16 Kids and Counting: Interview with Sue Radford Part 2

What is your typical day like? Do you have strict routines or go with the flow? 

My day is pretty much a routine from day to day, because I do believe that’s key to how it works so well for us. But there are days when we just have to go with the flow, especially on filming days, and they can be long days. Typically my day starts at 6.45 and we go to bed around 10.30.

Do you think that as a larger family it makes it more likely that you will be more “green” in environmental terms as there isn’t as much room for waste – ie using reusable nappies, not over-eating/throwing away food, breastfeeding, etc?

I think you are definitely more greener because you do have to try not to waste things and we don’t seem to waste anything. We use reusable nappies and buy what we need food wise so nothing gets wasted. I breastfeed my children too.

Would you say you argue less than a smaller family over issues such as finance/household chores because you have to be more organised?

I would say that we don’t really argue over things that need doing around the house because if something needs doing, and one of the children is around to do it, then they will without arguing over it. It does help that you have to be organised with a big family because if you weren’t then it would never work.

Do you have a chore list
We don’t really have a chores list because if something needs doing then one of the children will do it, they are good in that way. The only thing that I do insist on is that their rooms are tidied in the morning, which they do very well, it just makes my life a bit easier, but pretty much everything else is left to me and Noel.

What advice would you give to first time mothers?

I think the only advice I would give to new mothers is to not get stressed when things don’t go right and the baby is screaming constantly, because they pick up on stress and a chilled out mummy makes a chilled out baby. I think Sophie has learned that from me because she’s coping brilliantly and is just loving been a new mum.

Do you feel that you get enough support from health professionals – midwives, health visitors. Are you treated any differently now than from when you first had a baby. Do you get less pressure about how you feed/how much weight they are putting on?

I think that they think I can teach them a few things, they always say, “but you probably already know that don’t you,” which is funny, but I know that the support is always there if I need it.  It’s definitely very different from when I had 3 children, you are just left to it really, and there is never the pressure about feeding, or how much weight they are putting on, and the midwives visits are not as many.

I don’t think the births ever get less scary because birth is very unpredictable and you never know how its going to go because you are constantly aware that things can change in seconds. I always worry until they’re safe in my arms.

What was it like becoming a Grandmother?

Wow becoming grandparents for the first time has been mind blowing we are loving it. She’s such a gorgeous happy smiley little girl she takes after her mummy. It has been so lovely that they still live with us so we get to have all the cuddles we want she’s very spoilt.

Bedtimes in our house are staggered with the younger ones going up to bed for 7 then the middle ones going at 8 and the older ones going at  around 8.30-9 it can be quite a challenge to get them to stay in their beds as I’m sure you will see on the programme. (Sue’s blog post on sleep).

Do you have advice for those whose children disturb each other at night – such as when teething?

I have to say we have been really lucky with our children teething, they don’t seem to be bothered with them during the night so we don’t have disturbed nights, but also we have the little ones on our floor so that would help.

Do you have any issues such as bedwetting? And how have you overcome them?

We’ve only ever had a problem with one of the children bedwetting and we just didn’t make a big deal out of it and he grew out of it at the age of 5 .