With the excitement of this week’s royal birth in full swing, it had us thinking about how much Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge’s life is about to change! Whether you currently only have two and are considering baby number three or are pregnant with your third, our friend Leonora Bamford, Editor of Mybaba.com, tells us all about having a third baby and shares her top tips for making it easier for everyone.

I can’t count how many people told me not to go for a third child! As my older two grew and got more and more independent, friends told me I’d be mad to even think about it. They all said the same thing, ‘Why would you want to go back to nappies and sleepless nights?’ I had a 7-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter and life was suddenly so easy. We could jump in the car without thinking about it, go on holiday and stay out later for dinner and things just seemed to work, we were a great family unit.  But I always felt there was just one little person missing, as we all piled into bed on the weekends to watch cartoons, I could imagine another little one sandwiched in the middle.

@mybabainsta

My husband and I talked about the massive jump from two to three babies for what seemed like years and finally decided that it was now or never. Our other two were really pushing for a sibling and one night I sat next to a friend who didn’t tell me how mad I was. He said that his parents had waited and had another baby years later. He said that he couldn’t in a million year imagine life without his brother and that the world was a better place with him in it. Well, that was reason enough for me!

@mybabainsta

Number three has just turned one and I wish I hadn’t listened to a single person telling me how hard it is with three children and how crazy I was to even think of it. After having two children early into our marriage and very young, to wait and then have a little miracle seven years later is just that, an absolute miracle. He has brought us nothing but joy and even with the sleepless nights, reflux, allergies and all those nappies, it is the greatest joy in the world. It’s also so much easier than I thought it would be. I found this time I have been much more relaxed and at ease. Things that worried me the first time around, I now wouldn’t give a second thought and I look back at the suitcase sized nappy bag I used to lug around with me and smile as these days I pop a micro sized little pouch with essentials in my handbag. My older children are my helpers and after 12 short months, can’t remember life without him.  He is so much a part of our family and we all feel blessed. We’re now complete.

If anyone tries to put you off having a third, try not to listen to all the negatives. It’s just true what they say, ‘If only you could have your last one first!’.

@mybabainsta

 
@mybabainsta

TOP TIPS FOR MAKING BABY NUMBER THREE AND EASIER TRANSITION:
Make your other children feel part of the journey. Courtney Adamo who has five children, wrote a brilliant book called Nine Months that you can read as your bump grows and it answers many questions for all curious little people.
I took my children to a scan late on in the pregnancy and told them that it was going to be a boy. I knew my daughter was going to be furious but the scanning lady told her how lucky she was, and that she was still the only princess in the family. This absolutely did the trick and my daughter left feeling on top of the world and my son, who was desperate for a little brother, was thrilled.
Accept help, whether it is from friends, family or outside.  You can’t do everything, but with a bit of support you have time for all the important bits. I was still determined to take my older two to school and pick them up. It’s not easy in the early days with demanding feeding schedules but with a bit of help you can do anything.
Routine is key for me. I know I thrive on it and I think children do too.
Try not to coo over the new baby in front of your others. Plenty of visitors will be doing this and it’s natural for them to be jealous. When I introduced them for the first time, I popped two little teddies in his Moses basket as a present from the baby to his siblings and they treasure them.
Remember the first three months are the hardest and then suddenly things seem to fall in to place.
Last but not least, don’t forget your husband!
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