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Piney Lakes Sensory Play Park (Winthrop) – Playground Review

Melville Mums

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January 13, 2022

Piney Lakes Sensory Play Park (Winthrop) – Playground Review

Piney Lakes Sensory Play Park is an all-inclusive playground for kids of all abilities. There are lots of carpark spaces here which are also generous in size to accommodate wheelchairs and prams.

This play park is based on nature play, so it’s hardly surprising that the park has lots of established trees creating canopies over the play areas and seating areas. The park is also peppered with eye-catching artwork and sculptures.

True to the nature play theme, the play areas are surrounded by raised gardens with displays of native plants that are home to native animals and insects. There is also a spinning wheel as you walk into the play park.

*Spinning wheel for kids on the left and a footpath around the play park*

The sand play area is usually busy with little kids as it has pulleys, wheels and a conveyor belt.

*Sand play area in the park with the lake in the far left and an artwork on the right*

The water play area is also another highlight with little kids as there is a water pump on each end and the kids can see the water flowing down both play tables. Be prepared and bring a change of clothes though! Lots of squealing and laughter usually emanate from both the sand and water play areas.

This play park also has a turtle dome where little kids run in and out of. There is a balance seesaw which is a highlight of the park.

*Turtle dome on the left, fountain in the middle and the sand play area on the right*

There are lots of balancing beams and logs, and rollover bars, encouraging agility in kids.

*Wooden timber beams and logs, and bars keeping kids busy*

There are quieter spaces within this play park where older kids can sit and rest such as the story chair nook with a pirates’ map.

This play park also offers an accessible roundabout for kids in wheelchairs. There are a few swings nearby; toddler swings, swings for older kids, a basket swing and a swing with back support and straps.

There is also a labyrinth with coloured peepholes and speaker phones for three-way conversations.

Unfortunately, this play park is not fenced and is close to a lake, making supervising toddlers essential. The lake is beautiful with water fountains providing the calming sound of water flowing. It is easy to forget that this play park is not far from Leach Highway!

*Water fountains provide a calming backdrop to the play area*

There is a small waterfall that is beautiful against the greenery of the play park. There is also a long board walk (ramp) from the play park up to the amphitheatre area. The walk is accessible to wheelchairs and prams.

*Long board walk to the amphitheatre area*

Next to the board walk is an obstacle course of large orange rings. You can see kids crawl through them like little ninjas!

Over the walkway is a larger climbing frame for older kids with a rubbery mat floor. There are also lots of footpaths here for walking and these footpaths are frequently used by those with wheelchairs, prams, bicycles and scooters.

*Wide footpaths generously providing access to prams, wheelchairs, cyclists and those on scooters.*

Lots of green open space can be found here to throw down a picnic rug or throw a frisbee around. There are also picnic tables, benches and BBQ facilities plus two accessible unisex toilets that are fitted with adult change tables and grab rails.

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Essential Info

Fenced? No

Toilets? Yes

Picnic tables? Yes

BBQs? Yes

Nearest coffee: None nearby

Location: Piney Lakes Sensory Play Park, Off Murdoch Drive Winthrop

For more local playgrounds, check out our Parks & Playgrounds section

Let’s Make it a “A Year of Resolutions”

Melville Mums

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January 12, 2022

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A simple exercise to set (and reach) your New Year’s goals.

Woman holding candles that read 2022 for New Years

Let’s be real, how many times have you told yourself that this is the Year you will stick to your New Year’s resolutions? Then, as February 1^st rolls around, you realise your attempts to get to the gym, to eat more greens and to be a more patient mum have all been rather feeble. By March, you are down to the one resolution to just make one bed in the house every day.

If this scenario sounds all too familiar, take heart in the statistic that at least 80% of all New Year’s resolutions fail and a large proportion of them are forgotten by the 1^st February. Why is it so hard to make a few well-intentioned goals become top priorities and achievable?

There are many reasons why resolutions can fail but here are the top 3:

Your resolutions are based on what you think other people or society wants of you
They are too vague
There is no set plan in place highlighting how to achieve them

Although it may seem a good idea then to just abandon the idea of New Year’s resolutions (considering that life as a mum is pretty hectic at the best of times), they can have a very beneficial and lasting effect on your entire family. They are simply promises to yourself to improve your wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around you by being aware of what you do daily or weekly.

Goal Setting is one life lesson that can be taught and demonstrated by making New Year’s resolutions as a family. This is a skill that is not inherent but needs to be learnt and practiced, so whilst you are shedding those extra Christmas kilo’s you are also teaching your little ones an important life skill.

The Year of Resolutions exercise

Instead of writing down a few large resolutions for the whole year, break them down into monthly resolutions or monthly goals for each family member. This means that you don’t have to wait until January 1st next year to start this exercise, you can start whenever you like.

1. Take a large sheet of paper that can be divided into equal sections for each family member. To get the most benefit out of this exercise and increase the chance of success, it’s preferable if all family members can be involved.

2. Ask everyone to come up with 2 or 3 goals for the month. These goals should be age appropriate and achievable. If your little ones are too small to write their own goals, you can help them make some but be sure to include them in the conversation. For example, you could set your 4 year old the goal of pouring the milk in their cereal bowl or making their own jam sandwich.

3. Place this sheet of goals where the whole family can see it on a regular basis, such as the fridge or the TV room. This makes everyone feel accountable for his or her goals and acts as a daily reminder of what they are trying to achieve for the month.

4. At the beginning of each month, sit down as a family (maybe over some ice cream or other treats) to talk about how many of your goals you achieved or worked at during the month.

5. Create a new monthly list of goals for each family member. If some of the goals from the month before were not met, you can simply repeat them again. This may mean that you need to help your little ones or partner with breaking their goals down into action points.

6. At the end of the year you can collect the monthly lists of goals and remind everyone about how much they have achieved throughout the year. A lesson learnt in setting yourself small goals, staying accountable, having fun achieving them and feeling proud of your own accomplishments. These lessons are not only invaluable to your smallest family members, but also for all of us mums and our partners too.

This “Year of Resolutions” exercise can easily be turned into a family tradition that can be passed down through generations. It is a modern family take on the idea of setting New Year’s resolutions and it’s a fun, rewarding way to encourage communication and build stronger bonds within your family (and it’s a bonus if you end up with a tidier house and clothes that fit a little looser).

Have you or your family made any New Year’s resolutions for the coming year? Share them with us in the Melville Mums Facebook Group.

Happy New Year’s from the Melville Mums team!

Local Fitness Centres & Gyms with a Creche

Melville Mums

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January 3, 2022

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Local Fitness Centres & Gyms with a Creche

If you’re a mum with little ones, you might be on the hunt for a fitness centre or gym with a creche. Below are some local fitness centres and gyms with childcare facilities – it doesn’t include every local gym but this is a great place to start. Have a look at each website to find a class that suits you and read on for more information on their creche facilities.

LeisureFit Booragoon

LeisureFit Booragoon has a creche that provides care for children from 8 weeks to 6 years of age. They are open Monday – Friday, 8.00am – 1.00pm and Saturday, 8.15am – 12 noon. They also have a school holidays kids club for children aged 5 – 11 years old, Monday – Friday. For the adults, there is the gym, a range of fitness classes and wellness facilities. For more information on how to make the most of your time at LeisureFit, head to the website via the link below.

Creche Entry Fees: $5.25 (max 2 hour visit)
Phone: 9364 0823
Address: 521 Marmion Street, Booragoon
Website: LeisureFit Recreation Centres

Fernwood Fitness Melville

Fernwood Fitness Melville has a creche in their kids club activity centre which is open Monday – Friday 8:45am – 11:30am, freeing you up for a range of group fitness classes, personal training and weight management. Head over to their website to see what else they have to offer.

Creche Entry Fees: $4 for 1 child, $7 for 2 children, $10 for 3 children
Phone: 9330 7055
Address: Melville Square, 248 Leach Highway, Myaree
Website: Fernwood Fitness Melville

Goodlife Health Club Myaree

The Goodlife Health Club in Myaree offers child minding services on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 8:30am – 11:30am. The creche is available for children 8 weeks to 12 years of age. In addition to their group fitness classes and weights room, you can also try out their steam room whilst you are there. Find more details on their website, simply click on the link below for Goodlife Health Club.

Creche Entry Fee: Included in Membership Fee
Phone: 6103 8100
Address: 276 Leach Highway, Myaree
Website: Goodlife Health Clubs

Fremantle Leisure Centre

Fremantle Leisure Centre has a creche that is open Monday – Friday, 8.45am – 12.45pm and Saturday 8.15am – 11.30am, children aged from 3 months up to (but not including) 6 years old are welcome. As well as it’s swimming pools, there is a gym and a range of group classes catering to a range of fitness levels, check out their website for what’s available at Fremantle Leisure Centre.

Creche Entry Fees: $5.30 (max 2 hour visit)
Phone: 9432 9999
Address: 10 Shuffrey Street, Fremantle
Website: Fremantle Leisure Centre

Gold’s Gym South Fremantle

Gold’s Gym has a Kids Club that provides care for children from 3 months to 12 years of age. They are open Monday – Thursday, 8.30am – 12.00pm, 4.45pm – 7.45pm; Friday 8.30am – 12.00pm and Saturday, 8.00am – 12.00pm. In addition to the gym facilities, Gold’s Gym South Fremantle offers group fitness classes and boot camp, head to their website for more information.

Creche Entry Fees: free for members, $5.00 for non-members
Phone: 0414 106 162
Address: 256 Hampton Road, South Fremantle
Website: Gold’s Gym South Fremantle

Cockburn ARC

Cockburn ARC has the Carnaby’s Club Creche which is open Monday – Friday, 8.45am – 12.45pm and Saturdays 8.15am – 12.15pm, suitable for children from 8 weeks to 5 years of age. It is also open for children up to 11 years during the school holidays from 8.45am – 11.45am for $7.40 (Big Kid’s School Holidays Creche). Enjoy your time at Cockburn ARC with a range of fitness classes and gym facilities, along with LifeCare Physiotherapists. Have a look at their website below for more information.

Creche Entry Fees: $4.90 for 2 hours, $6.40 for 3 hours
Phone: 9411 3344
Address: 31 Veterans Parade, Cockburn Central
Website: Cockburn ARC

Roar Fitness Bibra Lake

The Cub House at Roar Fitness Bibra Lake is open for children 8 weeks up to 6 years old, and up to 13 years of age on some evenings and on Saturdays. Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday it is open 8.30am – 1.00pm and 4.30pm – 7.30pm; Thursday & Friday it is open 8.30am – 1.00pm and 7.30am – 12.00pm on Saturdays. Make the most of your time at Roar Fitness Bibra Lake with their one stop fitness training centre, take a look at their website for more details on the facilities.

Creche Entry Fees: Members: $3.00 up to 1 hour, $4.00 for 1 – 1.5 hours, $5 for 1.5 – 2 hours
Phone: 9412 0014
Address: 23 Port Kembla Drive, Bibra Lake
Website: Roar Fitness Bibra Lake

Beatty Park Leisure Centre

For those happy to travel a little further, Beatty Park Leisure Centre offers an extensive range of facilities. The creche is available for children 8 weeks to 5 years of age. They are open Monday – Friday, 8.15am – 1.15pm and Saturday, 7.45am – 12.45am. More details can be found on their website, simply click on the link below for Beatty Park.

Creche Entry Fees: $2.50 for members, $7.00 for non-members (max 3 hour visit)
Phone: 9273 6088
Address: 220 Vincent Street, North Perth
Website: Beatty Park Leisure Centre

If you’d like to know about other classes and activities happening in and around the City of Melville, check out our local business directory.

10 Fun Christmas Crafts for Kids

Melville Mums

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December 14, 2021

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Some schools have already broken up for the holidays; others have a few more days to go. Here are some Christmas Craft ideas that will keep the kids busy in the lead up to Christmas.

1. Santa and Reindeer Puppets

This one is so cute! The bonus with this is that once the kids have made them, they then have the fun of creating a puppet show!

Supplies you will need:

jumbo craft sticks
red cardstock paper
white cardstock paper
brown cardstock paper
white cupcake liner
apricot coloured crayon
small white pom pom
small red pom poms
brown pipe cleaner
googly eyes
glue stick
all purpose glue (or glue gun)
scissors
Find the instructions here at I Heart Crafty Things

2. Christmas Tree Window Decorations

Make some decorations for your windows in the shape of Christmas trees. Just another way to spread the Christmas cheer!

Supplies you will need:

green tissue paper
red board paper
star shaped hole punch
clear contact paper
black Christmas tree template
scissors
Find the instructions here at Kinder Craze

3. Paper Cup Angel Tea Lights

The warm glow of candles is so relaxing and these tea light candles are so cute!

Supplies you will need:

clear plastic cups
printer paper
pen
crayons
sharpie markers
scissors
clear tape
LED Tea Lights (1-2 per angel)
Find the instructions here at Molly Moo

4. Glittery Santa Jar

These glitter jars would be a sparkly addition to your Christmas decor, they would make a great lolly jar or candy cane holder.

Supplies you will need:

mason jar(s)
masking tape
white craft glue
paintbrush
glitter (black, red, white, gold)
Find the instructions here at Crafts by Amanda

5. Beaded Candy Canes

This is a good easy one for the younger ones, it’s great for their motor skills too! You could even hang them on the Christmas tree once you’re done.

Supplies you will need:

pipe cleaners
red beads
white beads
These don’t need many instructions but you can find them here at Fortune Avenue Kitchen

6. Felt Christmas Tree Garland

Supplies you will need:

felt (various colours)
scissors
glue gun
string
Find the instructions here at It’s Always Autumn

7. Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

The kids will love seeing their sparkly creations hung on the Christmas tree!

Supplies you will need:

4 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
1.5 cups of water
Christmas cookie cutters
acrylic paint
glitter
clear glue
gold twine
Find the instructions here at The Best Ideas for Kids

8. Christmas Button Tree Decoration

This is a great excuse to break into that box of loose buttons, they don’t have to be green, why not get creative with colours!

Supplies you will need:

assorted buttons
star shaped button
silver pipe cleaner
Find the instructions here at Sparkles in the Everyday

9. Jingle Bell Ribbon Ring

This is another great one for the little ones to enjoy once finished and the bigger kids can have fun making Christmas music!

Supplies you will need:

small jingle bells
4 feet of ribbon (any colour)
shower curtain rings
glue dots or double sided sticky tape
Find the instructions here at Make and Takes

10. Paper Plate Santa Hats

These would make a cute Christmas Party hat for the kid’s table this year!

Supplies you will need:

paper plates
cotton balls
white school glue
stapler
red paint
paint brush
scissors
Find the instructions here at Easy Peasy and Fun

We hope you have fun with your Christmas crafts! Check out our Christmas blog section for even more festive inspiration.

Frederick Baldwin Park (Kardinya) – Playground Review

Melville Mums

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December 10, 2021

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Frederick Baldwin Park (Kardinya) – Playground Review

Two playgrounds are located at Frederick Baldwin Park, Kardinya. Both playgrounds are surrounded by a beautiful man-made lake with two fountains. Ducks swim merrily across the lake while the corellas pick their meals on the grass. One playground faces Sanders Loop, while the other faces Le Souef Drive.

There is limited parking in the carpark at Le Souef Drive facing the park, but there is a little carpark beside it that houses a few eateries and the hairdresser. Even though North Lake Road is not too far away, the sound of the water fountains and chirping birds drown out the noise from the traffic.

The playground equipment at the first playground facing Sanders Loop boasts monkey bars, climbing frames, a rock climbing wall and a spidey web swing. The equipment is in white sand, making it easier for little ones to play without getting hurt. It is partly shaded by tall trees, but a hat and some sunscreen would be advisable depending on the time of the day.

Even though the playground is more suited to little ones, the playground is close to a basketball court for older kids to play.

Across the lake is another playground with swings; regular and baby. The swings are situated in sand for kids to kick off their shoes and dig their toes in the sand before swinging them up high. There is a bench beside these swings for a bit of rest. Next to the swings are stacked logs for adventurous little ones to walk on. There are also timber logs for nature play.

Unfortunately the playgrounds and the swings are not fully fenced. However, there is ample green grass space for mums, dads and carers to watch the little ones. It doesn’t hurt that Dutch and Arley nearby on Le Souef Drive makes amazing coffee and food. There are no toilets around but the Kulungah Myah Family Centre is close by on Le Souef Drive. The centre houses among other activities, a toy library, a fully fenced playground and First Steps Prekindy.

This park is definitely one not to miss as it packs in two playgrounds, two water fountains, watching ducks and corellas, swings, nature play and a basketball court. The open green space is definitely something to look forward to with a picnic mat and a coffee in hand!

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Essential Info

Fenced? No

Toilets? Nearest toilets are in the Kulungah Myah Family Centre

Picnic tables? No

BBQs? No

Nearest coffee: Arley & Dutch Café

Location: 150 Le Souef Drive Kardinya

For more local playgrounds, check out our Parks & Playgrounds section

12 Christmas Treats You Can Make with the Kids

Melville Mums

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December 8, 2021

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12 Christmas Treats You Can Make with the Kids

These delicious, easy to make tasty treats should keep your kitchen bustling over the festive season and bursting with colour.

Chocolate Bark

Chocolate bark is so easy to make and you can make so many different flavours. They are great as a gift too! Head over to Crazy for Crust for the recipe.

Christmas Balls

This is another super easy recipe, not many ingredients and only 3 steps, such festive colours too! You can find the recipe here on Taste.com.au.

Brownie Christmas Trees

Everyone loves brownies! These would make a great centrepiece on any dessert table. This is another recipe from Taste.com.au

Santa Hat Cheesecake Bites

Who doesn’t love cheesecake? These mini versions of a strawberry cheesecake are so cute and simple! Find the recipe here at delish.com.

Christmas Swirl Fudge

With another simple recipe, Betty Crocker brings us this delicious looking fudge, they would make a great gift too.

Christmas Oreo Pops

These Christmas Oreo Pops are so adorable, make sure you read the instructions before you start creating. Check out the recipe on It’s Always Autumn.

Pretzel M&M Hugs

These hugs are so colourful and festive! Cooking Classy has the recipe here.

Christmas Gingerbread Reindeer

This is a cute take on the Christmas staple – the Gingerbread man. The kids will have fun making these. Find the recipe here on Kidspot.

Tiny Teddy Santa Sleigh

These are definitely a spectacle! Your older kids will enjoy helping create these. This is another one from Kidspot.

Healthy Santa Skewers

These fruit skewers might still have a little sugar but at least you’ll get some fruit in to their tummies! For some more healthy Christmas snack ideas, head over to Clean and Scentsible.

Santa Strawberries

Everyone will love these! Super simple to make too. Check out the recipe on Leanne Bakes.

Shortbread Stars

It’s not Christmas without Shortbread Stars! This easy recipe can be found at Bake Play Smile.

Enjoy your Christmas baking! Don’t forget to post a photo of your festive treats in the Melville Mums Facebook group.

Bibra Lake Regional Playground – Playground Review

Melville Mums

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November 30, 2021

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Bibra Lake Regional Playground – Playground Review

Situated next to the picturesque Bibra Lake is the incredible Bibra Lake Regional Playground, with something for absolutely everyone. The playground is fully fenced and incorporates loads of nature play amongst heaps of equipment to suit all ages and abilities so children can explore, learn and play all day.

There’s equipment for all ages and abilities, with a flying fox, water play, in-ground trampolines, a giant tree-top walk, several climbing obstacle courses, balance beams, see-saws and swings, tunnels, a Diprotodon “fossil” sand pit dig and so much more.

The playground is also designed to be fully accessible to families with a disability and includes supportive seating on swings and the flying fox, lie-on swings, sound and water play, and heaps more.

The playground is both naturally shaded and has shade sails, however there are still a lot of spots in the sun so you’ll need a hat and sunscreen. We also recommend some bug spray or patches for the mozzies and a change of clothes for the water play areas.

Located along Progress Drive with beautiful views of Bibra Lake, there’s plenty of dedicated and on-street parking. It’s also a short drive to the Bibra Lake Skate Park on the opposite side of the river.

Within the fenced areas you’ll find all the important facilities including tables and chairs, toilets and barbecues, making it a great place for parties and catch-ups. It does get busy and no areas can be reserved, so be sure to plan ahead.

Grassy play hill and tunnels inspired by Aboriginal stories

If you get hungry there’s a food van with coffee, drinks, hot meals and more located at one entry to the park, otherwise pack a picnic or BBQ and make a day of it. There are a few shaded BBQ areas as well as picnic tables with riverfront views.

No more white lies; this park actually does close! The massive outside gates on either end of the park are open from 8:30am – 9pm, every day of the year.

Essential Info

Fenced? Yes
Toilets? Yes
Picnic tables? Yes
BBQs? Yes
Nearest coffee Food van at the gates
Free parking Yes
Opening hours 8.30am – 9pm daily

Location: Progress Drive, just south of Hope Road, Bibra Lake.

For more local playgrounds, check out our Parks & Playgrounds section

Anthony Dodd Reserve (Melville) – Playground Review

Melville Mums

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November 22, 2021

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Anthony Dodd Reserve (Melville) – Playground Review

A small local park, Anthony Dodd Reserve in Melville is a shady, quiet spot with a playground great for cautious toddlers (and budding tree climbers).

Located on a quiet suburban street, it’s often empty making it the perfect park for tentative toddlers to get used to the bigger equipment without needing to worry about the bigger kids running around.

If you do have older ones, there are plenty of trees perfect for climbing.

The play equipment features climbing, a big and little slide, tunnel, monkey bars, bridge walks and sandpit.

There’s also a set of swings with a baby and regular seat a little walk away from the playground, within the reserve.

The park is naturally shaded with plenty of trees however your little ones might need a hat on in the playground itself.

It’s a short drive (or walk, if you’re game) from the cafes along Marmion Street, or in the opposite direction you’ll find (uphill – you’ve been warned!) there’s Melville Reserve featuring the skatepark and library.

Bring your own coffee and set out a picnic rug under the trees.

Essential Info

Fenced? No
Toilets? No
Picnic tables? Yes
BBQs? No
Nearest coffee BYO
Free parking Yes

Location: 30 Luffingham St, Melville WA 6156

For more local playgrounds, check out our Parks & Playgrounds section.

Kadidjiny Park (Melville) – Playground Review

Melville Mums

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November 13, 2021

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Kadidjiny Park (Melville) – Playground Review

When you drive past Kadidjiny Park in Melville not much can be seen through the surrounding trees save for the iconic red and white stripy poles. But looks can be deceiving – the area is almost four hectares in size!

Frequently known to locals as the Dr Seuss Park due to the red and white stripy poles, it is a firm favourite in the area. With lots of spaced out play areas, as well an oval and exercise equipment, you can spend all day playing. The best part of all? It’s fenced!

The brightly coloured play equipment and rolling hills make this playground a fun place to be. There are lots of different play spaces and equipment including two double storey slides, traditional swings, a nest swing, spider web climbing frame, spinning fun, musical equipment, and loads more.

The sand play, including the excavators and funnel, are a little tricky for younger ones (and tired Mums).

The equipment is definitely more suited towards older, confident kids however there’s a nest swing, plus a rocking boat and sandpit area for young ones. The rolling hills are also great for practising those gross motor skills and ground level changes (just be careful of skinned knees as it looks softer than it is).

Toddler spot with rocking boat, turtle, softer flooring and sandpits. Bring a hat!

The playground is naturally shaded with trees and a few sails, but you’ll definitely need a hat and sunscreen as you move around the equipment and different areas.

Located right next to Melville Primary School it tends to get busy around pick-up time, however there’s always plenty of room to play. You’ll find free parking along both Kitchener Road and Curtis Road.

There’s BBQ facilities with picnic tables both within the fenced playground and out, making it great spot for birthday parties.

Outside of the fenced playground you’ll find toilets, barbecues, picnic tables, a large oval for kicking a footy, an amphitheatre, and heaps of different exercise equipment zones. The paths make great scooter and bike practise tracks, too.

Be sure to BYO coffee and snacks and take advantage of the many picnic tables or pull up a blanket under the trees, as the closest spots for food are a short drive away on Marmion Street or North Lake Road.

Essential Info

Fenced? Yes
Toilets? Yes
Picnic tables? Yes
BBQs? Yes
Nearest coffee BYO
Free parking Yes

Location: 70 Curtis Road, Melville

For more local playgrounds, check out our Parks & Playgrounds section

What is the ultimate number of kids to have?

Tash Hanham

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November 9, 2021

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What is the ultimate number of kids to have?

As a mum of three, I’ve pondered this very question many times.

I am the eldest child of five. There are 10 years between myself and my youngest sister. My parents had four girls and one boy. As a child, I remember our house being full of laughter, food and children. There was never a dull moment and there was always someone to play (or fight) with. My mum’s philosophy was ‘the more the merrier’ – so, in addition to her own five children, there were always more kids in the house. It was a constant hive of activity. We also had a people mover, in the form of a Mitsubishi Starwagon, so we had the ability to take extra kids anywhere we were going. I loved my childhood and I vowed to have lots of children too. The magic number in my mind was four. I would tell anyone who asked that I was going to have four children.

My hubby and I had our first baby in 2012 and the reality of motherhood hit me like a ton of bricks. Our beautiful daughter was born via emergency ceasearan section at 38.5 weeks. This was the first of many parts of motherhood that didn’t go to the plan in my head. Our little girl suffered from reflux, she would scream anytime she was laid on her back – nappy changes, pram rides, being laid down to sleep. By six weeks, I was a bit of a mess. Mother’s Group was a bit a saving grace for me, particularly after the Child Health Nurse identified that our daughter had ‘reflux’ and encouraged me to see my paediatrician for treatment.

My desire for four children shriveled pretty quickly once I became a mum. I would jokingly tell people that one was plenty, although I was never totally serious about this. Sure enough, after we had moved through the reflux newborn days and into more of a pattern, we decided to try for another little person. Two and half years after our daughter, we welcomed a son into our family.

No reflux this time, but this one didn’t like sleep! From the very beginning, he craved touch and wanted to be held as much as possible. His best sleeps were in the baby carrier on me or when the pram was moving (anyone else relate?!). He woke frequently at night and didn’t sleep through until he was close to two and a half years old.

Needless to say, it took a while for us to decide if we wanted a third. Despite the sleep deprivation, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we weren’t ‘done’ yet. Hubby was more on the fence, but wasn’t a hard no on the third, so we eventually decided to go for it and try for a third. This pregnancy was not meant to be. I experienced what is known as a missed miscarriage – my body didn’t realise that I was no longer pregnant, so I continued to have pregnancy symptoms. A couple of scans around 10 weeks revealed there was no heartbeat and after a further few weeks waiting for my body to recognise this, I was admitted to hospital for a D&C. This was a pretty traumatic period for me, but we were still keen to try for another baby, so about four months after our miscarriage, we found out we were pregnant again. In July 2019, we welcomed another boy into our family, and our family of five was set.

Our youngest is now two years old. Although I am content with our three beautiful children and don’t plan on having any more, I keep waiting for the feeling of being ‘finished’ – something I have heard other friends talk about. When snuggling someone else’s new baby or watching a couple with their newborn, I feel the familiar tug of longing – maybe we could have a fourth?

Then I realise that I am pretty well at capacity with three. I ponder what bringing another baby into our family would look like. I feel like with two, we managed pretty well, with three I am just hanging in there! It is certainly true that my hubby and I are outnumbered – attending to the children’s needs now becomes more of a triaging system – who really needs us and who just has to wait or cry until we get to them?

I’ve read lots of articles that suggest that three children is the most stressed you will get. The theory goes that with one or two children, you can manage and you’re not outnumbered, but with three, you’re still hanging onto control but, being outnumbered, it becomes a much more difficult task. I read that from four children and beyond, you start to bring the eldest in much more as a helper, plus you have to let go of the control of having it all together all the time – in essence, you are forced to just relax and let go a bit more. But I can’t truly comment as I can only come from my base of three.

I often ask my mum (a proud mumma of five) – ‘how did you do it Mum?!’. I have friends ask me the same question all the time. What I’ve deduced is that she is definitely a superwoman. I also think that based on your individual circumstances, everyone will find the perfect number and it’s not something Google can tell you!

With all this in mind, I’d love to know, what do you think is the ultimate number of kids?

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