From Diapers to Dentists: How the Busbys Navigate Life with Six Daughters
Danielle Busby once changed over 50 diapers a day and prepped 40 bottles in one sitting. Nearly ten years later, she’s scheduling orthodontist visits, juggling sports calendars, and organizing birthday t-shirts for six daughters.
A Family That Never Planned to Be Famous
Adam and Danielle Busby didn’t aim for the spotlight. But after welcoming quintuplet daughters, their daily chaos caught national attention. With six kids under one roof, life brought health scares, financial challenges, and constant adjustments.
Today, their journey continues to evolve. The girls are growing up. Their personalities are blooming. And through it all, Adam and Danielle stay focused on raising strong individuals and protecting their family’s well-being.
The Quintuplet Surprise
Before the quints, the Busbys had one daughter, Blayke Louise. Hoping to grow their family, they turned to fertility treatments. Danielle soon 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. Born prematurely, each spent time in neonatal intensive care before heading home.
That same year, TLC launched OutDaughtered, documenting the Busbys’ leap from a family of three to eight. The show premiered in 2016—just months after the quints’ arrival.
Life in Fast-Forward
In the early days, Danielle and Adam tackled over 50 diaper changes and 40 bottles daily. Their daughters were the first all-girl quintuplets born in the U.S., making headlines nationwide. But off-camera, challenges loomed.
Around the time the girls turned five, Danielle began experiencing mysterious health issues—migraines, pain, digestive troubles, numbness, and skin flare-ups. Despite extensive testing, doctors struggled to find answers.
In 2021, Danielle said she was being evaluated for a potential autoimmune disease. She made changes to her diet and lifestyle to manage symptoms and reduce inflammation. Fitness and faith became cornerstones of her well-being.
Adam stepped in at home. “Just doing whatever I can with the kids… so that she can rest if it’s a day she’s hurting,” he explained. “Just being there to talk, and just hanging out.”
Growing Up on Camera
The Busbys have filmed OutDaughtered for ten seasons. As the girls grow, they better understand the cameras and what it means to appear on TV. Now, they choose whether to participate each day.
“If Blayke’s not feeling it, that’s fine,” Danielle said. “That’s how we keep it healthy for them.”
She emphasized that the show includes both fun and tough moments. “You see the cattiness and the struggle—that’s just real life.”
As the girls’ schedules fill up, filming has become harder. With extracurriculars nearly every evening, balancing filming time is tricky. Still, Danielle and Adam stress that the show is a platform—not their purpose.
Blayke: The Big Sister with a Unique Role
Blayke, the couple’s firstborn, turned 14 on April 5, 2025. To celebrate, Danielle shared a sweet birthday message on Instagram:
“You are growing up to be such an amazing young lady… You are a true blessing to our life.”
Blayke, unlike her sisters, isn’t a multiple. Danielle—also a non-multiple in her own family—makes a conscious effort to ensure Blayke feels seen and supported. While the show highlights the quintuplets, Adam said Blayke often gets the most one-on-one attention at home.
Now a teen, Blayke’s interests are shifting. Topics like boys and makeup set her apart from her younger siblings, who are still navigating childhood.
Quintuplets, Ten Years Later
The quintuplets—Ava, Olivia, Hazel, Riley, and Parker—turned 10 on April 8, 2025. Danielle marked the day with Instagram photos of the girls in matching birthday shirts.
Ava and Olivia are identical twins. Danielle said they’re so close, they don’t mind being in each other’s space. “They definitely have the identical feelings and emotions,” she said.
Adam added, “They don’t care if the other one’s touching them. It’s weird. It’s so different.”
Despite their shared birthday, the Busbys treat each girl as an individual. When school began, they made decisions based on each daughter’s needs. In 2019, Riley started kindergarten early—unlike her sisters, who began preschool.
“Riley’s above and beyond with her intelligence,” Danielle said. The move drew criticism, but Adam responded, “There’s nobody out there who knows the intricacy of raising all-girl quintuplets.”
Parenting with Purpose
Danielle and Adam focus on one-on-one time with each child. They often split the girls into smaller groups—a strategy they call “divide and conquer.” Discipline is also individualized.
They want their daughters to grow into who they truly are. “We want to instill in them, ‘What do you like?’ and let that flourish,” Danielle said.
The Cost of Raising Six
As the girls get older, the costs rise. Even small expenses add up. Danielle explained, “A $2 school lunch times six is $12 a day—for a crappy lunch.”
Larger costs hit harder. One week of summer day camp could cost $2,500. “That’s outrageous,” Danielle said. Still, they look for ways to make it work because the girls love going.
Medical costs are rising too. At the orthodontist, Danielle learned the quintuplets would need around $35,000 in dental work. “That’s insane,” she said. Riley even chimed in, “That’s a lot of money.”
Stars of TLC’s “OutDaughtered” visit the Empire State Building at The Empire State Building on July 11, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
What’s Next for OutDaughtered?
After ten seasons, Adam and Danielle review their involvement with the show one season at a time. They ask what still works—and what needs to change.
While the show documents their lives, it also serves as a family archive. Adam said their daughters—and even future grandchildren—will be able to look back and see their childhoods unfold.
Still Standing Together
Through all the noise—media, parenting, filming, health—the Busbys return to one core value: raising strong, individual daughters in a loving, united home.
And that’s a story worth sharing.
