Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Do you take your kids (none in stroller) to the park alone? I have taken my 3 a lot recently and I just find it to be an unpleasant experience for me. Kids have a blast, but I am on edge making sure I can see all three (youngest runs off). Its really impossible to watch them as closely as I would like and I feel on edge when I am there. Just wondering if this is how other moms of 3 kids feels. I know there is no solution (except for bringing another set of eyes), but was just curious as to what others do!

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I only have 2 but I don't take them to the playground alone. My youngest is a runner.

Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I have 5 year old twins and a 3.5 year old. This past summer at the ages of 4 and almost 3 I took them to our local spray park alone....once! It wasn't terrible but I was on edge the whole time. Any other time I take them out to stores or anything, a twin has to sit in the double stroller with my youngest. Taking them anywhere else by myself doesn't happen because it is unpleasant and I a, too nervous. All three of mine will think nothing of running in three different directions, or all of them having meltdowns at the same time. I just become miserable and no one is happy. So yes, I do feel the same way.

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I only have 2 and I used to only take them to playgrounds geared towards younger kids.

When kids were 3 and 5, I started taking them to playgrounds comfortably. 5yo was fine by then. 3yo I would still keep an eye on.

We are good friends with family with 3 kids. Mom is much more relaxed. She would let her 2yo go around the playground by herself.

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I only have 2 and one is still a baby but I like to look for playgrounds that are mostly fenced in and on the smaller side. There are 2 I go to that are completely fenced in with a gate which is nice

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I have 4, and yes, I do it. My youngest two (20 months) are still in the stroller for walking purposes, but once we get somewhere they want out. My oldest are 6 and 4. It's tough, but it has to be done. They need to get out and so do I! It doesn't happen that often because during the week the oldest is in school all day, but it's be alone with 4 kids most days, so yes, park, store, etc. etc. alone with just me.

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I take my 3 all the time. They are 4.5, 3.5 and 19 months. I only go to fenced in parks which helps bc the baby is a runner. They absolutely love it. It's cold now I took them to chuckee cheese the other day that wa kind of hard when the baby wasn't in the stroller but once I got him back in the stroller we were fine

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I have 3 yo triplets but one is developmentally delayed and is more like taking an 18 month old/2 yo - in other words, toddles off and doesn't listen at all - and I do sometimes. I dress them alike in bright colors which really helps and only take them to small or fenced in playgrounds. We only go to ones that only have one playground - not the parks that have the two sets, one for older and one for younger kids, because they will inevitably separate. I do a drive by first and of its really crowded then we skip it. I explain to my other two that the minute they don't listen, we leave, and I've followed through. It's a challenge but staying home all the time can be so miserable.

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I have 3. They are 2,5 and 7. I take them to the park alone. I usually follow the 2 year old and the other two are fine to do their own thing. They are usually is sight and know to never ever to go anywhere without me.

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Depends on the kids. I had 2 , 18 months apart. I didn't take them out so much. Someone was always whining, getting hurt, not listening, running away. Far too much trouble. Once the got older (3&5) I only took them to smaller fenced in play grounds.

Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

I have two and it makes me nervous. I tend to panic when I can't see one of them, I'm always picturing that some crazy person grabbed them. I can only imagine it being more difficult when I have three!

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Thanks for all of the responses!

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Posted by luckysmom

Posted by Momof3boys

Posted by luckysmom

I have 5 year old twins and a 3.5 year old. This past summer at the ages of 4 and almost 3 I took them to our local spray park alone....once! It wasn't terrible but I was on edge the whole time. Any other time I take them out to stores or anything, a twin has to sit in the double stroller with my youngest. Taking them anywhere else by myself doesn't happen because it is unpleasant and I a, too nervous. All three of mine will think nothing of running in three different directions, or all of them having meltdowns at the same time. I just become miserable and no one is happy. So yes, I do feel the same way.

Thank you! You are very brave to go to the spray park! :) Mine are almost 2, 3, and 4! The older two are much better with running, but my youngest is now in the run away and laugh phase. I hear you about the meltdowns too. I just feel everyone staring the entire time too and its just so nerve wracking. Doctors offices are also the worst for some reason!

I was feeling very brave that day Mine gang up on me in the worst way. After school I let them play with their friends outside of the school and when all their parents say it's time to go their kids leave....mine, I am chasing around the yard trying to wrangle them up into the car while they run in different directions and laugh. It's exhausting. Then they all meltdown at the same time and I'm trying so hard to keep my cool while everyone is staring at us. The doctors office I do the same thing as if going to a store. Two in the double stroller and one walks. They all take turns and although they don't like it and may throw a fit, they haven't broken out of it yet! The twins will be 7 and still using a stroller at this rate, lol. It has to get better! They are all going through almost the same phases at the same time. They've got to get to the "I'm going to be good for mommy" phase all at the same time....soon.....I hope!

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Yes I do! I have 3 kids 2 years apart and I have always took them alone.
I run a tight ship though! I have always been very "strict" at the playground/park. We all stay together and if they don't listen we leave. A couple of times of leaving they got the point.
I'm nuts though I've always taken them pretty much anywhere alone!

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Posted by Momof3boys

Posted by luckysmom

Posted by Momof3boys

Posted by luckysmom

I have 5 year old twins and a 3.5 year old. This past summer at the ages of 4 and almost 3 I took them to our local spray park alone....once! It wasn't terrible but I was on edge the whole time. Any other time I take them out to stores or anything, a twin has to sit in the double stroller with my youngest. Taking them anywhere else by myself doesn't happen because it is unpleasant and I a, too nervous. All three of mine will think nothing of running in three different directions, or all of them having meltdowns at the same time. I just become miserable and no one is happy. So yes, I do feel the same way.

Thank you! You are very brave to go to the spray park! :) Mine are almost 2, 3, and 4! The older two are much better with running, but my youngest is now in the run away and laugh phase. I hear you about the meltdowns too. I just feel everyone staring the entire time too and its just so nerve wracking. Doctors offices are also the worst for some reason!

I was feeling very brave that day Mine gang up on me in the worst way. After school I let them play with their friends outside of the school and when all their parents say it's time to go their kids leave....mine, I am chasing around the yard trying to wrangle them up into the car while they run in different directions and laugh. It's exhausting. Then they all meltdown at the same time and I'm trying so hard to keep my cool while everyone is staring at us. The doctors office I do the same thing as if going to a store. Two in the double stroller and one walks. They all take turns and although they don't like it and may throw a fit, they haven't broken out of it yet! The twins will be 7 and still using a stroller at this rate, lol. It has to get better! They are all going through almost the same phases at the same time. They've got to get to the "I'm going to be good for mommy" phase all at the same time....soon.....I hope!

This sounds all too familiar! I agree that they gang up on mom! A nurse at the pediatrician had to carry one to the car for me last year. Cant remember if I had the stroller, but I couldn't round them up. They were all laughing and I was near tears thinking that I couldn't possibly get them to the car safety. Thankfully the nice nurse helped me.

Re: Q for those with 3 (or more) VERY close in age

Posted by allIwant

Posted by Momof3boys

Posted by luckysmom

Posted by Momof3boys

Posted by luckysmom

I have 5 year old twins and a 3.5 year old. This past summer at the ages of 4 and almost 3 I took them to our local spray park alone....once! It wasn't terrible but I was on edge the whole time. Any other time I take them out to stores or anything, a twin has to sit in the double stroller with my youngest. Taking them anywhere else by myself doesn't happen because it is unpleasant and I a, too nervous. All three of mine will think nothing of running in three different directions, or all of them having meltdowns at the same time. I just become miserable and no one is happy. So yes, I do feel the same way.

Thank you! You are very brave to go to the spray park! :) Mine are almost 2, 3, and 4! The older two are much better with running, but my youngest is now in the run away and laugh phase. I hear you about the meltdowns too. I just feel everyone staring the entire time too and its just so nerve wracking. Doctors offices are also the worst for some reason!

I was feeling very brave that day Mine gang up on me in the worst way. After school I let them play with their friends outside of the school and when all their parents say it's time to go their kids leave....mine, I am chasing around the yard trying to wrangle them up into the car while they run in different directions and laugh. It's exhausting. Then they all meltdown at the same time and I'm trying so hard to keep my cool while everyone is staring at us. The doctors office I do the same thing as if going to a store. Two in the double stroller and one walks. They all take turns and although they don't like it and may throw a fit, they haven't broken out of it yet! The twins will be 7 and still using a stroller at this rate, lol. It has to get better! They are all going through almost the same phases at the same time. They've got to get to the "I'm going to be good for mommy" phase all at the same time....soon.....I hope!

This sounds all too familiar! I agree that they gang up on mom! A nurse at the pediatrician had to carry one to the car for me last year. Cant remember if I had the stroller, but I couldn't round them up. They were all laughing and I was near tears thinking that I couldn't possibly get them to the car safety. Thankfully the nice nurse helped me.

We've all been there! One time a dad at the ped helped me out to my car with one while I carried 2 screaming kids! Sometimes you just have to laugh