General :: Memory Optimization For Child Processes?

I work on Linux for ARM processor for cable modem. There is a tool that I have written (as the job demands) that sends/storms customized UDP packets using raw sockets. I form the packet from scratch so that we have the flexibility to play with different options. This tool is mainly for stress testing routers.I actually have multiple interfaces created. Each interface will obtain IP addresses using DHCP. This is done in order to make the modem behave as virtual customer premises equipment (vcpe).

When the system comes up, I start those processes that are asked to. Every process that I start will continuously send packets. So process 0 will send packets using interface 0 and so on. Each of these processes that send packets would allow configuration (change in UDP parameters and other options at run time). Thats the reason I decide to have separate processes. I start these processes using fork and excec from the provisioning processes of the modem. The problem now is that each process takes up a lot of memory. Starting just 3 such processes, causes the system to crash and reboot.

I have tried the following:-

1-I have always assumed that pushing more code to the Shared Libraries will. when I tried moving many functions into shared library and keeping minimum code in the processes, it made no difference to my surprise.

2-I also removed all arrays and made them use the heap. However it made no difference. This maybe because the processes runs continuously and it makes no difference if it is stack or heap?

3-I suspect the process from I where I call the fork is huge and that is the reason for the processes that I make result being huge. I am not sure how else I could go about. say process A is huge -> I start process B by forking and excec. B inherits A's memory area. So now I do this -> A starts C which inturn starts B will also not help as C still inherits A?. I used vfork as an alternative which did not help either. I do wonder why.