollector1]

Please don't take this the wrong way.. It's not meant to be nasty in any way, it's more a snickering comment---- did this question or thought cross your mind before you made #3?
I have 2 so I can't say if it's easier or not. I'm sorry.. I don't mean to offend... I'm hoping this lightens your concerns. You'll do great!!

[LionTigerBear]

For us, it was SO HARD!!!!! My two-year-old really still needed to be my baby. Both of my boys are high-needs, and of course the baby was, too. Oh-- and sleep? Yeah, I don't get much anymore. So for us-- it was so hard. So hard that I think it was a mistake not to put more space between kids. Oh well! We're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel-- finally!

[LionTigerBear]

Originally Posted by angelcollector1

Please don't take this the wrong way.. It's not meant to be nasty in any way, it's more a snickering comment---- did this question or thought cross your mind before you made #3?
I have 2 so I can't say if it's easier or not. I'm sorry.. I don't mean to offend... I'm hoping this lightens your concerns. You'll do great!!

Sorry, snickering is mean. WTH. :

[Dukey25]

For me it has been pretty smooth but I credit that mostly to the baby not me. I have lucked out with the happiest easy going baby who my other two adore. If I had Baby #1 as Baby # 3 I might have a different report. Overall I think it really is the luck of the draw but somehow it will all work out in the end. There is something special about #3, you don't have the total lifestyle change that happens with #1 or the guilt which often follows #2 and you appreciate how fast those baby days really are.

[hayleyvt]

My kids will be 7.5 and 4 when the new baby arrives. My first was a very easy going baby, although he still did not sleep through the night until he was a toddler, he was a go with the the flow kind of guy....my second, is my little diva, very vivacious and always keeps us on our toes, and I think my transition is going to have a lot to do with the personality of this peanut. I just POAS and it was positive this morning. It was a surprise, though we were planning to have a third...it just happened a little quicker than we expected....as we were not going to officially start trying for a couple of months. I am already feeling much less anxiety from reading your posts. I know that this is not going to be easy, but I am happy to hear that most of you had an easier time adjusting to #3.

[Just1More]

One to two was AWFUL. Two to three I hardly noticed.

By the way, I think the snickering poster was snickering in a good friend kind of way. You know, it was a funny joke. Like hehehe....a little late, dontcha think? or some other funny sarcastic comment you might say to a buddy. I dunno...I think I must have the same sort of humor. It's not nasty, it was just, a little chuckle.

Anyway, OP, you'll be fine. I think the adage is that first babies are needy, seconds are demanding, and thirds are easy.

[Peony]

Most days I forget I have a 3rd child. Not really, but that is what it feels like! 2 to 3 has been a breeze, DD1 was 6, DD2 was 2.5y, and DS is now 3 months. 1 to 2 was really hard, but when you add the 3rd you really have no choice but to continue life. DS is also an easy baby which certainly helps!

[elisheva]

Originally Posted by geo_girl

Hilarious in an "UH-OH" kind of way...

DD is going to be 3.5 and DS is going to be 17 months when the new one arrives!

should be fun!

cheers,
charlene

subbing

yeah..uh oh. ds1 will be 35 months (read: one month shy of 3) and ds2 will be 14 months approx when #3 arrives...

[flapjack]

The transition from 1 to 2 is the reason why most people stop at 2. Really. Anecdotally, you have a tough time with either adding the second, or adding the third. Jillmama, I had a similar age gap with my first three- DS1 turned 7 two days before DD was born, and DS2 was 5 and a bit. It was an absolute doddle. We had the routine set up around school runs, DD just fell into this and was sweet and yummy and adorable.

Angelcollector :