3 is the new 2 under 2

Jodi&Joe

When I had Joey and Cam, there were SO many other women (on the Nest and IRL) that were also having 2 kids, close in age.  Seemed like the "thing" to do.

Lately, it seems 3 is the new 2.  Anyone else notice that?  On the Nest, quite a few are having 3.  And IRL, I have noticed that quite a few are having three as well. 

Interesting how these things seem to become a trend. 

 

AnnapolisLari

I suggested the same thing about 6 months ago and was given the smackdown pretty fast.

Jodi&Joe

LOL!  People are funny.

passar3588

I agree. I know 5 women just in my moms group who had/are having their 3rd child this summer/fall. I feel like everyone in my area has 3 kids.

monchichi

Hmmmm.  Well, I had 2 under 2.  Now I have 3.  I didn't do it because it was trendy--I did it because that was always our plan to start off like that.  My sister and I are 362 days apart and I always wanted that for my kids.  

That said, our real plan includes 4 kids and I hope to have #4 in 2 years or so (as soon as we can get out of our teeny, tiny, ridiculously overpriced house).  Maybe 4 will be the new trend by then

docmay25

That would be me.   I had the 2 under2 and am now pg with number 3.  But I waited because I definetely was not going to go thru the 2 under 2 again.  I love now that they are best friends and play together, but I #2's infant years are very foggy and went by too fast. 

Kapalua

I don't know if trend is the right word...but I do notice that larger families are more the norm lately.  SO many of N's peers are one of 3 or more.  I would assume the 2 under 2 thing is probably due to people waiting until they are older to start having kids. 

joy143dh

monchichi:

 I didn't do it because it was trendy--

I don't think Jodi meant that people are having 3 kids because it's trendy - just that it seems more common - becoming more of a trend - that people are having 3 kids.

And ITA - IRL, my 'older' friends (mid 30's/40's) all are set with 2 kids or are one-and-done.  My 'younger' friends (mid-20s/early 30s) are on their 2nd and going for their 3rd.

AggieCouple

I think it's just our age group, not so much a "trend" right?  Most people in our age group or who got married (and therefore, were on the nest if they're now on the bump) around the same time 6-9 years ago who plan on 3+ would be having their third around now.  I can tell you it's not trendy among my 24-year-old niece's friends or within my 45-year-old sister's circle.  

veloelle

AnnapolisLari:

I suggested the same thing about 6 months ago and was given the smackdown pretty fast.

Yup. I noticed it w/ the 2u2 and now 3, also got totally poo poo'd. Of course no one is every influenced by any outside source, only what you think in your head. That's why advertizing is worth billions of dollars a year, because we aren't influenced by anything outside of our nuclear family.

Jodi&Joe

It could be age related, of course.  But I think there are quite a few that 5-10 years ago, had two and stopped (and that seemed to be the trend then).  Seems like now it's the trend to have three.  And I'm guessing that trend will stick around for another 4-8 years and it will change again -- maybe back to 2, maybe to 4.

And Joy is right - I'm not saying anyone is having three because it's trendy. 

 

AnnapolisLari

I had 2u2 for 6 whole days. The only reason we had them that close was that my personal cutoff for kids was 40 and DD was born 3 months after my 40th birthday. DH was 48 when she was born.

Two little kids at this age has killed me. I am so glad that I didn't wait, even though another year between them would have been ideal.

superslug

Well I had 2 under 2, but I guess I'm bucking the trend because there is no way we're having 3! Although DS has been asking me for another baby, but only because he wants to see it pee on me...he's a sweet kid !

shopgirl78

I just missed 2u2 by a month but I do have three.

Prior to having kids, I didn't want 3...I wanted 2 or 4.  I hated there always being an odd man out growing up (generally, I was sometimes that odd man being the only girl) but my parents were great always letting my BFF come along with us everywhere.  She was like my sister; she was an only child. 

2 just didn't seem like enough and now 4 feels like too many.  I can hardly keep up sometimes!!

beanzer

I had 2 u 1, not twins. ?Talk about CRAZY!! ?Anyway, nope not going for #3.

Melett

I wish 3 would become a trend. I am having my third and final and so many people act like we are nuts! Some of my friends said they wish they had the guts tho or were brave enough. That's not it to me , 2 just didn't seem right to me..In my family everyone has more than 2 tho so I am sure that is why..

Jodi&Joe

beanzer:

I had 2 u 1, not twins.  Talk about CRAZY!!  Anyway, nope not going for #3.

I do think you are a little nutso! 

superslug - that's my point.  About 5 years ago, it seemed to be the trend to have 2u2.  And then stop.  (as you have done, as I have done, as Beanzer has done, AL has done, etc).  Around 2010, that seemed to have changed to having 3.

penguingrrl

Growing up many of the families I knew had 3 kids, so that has always seemed like the "right" number to me. We had 2u2 even though we were on the young side (was 26 and 28 when the girls were born) because my sister and I were 17 months apart and were always really close and are still very close.

Out of 10 kids in Julia's dance class this year there were 3 mom's pregnant at the end of the year, 2 with their third and 1 in her second pregnancy but it was twins, so I do think 3 kids is pretty common.

Bride2b2004

Yup, most people we know have 3.  I use to 3 was too many, but after having two, 3 didn't seem like as much as it did before and we didn't want the kids to have only one sibling... so #3 is otw.

superslug

Jodi&Joe:

beanzer:

I had 2 u 1, not twins.  Talk about CRAZY!!  Anyway, nope not going for #3.

I do think you are a little nutso! 

superslug - that's my point.  About 5 years ago, it seemed to be the trend to have 2u2.  And then stop.  (as you have done, as I have done, as Beanzer has done, AL has done, etc).  Around 2010, that seemed to have changed to having 3.

Ah ok I see what you're saying. I can say in my circle of friends there's a lot of 3's happening and it's usually 2 boys and then a girl and it used to make me soooo tempted to have another!

kickypants

Melett:

I wish 3 would become a trend. I am having my third and final and so many people act like we are nuts! Some of my friends said they wish they had the guts tho or were brave enough. That's not it to me , 2 just didn't seem right to me..In my family everyone has more than 2 tho so I am sure that is why..

 

This is us, too. Most of our friends/acquaintances think we're crazy. Having 3 kids is definitely not the norm where we live, and people around here are crunchy types who are concerned about overpopulation. I've actually been made to feel as if I'm irresponsible for having 3 kids. Most of our friends have 2, but a good number are 1 and done.

eclaires

Flameful: I always thought people who had 2u2 on purpose were BSC.

Even more flameful: Now that I have two, that are 4Y apart, I am convinced even more of said BSCiness.

LOL. 

(now I do understand people do it for reasons and I'm not really saying I judge it or think people shouldn't do it - just that it seems crazy to me and always has - probably b/c it is my personal nightmare)

I am not sure if we will have a 3rd.  We'll see.  If we do, it won't be until after Scarlett is 3.

ETA: the only reason y'all are noticing the trend is because you are all OLD.  None of my friends have 3.  Most only have 1.  ::dodges tomatoes::  I am not even 30 yet.  ::dodges more tomatoes::

monchichi

joy143dh:

monchichi:

 I didn't do it because it was trendy--

I don't think Jodi meant that people are having 3 kids because it's trendy - just that it seems more common - becoming more of a trend - that people are having 3 kids.

And ITA - IRL, my 'older' friends (mid 30's/40's) all are set with 2 kids or are one-and-done.  My 'younger' friends (mid-20s/early 30s) are on their 2nd and going for their 3rd.

Got it--I misunderstood.  We originally planned all of them closer together, but realized that it would be too crazy to have #3 on the heels of #2.  IMO, that's probably why you might notice people who have 2, then wait several years for #3.

2 under 2 wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but I realize now that the first 2 kids really got the shaft because I was so busy. 

superslug

eclaires:

Flameful: I always thought people who had 2u2 on purpose were BSC.

We didn't have them so close on purpose, but I am sooo glad we did! I thought the same way you did until it happened to me. I love having them so close together now. It was a little hard in the beginning, but now that they're older they are best friends and it makes my life so much easier! IDK, maybe I am BSC LOL!

ghm

I had 2 under 1...then 3 under 3. 2 under 1 wasn't hard for me, but man 3 under 3 kicked my ass. It's now so much easier and I'm SO glad to have the baby stage behind me. My kids almost always go to bed easily, they're pretty self-sufficient (everyone is potty trained and takes themselves to the bathroom, changes their own clothes, etc). I'm glad that I didn't space them out, though it would have been easier at times. I'm really liking the new stage of life that we're in. I really enjoy the older age. I DO love newborns and babies a lot, but I'm not a big toddler fan. I held my newborn nephew a few times in the last week and I haven't had the slightest newborn envy. It's great!

MrsCali_Bride

We didn't have much of a choice since we went for #2 and got 2 & 3 at the same time. We were more than likely going to have three kids eventually but we had planned to have #2 and then see where we were at in a few years.

jlw2505

I have a lot of friends that have or are having 3 kids - the difference is the space with all 3 is greater than with those that I know that have had 2 under 2 or at least the 3rd is more spread out.

shiloh17

We had 2u2, and then when #3 came along it was 3u4! Our kiddos were planned. 16mos between ds1&2. 26mos. between ds2&3. This house is nuts, but I wouldn't have it any other way. We preferred to do diapers, bottles, teething all back to back and be done. We didn't want to have a kid in school, be done w the sleepless nights and the baby stage, and have to start over. It's not for everyone, but it works for us. Also, dh is 7yrs older than me, so we didn't want to wait too long between kids.