3+ mamas, need some advice please

Summer20

After a year of back and forth, we are now starting to seriously consider trying for #3.  Every logical reason points to stopping at two, but I just don't feel like our family is complete yet.  Anyway, most of the concerns (time, money, sleepless nights, etc) are either short-lived or we can make work.  My biggest worry is just how I will take care of three little ones all at once. 

For example, at bed time DH and I each put a kid to bed - what do you do with kid #3?  Especially if he/she is still pretty young.  At nap time I currently let DD watch a TV show while I put DS down because I know she'll stay put.  Do I do that at bedtime too?  I hate to use TV all the time, but if she's not good and distracted then she's busting into the baby's room and waking him up... And what about when DH isn't here and it's just me?  At lunch time I barely get to eat between all the cutting of food, picking up dropped things, refilling drinks, etc.  How do you manage it with another?

I know this isn't rocket science and I would figure stuff out, but I'd love to hear from some experienced 3+ mamas.  What is your daily routine like?  How do you do naps/bed with three kids?  What things work best for you?

Thanks!

{sorry for XP on two boards, I haven't been on the bump in forever and I wasn't sure which boards are really active anymore}

MammaBear81

I've done things "on my own" for quite a while due to DH's schedule, so I never had issues with "what do do with the other one", I just learned to deal with both of them at the same time, for things that I could.  Bed time for example, we do together,  The older ones get undressed while I undress the baby, bathe everyone, the older ones get dressed while I dress the baby.  They take turns brushing teeth, then we read a story (when the baby was little I'd usually put him/her in the bouncy seat or hold them, and then off to bed.  Lunch time I'd make everyone's lunch, let the older ones feed themselves and feed the baby and myself.

I think it depends on how independant your kids are.  DD2 (is 2 1/2 now) but she can undress herself, feed herself, and get dressed with very little assistance.  

Maybe a simpler way of putting it is that you will just be doing 2 under 2 again (and you obviously made it though that just fine) and you are adding an older, more independent child. GL

BananaPancake

I stick bay in bed first, and she sits and watches while everyone else gets ready, and then the big girls get in bed and I turn off the lights. :-) They adjust. My general belief is that part of being part of a larger family is teaching them how to wait their turn and adapt to being part of a family. The big girls do a lot to help, too! Each one has been a little easier than the last, because I have helpers. We're welcoming twins on Friday and couldn't be more excited to be adding two at once!