Danielle Busby once changed over 50 diapers a day and prepared 40 bottles in one sitting. Nearly a decade later, she’s coordinating orthodontist visits, sports schedules, and birthday t-shirts for six growing daughters.
Adam and Danielle Busby never set out to become reality TV’s go-to example of large-family parenting. But after welcoming quintuplet daughters, their everyday challenges gained national attention. With six children under one roof, the couple faced constant adjustments, from unexpected health concerns to tough financial choices.
Almost a decade later, their household continues to evolve. Their daughters are older, their needs more layered, and their personalities taking shape. Through it all, the Busbys remain dedicated to raising individuals, safeguarding their family’s well-being, and sharing just enough to remind viewers why their story resonates.
Adam and Danielle were already parents to one daughter, Blayke Louise, when they decided to try for another child. After undergoing fertility treatments, Danielle became pregnant with quintuplets. On April 8, 2015, she gave birth to five girls: Ava Lane, Olivia Marie, Hazel Grace, Riley Paige, and Parker Kate.
They were born prematurely and each spent time in neonatal intensive care before being discharged. That same year, production began on the TLC reality series “OutDaughtered,” documenting the Busbys’ transition from a family of three to a family of eight. The show premiered in 2016, just months after the quintuplets’ birth.
Their daily routine included more than 50 diaper changes and 40 bottles a day. The quintuplets were the first all-girl set born in the United States, making their story a national first and a point of media interest from the start. Behind the scenes, the family faced challenges that cameras didn’t always capture.
When the quintuplets were around five, Danielle revealed she was dealing with a series of unexplained health symptoms. She underwent numerous medical tests, but the doctors struggled to pinpoint a clear diagnosis. Her symptoms ranged from physical pain and migraines to numbness, tingling, digestive problems, and skin concerns.
During a conversation in 2021, she said she was being evaluated for a possible autoimmune disease, which can be difficult to identify. Danielle focused on managing her symptoms through changes in her routine and diet. She began looking into inflammation-related foods and worked on adjusting her eating habits.
She also prioritized her mental health, explaining that fitness and spirituality helped her maintain stability while navigating uncertainty. Adam took on a larger role at home to give Danielle the space to rest when needed.
“Just doing whatever I can with the kids and getting the kids out of the house, so that she can just either have a day to just do what she wants to do, or just relax in bed, if it’s a day that she’s hurting,” said Adam. “Then, just supporting her whenever I can. Just being there to talk, and just hanging out.”
While Danielle’s health remained unresolved, life at home continued to evolve. Filming for “OutDaughtered” began in 2015 and has continued for ten seasons. As the children have grown, their awareness of the filming process has increased.
Danielle explained that the girls now understand the connection between being filmed and appearing on television. Because of this, the family allows the children to decide whether they want to participate in filming on any given day.
Danielle said, “If they want to film and be engaged today, or if Blayke’s not feeling it, that’s fine. We have to feed around that and that’s how it’s going to keep it healthy for our children.” She added that the show captures both the fun and difficult parts of their life.
“You see the bitterness and the cattiness and the family struggle, but that’s just real stuff,” she stated. By Season 10, it became harder to schedule filming due to the girls’ extracurricular commitments. Adam explained that all the quintuplets were involved in various activities, and their eldest, Blayke Louise Busby, had made several school sports teams.
With events scheduled nearly every evening, coordinating filming sessions has become more difficult. Still, the couple emphasizes that the show is only a part of their life, not the reason behind it. Danielle said, “We love having an outlet to share.”
Among the six daughters, Blayke has always had a unique role. Blayke is Adam and Danielle’s firstborn daughter. She turned 14 years old on April 5, 2025. To mark the occasion, Danielle shared a birthday post on Instagram.
“Happy Birthday to my gorgeous 14 year old, Blayke Louise. You are growing up to be such an amazing young lady and I’m so proud of you! You bring joy to anyone you are around. You are a true blessing to our life and I hope you know just how special you are,” she wrote.
As the only sibling who is not a multiple, Blayke has always had a different experience within the family. Danielle, who also grew up as the non-multiple sibling in her own family, said she is especially sensitive to how Blayke fits into the group.
She explained that Blayke often receives more individual attention at home to ensure that she feels included and supported as she gets older. Adam noted that while the show may highlight the quintuplets more often, Blayke actually gets more attention day-to-day than any of the other children.
As a teenager, her interests have also shifted from those of her younger siblings. Danielle explained that topics like boys or makeup naturally set her apart from the quintuplets, who are still in a different stage of childhood. While Blayke’s path is her own, the quintuplets have also grown into five distinct individuals.
The Busby quintuplets — Ava Lane, Olivia Marie, Hazel Grace, Riley Paige, and Parker Kate — turned ten years old on April 8, 2025. To celebrate, Danielle posted a series of photos on Instagram featuring the girls in matching white t-shirts.
Each shirt had the number 10 printed on the front in a different color, and the back read, “BRUH ITS MY BIRTHDAY.” In the caption, Danielle wrote, “I can N.O.T believe my quintuplets are 🔟 What a journey we have been on and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Love you each so much!”
Followers noted the physical differences between the girls, particularly pointing out Parker’s height. One person wrote, “I really can’t believe they are already 10! What beautiful little miracles you all are. So proud of you girls!!!”
“You can definitely see the individuality here looks, height, personality i love it, [sic]” wrote another. Other comments included, “It’s wild how much taller Parker is compared to the other girl,” and, “Wow, Parker has gotten so tall.” Others remarked that Ava and Olivia resemble their older sister, Blayke.
Danielle previously explained that Ava and Olivia are identical twins within the quintuplet group. She said they are closely in sync emotionally and physically, often sitting on top of each other without minding. “They definitely have the identical feelings and emotions,” she said.
Adam added, “The identical twins never push back.[..] They don’t care if the other one’s touching them. It’s weird. It’s so different.” Danielle also noted that while all five girls are deeply bonded, they show emotional sensitivity toward each other.
She said the quints often respond with concern if one of them is hurt or upset, demonstrating a shared sense of empathy. Despite their close bond and shared birthday, the Busbys have never treated the quintuplets as a single unit.
From the time the quintuplets began school, Adam and Danielle have made parenting decisions based on each daughter’s individual needs. In 2019, they chose to enroll Riley Paige in kindergarten ahead of her sisters, who began preschool that year. Danielle explained the decision by saying, “Riley’s above and beyond with her intelligence.”
She emphasized that it was based strictly on Riley’s readiness. She added, “Of course, we looked at the family and how this change affects everyone else.” The move drew criticism from some viewers and social media users, particularly from those who felt the girls should remain together academically.
Adam responded to the criticism, “In world history, there have only been six parents who have dealt with raising all-girl quintuplets. There’s nobody out there who knows the intricacy of the decisions we make.” Both Adam and Danielle have stressed that their parenting approach focuses on treating each daughter as an individual.
They encourage their children to pursue their own interests, especially when it comes to sports and activities. Danielle said, “We try to do our best to make sure we are listening to our kids [and] having that one-on-one time[…] We do love to split our girls up at times and do one-on-one dates.”
To help manage their time and give each girl attention, the couple often divides the children into smaller groups, saying they use a “divide and conquer” strategy. Disciplining the girls is also done individually, tailored to how each daughter responds.
Danielle said that balancing the emotional needs of six different children is a challenge, but one they prioritize. “We want to instill in them, ‘What is it that you like?’ and let that flourish[…] not push them into things that they’re uncomfortable with,” she explaine.
As their daughters grow, Adam and Danielle have had to adjust not only to shifting routines but to rising costs. Danielle explained that even simple expenses quickly become significant when multiplied by six. She gave the example of school lunch, noting that although they try to pack meals, some days the girls eat at school.
“It’s what, $2 a day or something like that? But in our world, if they’re all eating, that’s anywhere from $10 to $15 a day — for a crappy school lunch,” she said. Larger expenses are even more challenging. Danielle shared that sending the quintuplets to summer day camp could cost $2,500 for just five days.
“That’s outrageous,” she said. While they don’t want to take those experiences away from the girls, the couple has tried to find more budget-friendly alternatives. “They love to go,” she said.
Medical expenses have also become more pressing. In the latest season of “OutDaughtered,” the quintuplets visited the orthodontist for the first time. During the appointment, Danielle was told that the girls would need around $35,000 in dental work. Reacting to the estimate, she said, “That’s insane.” Riley, overhearing the conversation, commented, “That’s a lot of money.”
After a decade of filming “OutDaughtered,” Adam and Danielle continue to reassess their participation in the show on a season-by-season basis. Danielle explained that they constantly evaluate what works for their family and what needs to change.
Stars of TLC’s “OutDaughtered” visit the Empire State Building at The Empire State Building on July 11, 2023
While the show has provided a platform to document their life, it has also created a digital archive that the family sees as meaningful. Adam reflected on the long-term impact, saying their children — and eventually their grandchildren — will be able to look back and see their entire childhoods.
As they continue raising six daughters and making long-term decisions, the Busbys remain focused on the same goal they started with — raising strong individuals together as a family.
