diff --git a/docs/reference/gsk/gsk4-sections.txt b/docs/reference/gsk/gsk4-sections.txt
index f2fc3c32b9..1fe5cdd3d6 100644
--- a/docs/reference/gsk/gsk4-sections.txt
+++ b/docs/reference/gsk/gsk4-sections.txt
@@ -28,12 +28,6 @@ gsk_render_node_ref
 gsk_render_node_unref
 GskRenderNodeType
 gsk_render_node_get_node_type
-gsk_render_node_get_first_child
-gsk_render_node_get_last_child
-gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling
-gsk_render_node_get_previous_sibling
-gsk_render_node_append_child
-gsk_render_node_get_n_children
 gsk_render_node_set_transform
 gsk_render_node_set_opacity
 GskBlendMode
@@ -45,6 +39,9 @@ gsk_texture_node_new
 gsk_cairo_node_new
 gsk_cairo_node_get_draw_context
 gsk_container_node_new
+gsk_container_node_append_child
+gsk_container_node_get_n_children
+gsk_container_node_get_child
 <SUBSECTION Standard>
 GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE
 GSK_RENDER_NODE
diff --git a/gsk/gskcairorenderer.c b/gsk/gskcairorenderer.c
index 185d976f46..7d4dcff496 100644
--- a/gsk/gskcairorenderer.c
+++ b/gsk/gskcairorenderer.c
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ gsk_cairo_renderer_render_node (GskCairoRenderer *self,
                                 GskRenderNode    *node,
                                 cairo_t          *cr)
 {
-  GskRenderNode *child;
   gboolean pop_group = FALSE;
   graphene_matrix_t mat;
   cairo_matrix_t ctm;
@@ -103,18 +102,16 @@ gsk_cairo_renderer_render_node (GskCairoRenderer *self,
       break;
 
     case GSK_CONTAINER_NODE:
-      if (gsk_render_node_get_n_children (node) != 0)
-        {
-          GSK_NOTE (CAIRO, g_print ("Drawing %d children of node [%p]\n",
-                                    gsk_render_node_get_n_children (node),
-                                    node));
-          for (child = gsk_render_node_get_first_child (node);
-               child != NULL;
-               child = gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling (child))
-            {
-              gsk_cairo_renderer_render_node (self, child, cr);
-            }
-        }
+      {
+        guint i;
+        GSK_NOTE (CAIRO, g_print ("Drawing %d children of node [%p]\n",
+                                  gsk_container_node_get_n_children (node),
+                                  node));
+        for (i = 0; i < gsk_container_node_get_n_children (node); i++)
+          {
+            gsk_cairo_renderer_render_node (self, gsk_container_node_get_child (node, i), cr);
+          }
+      }
       break;
 
     case GSK_TEXTURE_NODE:
diff --git a/gsk/gskglrenderer.c b/gsk/gskglrenderer.c
index eb0eacda18..36b158fee3 100644
--- a/gsk/gskglrenderer.c
+++ b/gsk/gskglrenderer.c
@@ -611,7 +611,6 @@ gsk_gl_renderer_add_render_item (GskGLRenderer           *self,
   graphene_rect_t viewport;
   graphene_matrix_t mv, transform;
   graphene_rect_t bounds;
-  GskRenderNode *child;
   RenderItem item;
   RenderItem *ritem = NULL;
   int program_id;
@@ -693,8 +692,7 @@ gsk_gl_renderer_add_render_item (GskGLRenderer           *self,
       gsk_gl_driver_init_texture_empty (self->gl_driver, item.render_data.render_target_id);
       gsk_gl_driver_create_render_target (self->gl_driver, item.render_data.render_target_id, TRUE, TRUE);
 
-      item.children = g_array_sized_new (FALSE, FALSE, sizeof (RenderItem),
-                                         gsk_render_node_get_n_children (node));
+      item.children = g_array_new (FALSE, FALSE, sizeof (RenderItem));
     }
   else
     {
@@ -738,10 +736,21 @@ gsk_gl_renderer_add_render_item (GskGLRenderer           *self,
       }
       break;
 
+    case GSK_CONTAINER_NODE:
+      {
+        guint i;
+
+        for (i = 0; i < gsk_container_node_get_n_children (node); i++)
+          {
+            GskRenderNode *child = gsk_container_node_get_child (node, i);
+            gsk_gl_renderer_add_render_item (self, projection, &mv, render_items, child, ritem);
+          }
+      }
+      return;
+
+    case GSK_NOT_A_RENDER_NODE:
     default:
-      /* If the node does not draw anything, we skip it */
-      if (item.render_data.render_target_id == 0)
-        goto out;
+      return;
     }
 
   /* Create the vertex buffers holding the geometry of the quad */
@@ -772,14 +781,6 @@ gsk_gl_renderer_add_render_item (GskGLRenderer           *self,
 
   if (item.children != NULL)
     render_items = item.children;
-
-out:
-  for (child = gsk_render_node_get_first_child (node);
-       child != NULL;
-       child = gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling (child))
-    {
-      gsk_gl_renderer_add_render_item (self, projection, &mv, render_items, child, ritem);
-    }
 }
 
 static gboolean
diff --git a/gsk/gskrendernode.c b/gsk/gskrendernode.c
index 41a9101026..641ab2f653 100644
--- a/gsk/gskrendernode.c
+++ b/gsk/gskrendernode.c
@@ -65,10 +65,6 @@ G_DEFINE_BOXED_TYPE (GskRenderNode, gsk_render_node,
                      gsk_render_node_ref,
                      gsk_render_node_unref)
 
-static GskRenderNode *
-gsk_render_node_remove_child (GskRenderNode *node,
-                              GskRenderNode *child);
-
 static void
 gsk_render_node_finalize (GskRenderNode *self)
 {
@@ -78,9 +74,6 @@ gsk_render_node_finalize (GskRenderNode *self)
 
   g_clear_pointer (&self->name, g_free);
 
-  while (self->first_child)
-    gsk_render_node_remove_child (self, self->first_child);
-
   g_slice_free1 (self->node_class->struct_size, self);
 }
 
@@ -174,269 +167,6 @@ gsk_render_node_get_node_type (GskRenderNode *node)
   return node->node_class->node_type;
 }
 
-/**
- * gsk_render_node_get_first_child:
- * @node: a #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Returns the first child of @node.
- *
- * Returns: (transfer none): the first child of the #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Since: 3.90
- */
-GskRenderNode *
-gsk_render_node_get_first_child (GskRenderNode *node)
-{
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (node), NULL);
-
-  return node->first_child;
-}
-
-/**
- * gsk_render_node_get_last_child:
- * @node: a #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Returns the last child of @node.
- *
- * Returns: (transfer none): the last child of the #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Since: 3.90
- */
-GskRenderNode *
-gsk_render_node_get_last_child (GskRenderNode *node)
-{
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (node), NULL);
-
-  return node->last_child;
-}
-
-/**
- * gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling:
- * @node: a #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Returns the next sibling of @node.
- *
- * Returns: (transfer none): the next sibling of the #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Since: 3.90
- */
-GskRenderNode *
-gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling (GskRenderNode *node)
-{
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (node), NULL);
-
-  return node->next_sibling;
-}
-
-/**
- * gsk_render_node_get_previous_sibling:
- * @node: a #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Returns the previous sibling of @node.
- *
- * Returns: (transfer none): the previous sibling of the #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Since: 3.90
- */
-GskRenderNode *
-gsk_render_node_get_previous_sibling (GskRenderNode *node)
-{
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (node), NULL);
-
-  return node->prev_sibling;
-}
-
-typedef void (* InsertChildFunc) (GskRenderNode *node,
-                                  GskRenderNode *child,
-                                  gpointer       user_data);
-
-static void
-gsk_render_node_insert_child_internal (GskRenderNode   *node,
-                                       GskRenderNode   *child,
-                                       InsertChildFunc  insert_func,
-                                       gpointer         insert_func_data)
-{
-  if (node == child)
-    {
-      g_critical ("The render node of type '%s' cannot be added to itself.",
-                  G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (node));
-      return;
-    }
-
-  if (!node->is_mutable)
-    {
-      g_critical ("The render node of type '%s' is immutable.",
-                  G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (node));
-      return;
-    }
-
-  insert_func (node, child, insert_func_data);
-
-  gsk_render_node_ref (child);
-
-  child->age = 0;
-
-  node->n_children += 1;
-  node->age += 1;
-
-  if (child->prev_sibling == NULL)
-    node->first_child = child;
-  if (child->next_sibling == NULL)
-    node->last_child = child;
-}
-
-static void
-insert_child_at_pos (GskRenderNode *node,
-                     GskRenderNode *child,
-                     gpointer       user_data)
-{
-  int pos = GPOINTER_TO_INT (user_data);
-
-  if (pos == 0)
-    {
-      GskRenderNode *tmp = node->first_child;
-
-      if (tmp != NULL)
-	tmp->prev_sibling = child;
-
-      child->prev_sibling = NULL;
-      child->next_sibling = tmp;
-
-      return;
-    }
-
-  if (pos < 0 || pos >= node->n_children)
-    {
-      GskRenderNode *tmp = node->last_child;
-
-      if (tmp != NULL)
-	tmp->next_sibling = child;
-
-      child->prev_sibling = tmp;
-      child->next_sibling = NULL;
-
-      return;
-    }
-
-  {
-    GskRenderNode *iter;
-    int i;
-
-    for (iter = node->first_child, i = 0;
-	 iter != NULL;
-	 iter = iter->next_sibling, i++)
-      {
-	if (i == pos)
-	  {
-	    GskRenderNode *tmp = iter->prev_sibling;
-
-	    child->prev_sibling = tmp;
-	    child->next_sibling = iter;
-
-	    iter->prev_sibling = child;
-
-	    if (tmp != NULL)
-	      tmp->next_sibling = child;
-
-	    break;
-	  }
-      }
-  }
-}
-
-/**
- * gsk_render_node_append_child:
- * @node: a #GskRenderNode
- * @child: a #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Appends @child to the list of children of @node.
- *
- * This function acquires a reference on @child.
- *
- * Returns: (transfer none): the #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Since: 3.90
- */
-GskRenderNode *
-gsk_render_node_append_child (GskRenderNode *node,
-                              GskRenderNode *child)
-{
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE_TYPE (node, GSK_CONTAINER_NODE), NULL);
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (child), node);
-  g_return_val_if_fail (node->is_mutable, node);
-
-  gsk_render_node_insert_child_internal (node, child,
-					 insert_child_at_pos,
-					 GINT_TO_POINTER (node->n_children));
-
-  return node;
-}
-
-/**
- * gsk_render_node_remove_child:
- * @node: a #GskRenderNode
- * @child: a #GskRenderNode child of @node
- *
- * Removes @child from the list of children of @node.
- *
- * This function releases the reference acquired when adding @child to the
- * list of children.
- *
- * Returns: (transfer none): the #GskRenderNode
- */
-static GskRenderNode *
-gsk_render_node_remove_child (GskRenderNode *node,
-                              GskRenderNode *child)
-{
-  GskRenderNode *prev_sibling, *next_sibling;
-
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (node), NULL);
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (child), node);
-  g_return_val_if_fail (node->is_mutable, node);
-
-  prev_sibling = child->prev_sibling;
-  next_sibling = child->next_sibling;
-
-  child->prev_sibling = NULL;
-  child->next_sibling = NULL;
-  child->age = 0;
-
-  if (prev_sibling)
-    prev_sibling->next_sibling = next_sibling;
-  if (next_sibling)
-    next_sibling->prev_sibling = prev_sibling;
-
-  node->age += 1;
-  node->n_children -= 1;
-
-  if (node->first_child == child)
-    node->first_child = next_sibling;
-  if (node->last_child == child)
-    node->last_child = prev_sibling;
-
-  gsk_render_node_unref (child);
-
-  return node;
-}
-
-/**
- * gsk_render_node_get_n_children:
- * @node: a #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Retrieves the number of direct children of @node.
- *
- * Returns: the number of children of the #GskRenderNode
- *
- * Since: 3.90
- */
-guint
-gsk_render_node_get_n_children (GskRenderNode *node)
-{
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (node), 0);
-
-  return node->n_children;
-}
-
 /**
  * gsk_render_node_get_bounds:
  * @node: a #GskRenderNode
diff --git a/gsk/gskrendernode.h b/gsk/gskrendernode.h
index abe6100b2e..70d26a553e 100644
--- a/gsk/gskrendernode.h
+++ b/gsk/gskrendernode.h
@@ -56,21 +56,14 @@ cairo_t *               gsk_cairo_node_get_draw_context         (GskRenderNode
 
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_90
 GskRenderNode *         gsk_container_node_new                  (void);
-
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_90
-GskRenderNode *         gsk_render_node_get_first_child         (GskRenderNode *node);
+GskRenderNode *         gsk_container_node_append_child         (GskRenderNode           *node,
+                                                                 GskRenderNode           *child);
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_90
-GskRenderNode *         gsk_render_node_get_last_child          (GskRenderNode *node);
+guint                   gsk_container_node_get_n_children       (GskRenderNode           *node);
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_90
-GskRenderNode *         gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling        (GskRenderNode *node);
-GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_90
-GskRenderNode *         gsk_render_node_get_previous_sibling    (GskRenderNode *node);
-
-GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_90
-GskRenderNode *         gsk_render_node_append_child            (GskRenderNode *node,
-                                                                 GskRenderNode *child);
-GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_90
-guint                   gsk_render_node_get_n_children          (GskRenderNode *node);
+GskRenderNode *         gsk_container_node_get_child            (GskRenderNode           *node,
+                                                                 guint                    idx);
 
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_90
 void                    gsk_render_node_set_transform           (GskRenderNode            *node,
diff --git a/gsk/gskrendernodeimpl.c b/gsk/gskrendernodeimpl.c
index 267a81261d..40c2ad6365 100644
--- a/gsk/gskrendernodeimpl.c
+++ b/gsk/gskrendernodeimpl.c
@@ -279,21 +279,32 @@ gsk_cairo_node_get_draw_context (GskRenderNode *node,
 
 /**** GSK_CONTAINER_NODE ***/
 
+typedef struct _GskContainerNode GskContainerNode;
+
+struct _GskContainerNode
+{
+  GskRenderNode render_node;
+
+  GPtrArray *children;
+};
+
 static void
 gsk_container_node_finalize (GskRenderNode *node)
 {
+  GskContainerNode *container = (GskContainerNode *) node;
+
+  g_ptr_array_unref (container->children);
 }
 
 static void
 gsk_container_node_make_immutable (GskRenderNode *node)
 {
-  GskRenderNode *child;
+  GskContainerNode *container = (GskContainerNode *) node;
+  guint i;
 
-  for (child = gsk_render_node_get_first_child (node);
-       child != NULL;
-       child = gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling (child))
+  for (i = 1; i < container->children->len; i++)
     {
-      gsk_render_node_make_immutable (child);
+      gsk_render_node_make_immutable (g_ptr_array_index (container->children, i));
     }
 }
 
@@ -301,33 +312,29 @@ static void
 gsk_container_node_get_bounds (GskRenderNode   *node,
                                graphene_rect_t *bounds)
 {
-  GskRenderNode *child;
+  GskContainerNode *container = (GskContainerNode *) node;
+  guint i;
 
-  child = gsk_render_node_get_first_child (node);
-
-  if (child == NULL)
+  if (container->n_children == 0)
     {
       graphene_rect_init_from_rect (bounds, graphene_rect_zero()); 
       return;
     }
 
-  gsk_render_node_get_bounds (child, bounds);
+  gsk_render_node_get_bounds (container->children[0], bounds);
 
-  for (child = gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling (child);
-       child;
-       child = gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling (child))
+  for (i = 1; i < container->n_children; i++)
     {
-      graphene_rect_t child_bounds, union_bounds;
+      graphene_rect_t child_bounds;
   
-      gsk_render_node_get_bounds (child, &child_bounds);
-      graphene_rect_union (bounds, &child_bounds, &union_bounds);
-      graphene_rect_init_from_rect (bounds, &union_bounds); 
+      gsk_render_node_get_bounds (container->children[i], &child_bounds);
+      graphene_rect_union (bounds, &child_bounds, bounds);
     }
 }
 
 static const GskRenderNodeClass GSK_CONTAINER_NODE_CLASS = {
   GSK_CONTAINER_NODE,
-  sizeof (GskRenderNode),
+  sizeof (GskContainerNode),
   "GskContainerNode",
   gsk_container_node_finalize,
   gsk_container_node_make_immutable,
@@ -348,6 +355,72 @@ static const GskRenderNodeClass GSK_CONTAINER_NODE_CLASS = {
 GskRenderNode *
 gsk_container_node_new (void)
 {
-  return gsk_render_node_new (&GSK_CONTAINER_NODE_CLASS);
+  GskContainerNode *container;
+
+  container = (GskContainerNode *) gsk_render_node_new (&GSK_CONTAINER_NODE_CLASS);
+
+  container->children = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func ((GDestroyNotify) gsk_render_node_unref);
+
+  return &container->render_node;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gsk_container_node_append_child:
+ * @node: a container node
+ * @child: a #GskRenderNode
+ *
+ * Appends @child to the list of children of @node.
+ *
+ * This function acquires a reference on @child.
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer none): the #GskRenderNode
+ *
+ * Since: 3.90
+ */
+GskRenderNode *
+gsk_container_node_append_child (GskRenderNode *node,
+                                 GskRenderNode *child)
+{
+  GskContainerNode *container = (GskContainerNode *) node;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE_TYPE (node, GSK_CONTAINER_NODE), NULL);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE (child), node);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (node->is_mutable, node);
+
+  g_ptr_array_add (container->children, gsk_render_node_ref (child));
+
+  return node;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gsk_container_node_get_n_children:
+ * @node: a container #GskRenderNode
+ *
+ * Retrieves the number of direct children of @node.
+ *
+ * Returns: the number of children of the #GskRenderNode
+ *
+ * Since: 3.90
+ */
+guint
+gsk_container_node_get_n_children (GskRenderNode *node)
+{
+  GskContainerNode *container = (GskContainerNode *) node;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE_TYPE (node, GSK_CONTAINER_NODE), 0);
+
+  return container->children->len;
+}
+
+GskRenderNode *
+gsk_container_node_get_child (GskRenderNode *node,
+                              guint          idx)
+{
+  GskContainerNode *container = (GskContainerNode *) node;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (GSK_IS_RENDER_NODE_TYPE (node, GSK_CONTAINER_NODE), NULL);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (idx < container->children->len, 0);
+
+  return g_ptr_array_index (container->children, idx);
 }
 
diff --git a/gsk/gskrendernodeprivate.h b/gsk/gskrendernodeprivate.h
index ca4a793e46..5e35396f91 100644
--- a/gsk/gskrendernodeprivate.h
+++ b/gsk/gskrendernodeprivate.h
@@ -16,21 +16,9 @@ struct _GskRenderNode
 
   volatile int ref_count;
 
-  /* The graph */
-  GskRenderNode *parent;
-  GskRenderNode *first_child;
-  GskRenderNode *last_child;
-  GskRenderNode *prev_sibling;
-  GskRenderNode *next_sibling;
-
-  int n_children;
-
   /* Use for debugging */
   char *name;
 
-  /* Tag updated when adding/removing children */
-  gint64 age;
-
   /* Paint opacity */
   double opacity;
 
diff --git a/gsk/gskvulkanrenderpass.c b/gsk/gskvulkanrenderpass.c
index 3dc3700071..f9398f2973 100644
--- a/gsk/gskvulkanrenderpass.c
+++ b/gsk/gskvulkanrenderpass.c
@@ -84,12 +84,14 @@ gsk_vulkan_render_pass_add_node (GskVulkanRenderPass *self,
       break;
 
     case GSK_CONTAINER_NODE:
-      for (GskRenderNode *child = gsk_render_node_get_first_child (node);
-           child;
-           child = gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling (child))
-        {
-          gsk_vulkan_render_pass_add_node (self, render, child);
-        }
+      {
+        guint i;
+
+        for (i = 0; i < gsk_container_node_get_n_children (node); i++)
+          {
+            gsk_vulkan_render_pass_add_node (self, render, gsk_container_node_get_child (node, i));
+          }
+      }
       break;
     }
 
diff --git a/gtk/gtksnapshot.c b/gtk/gtksnapshot.c
index 3f3192a1c3..63d5a6a7d5 100644
--- a/gtk/gtksnapshot.c
+++ b/gtk/gtksnapshot.c
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ void
 gtk_snapshot_push_node (GtkSnapshot   *snapshot,
                         GskRenderNode *node)
 {
+  g_return_if_fail (gsk_render_node_get_node_type (node) == GSK_CONTAINER_NODE);
+
   gtk_snapshot_append_node (snapshot, node);
 
   snapshot->state = gtk_snapshot_state_new (snapshot->state, node);
@@ -324,7 +326,7 @@ gtk_snapshot_append_node (GtkSnapshot   *snapshot,
 
   if (snapshot->state)
     {
-      gsk_render_node_append_child (snapshot->state->node, node);
+      gsk_container_node_append_child (snapshot->state->node, node);
       gsk_render_node_set_transform (node, &snapshot->state->transform);
     }
   else
diff --git a/gtk/inspector/gtktreemodelrendernode.c b/gtk/inspector/gtktreemodelrendernode.c
index 9e5c8a9684..5f15586f8c 100644
--- a/gtk/inspector/gtktreemodelrendernode.c
+++ b/gtk/inspector/gtktreemodelrendernode.c
@@ -527,15 +527,13 @@ append_node (GtkTreeModelRenderNode *nodemodel,
 
     case GSK_CONTAINER_NODE:
       {
-        GskRenderNode *child;
         gint elt_index;
+        guint i;
 
         elt_index = priv->nodes->len - 1;
-        for (child = gsk_render_node_get_first_child (node);
-             child;
-             child = gsk_render_node_get_next_sibling (child))
+        for (i = 0; i < gsk_container_node_get_n_children (node); i++)
           {
-            append_node (nodemodel, child, elt_index);
+            append_node (nodemodel, gsk_container_node_get_child (node, i), elt_index);
           }
       }
       break;
@@ -579,7 +577,7 @@ gtk_tree_model_render_node_set_root_node (GtkTreeModelRenderNode *model,
       iter_from_element (model, &iter, 0);
       path = gtk_tree_path_new_first ();
       gtk_tree_model_row_inserted (GTK_TREE_MODEL (model), path, &iter);
-      if (gsk_render_node_get_first_child (node))
+      if (priv->nodes->len > 1)
         gtk_tree_model_row_has_child_toggled (GTK_TREE_MODEL (model), path, &iter);
       gtk_tree_path_free (path);
     }