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thread: Anyone else find 4 kids hard or is it just me?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    N.S.W
    1,197

    Unhappy Anyone else find 4 kids hard or is it just me?

    Title was meant to say Anyone not Everyone.

    I'm 4 weeks post Number 4 and I'm finding it hard. I thought 4 wouldn't be much harder than 3, what's 1 more, but im finding it heaps heaps harder than 3. I'm too scared to take 4 out by myself. DD3 has to have her needs attended to straight away, wont wait 2 minutes for a feed or she will scream til she turns blue in that 2 minutes. I'm spending a lot of time carrying her or putting her in the carrier and co-sleeping at night. She feeds every 2 hours then it can be up to a hour getting her wind up. It's wearing me out. We have had 3 kids sick for the last week, they all have had a vomiting bug and DD2 a ear infection, which probably doesn't help. DH goes back to work on the 1st July and I'm worried how I'm going to cope. Anyone else find 4 kids hard? How do you cope when it's you against 4? At the moment I've handed DD3 over to DH cause all I want to do is sit down and cry.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Feb 2005
    NSW/VIC Border
    734

    It will get easier hun, give yourself some time to get into a rhythm....

  3. #3
    Moderator

    Dec 2006
    Smidgen-ville
    3,736


    I admire you. I hope DD3 settles into a more manageable rhythm soon.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Add EsJay on Facebook

    Jan 2009
    Hunter Valley
    609

    Im finding 2 hard so i cant imagine how hard 4 is. I bow down!!
    Its harder when tgey r sick and add a demanding baby to the mix omg. Hugs i hope u find it better soon, no doubt it will get better soon.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    May 2005
    Canberra
    3,617


    Having four can be incredibly hard at times. And at other times it is the easiest thing in the world. Give it time, it is still all so new to you and your kids. hang in there.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Nov 2009
    Scottish expat living in Geelong
    5,572

    There are days when it is hard, and it is very early days for you. Also having 3 sick is not usual, they usually wait and have it one after the other in my house to give me a little breathing space! Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to go out or attend to your usual activities and accept help that is offered. 4 kids is an amazing, fun, busy and yes, sometimes very hard, household but as your baby grows you will find it gets easier.

    How is your MCHN, is she approachable? I would recommend you have a chat to her or your GP if you prefer about how you are feeling and see if she has any suggestions that could help you. If you are having a day here and there where you want to just cry that is normal, but if you are finding more days like that then not it could be possible you have some post natal depression and it's worth chatting to someone to deal with this sooner rather than later so they can help you feel better xx

  7. #7
    2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Aug 2010
    Over the hills and far away
    1,698

    I know not to the same extent, but I remember wondering how I was ever going to manage doing the day to day things or going out with just my one, let alone 4.

    Sent from HTC wildfire using TAPATALK, so forgive any spelling errors its a small keyboard.

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Add aussienic on Facebook

    Feb 2005
    Boyne Island
    6,327

    I found it pretty hard for the first few months to be honest. I was lucky enough to have DH home for 8 weeks after I had DD.

    She rarely slept at night. sleep 4-5 hour stretches during the day though..

    It did get better and even though I now have 3 in school I still find when all 4 home tiring and very loud.. I avoid shopping on my own if I have more then 1 child. But seeing the ages of your kidlets. Shop online or wait till your DH is home..

    But I do promise getting out and about with 4 does get easier. and I did it and I didn't have my license either until last year.

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    4 can be an absolute nightmare... & my kids are further apart than yours. So its alot easier for me.
    don't push yourself, it will get better xx

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    country victoria
    1,055

    Yes....although it has improved. My 4th son was a complete shock. Like u i though 3 to 4 wouldn't be much different but he had reflux was unsettled etc. I can say that around 12 weeks it improved a lot. Mh son is now 7 months and an absolute delight. Byte i still hate shopping with 4 kids there is just no room for the groceries so i do try to do that with only 2 when possible.
    Hope that helps and hasn't scared you.
    Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    Mornington Peninsula, Vic
    1,624

    Gosh, of course you are finding it hard....it is all so new. Definitely the online groceries are a must, I did that until DS2 was 4 months, it did take that stress away - and it is a big stress if you have to take all of them shopping. What else can you do to make it easier on yourself - anyway you could get a cleaner in - even once a fortnight to do the bathrooms, vacuum and washing floors / ironing/folding washing....stick with the carrying/co-sleeping if that is making it easier for you and you are getting more sleep....it will get easier when she just gets a little bit older. Do you have access to Aussie Dairy Farmers to deliver milk/bread so at least you have that and don't run out at inconvenient times?

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    N.S.W
    1,197

    Thanks ladies. I don't know weather to get DD3 checked for reflex, she screams for what seems like hours mainly from 6-7pm onwards. Not too bad during the day but I am holding her, or have her in the carrier or rocker. I don't think I have pnd, I only have days when I want to sit down and cry every now and then, not often. I'm dreading DH going back to work soon cause we are only just getting things done with two of us. I hope it gets easier. Thanks again

  13. #13
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2006
    Queensland
    2,039

    We are in the same position as traveller, with almost 8month twins we went from 2 to 4.....don't stress or worry about getting out too much...you have a NEWBORN....this time is hard to get out whether you have 1,2,4 or 10 children!! I'm sure if you think back it was also hard when you had 2 and your second was only 4weeks old too...I FREAKED out multiple times when DH was going back to work and really wondered how I would do it but just givew yourself some time..it get s way ewasier and yes some moments i really wish it were a kindy day lol and other days I'm fine!! I don't often go out with all four..not by myself.,.i take them on play dates etc but even though there it's with mums with kids of their own a lot of the time, at least there is another set of hands and as far as the shops by myself with all 4 NO WAY! My older 2 r in kindy 3days a week which is sooo helpdful because i'm a student midwife so I study around our babies. I agree with online shopping...more than worth the delivery fee and if you don't already maybe look into some childcare..honestly it doesn't make it a bad mum, kids love it and if its good for you it's good for your kids!!! I've loved having some mummy and baby time too, it's like havinf the freedom of one baby with the benefit of experience!!

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Brisbane
    5,039

    I think it's always a horrible few days before DH goes back to work. Whether you have 1 child or 4.

    Four kids can be tough but do was one, two and three. Generally I live four, some days you feel out of this world busy but others I love the chaos that four create. Mine get along so well and are different kids for the experience of bring one of four.

    I think you will find DH going back to work no where near as hectic as you imagine.

    I shop with all four kids... They are great if I pick the time of day right

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    summer street
    2,708

    My mum had four, and women always said to her 'four is the straw that breaks the camels back' because you have to completely reorganize your life, but then once done, adding more children is easy (apparently then until 8!).

    Thinking of you

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Brisbane
    5,039

    Better start on my next four then

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jul 2006
    Cloud nine :D
    6,309

    Your doing an awesome job xox Even if you don't feel it right now.

    4 was hard work, when DD2 came along I had SDS 7, SDS 5, DD 2.5, it was hard to work out the routine of getting SDS to school and back again, inbetween feed times etc. Having a babycarrier was an awesome invention. You will get into the swing of things, I promise xoxox

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    Have you looked at getting an au pair?

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