Toddler and newborn - practical tips??

[Luckystar1]

Ok I'm thinking in advance but DS will be roughly 20 months when DC2 comes along (fingers crossed).

Every time I do something simple (have a shower, cook the dinner, get breakfast, do bedtime etc) I just have no clue how I will do anything with a mad toddler and a vulnerable newborn.

Has anyone got any top tips that I can archive for the frenzied early (and not so early!) days...?

[camelfinger]

Lower your standards. Try to break down the day into small chunks so having the whole day ahead of you doesn't seem daunting. Have easy to prepare meals e.g nice bread and cheeses. Ask your partner to take them both out so you can sleep for a bit. I rearranged certain things so I wouldn't have to reach up or bend down as I knew I was having a c section. The toddler will get a lot more attention so the younger one will get used to having to fit in. I don't worry about having to make sure I take everything with me when we go out - sometimes it's just good to get out of the house quickly. Also being outside means that you aren't at home making a mess so you will have less tidying to do. Have nappies and wipes throughout the house so you don't have to go far to change a nappy. Actually I think I tried to spend the whole day without having to go upstairs. Try not to get in the habit of carrying your toddler. I would sometimes "tell the newborn off" so the toddler didn't feel like I was always singling him out! Good luck, sorry for incoherent ramblings.

[BettyBi0]

No experience yet but DC2 due soon and similar age gap. I've been recommended a stretchy sling for newborn and to try and make a box of presents for toddler eg, sticker books, new story, small toys, to fish an instant distractor out at crunch times

[Lilipot15]

Either shower the night before or shower before your partner leaves, then at least you're dressed and ready. Have kids clothes laid out and ready, bags packed, buggy by door or in car, and as someone else said wipes, nappies and change mat downstairs as well.

[Luckystar1]

Ok that makes sense. I can't shower before DH leaves, as that's very early and he's home late so could do evenings but a nice shower really wakes me up. Oh well, I'm sure I'll manage! Billions have before me!!

How do you do things like get a shopping trolley or put the children in the car? I'm assuming toddler first then baby?

[NotSoFancyPancy]

You could always take toddler into shower with you and baby on playmat in bathroom too. When desperate peppa on iPad/ phone distracts well!
As said before bags packed ready to go and clothes laid out night before. Plenty snacks for toddler while feeding baby.

[dontaskdonttell]

There's 18 months between my dc1&2 and i would either shower in the morning before dh went to work or I'd leave toddler to toddle about upstairs ( stair gate on the stairs ) and then have baby in their chair (strapped in) in the bathroom with me, or in their cot as they got older, always leaving bathroom door open so I can hear everything.

You will really quickly pick up how to do everything with 2 young kids. Like a pp said, easy meals or prepare when baby naps.

I'm expecting dc3 in 10 weeks and I have 3, aged 3 and under.

It's daunting at first but I found it quite easy to manage them both compared with how I imagined it would be.

[northdownmummy]

Toddler in living room with a favourite toy, baby either in cot or bouncy chair in the bathroom watching me shower.

For shopping and other trips out, a sticker on the car that the toddler must keep their hand on while you're getting baby in and out.

A sling so you can were the baby while preparing meals or playing outside with the toddler. My biggest challenges in the early days was getting DD1 enough time to just st run about being a noisy toddler and burning off energy. I felt bad for always shushing her and telling her to be careful.

My very to tip is to get yourself and toddler totally ready, toilet trips coats and shoes on before getting the baby into outdoor clothes then car seat. This is my big prefigure point as DD2 screams if in car seat but not moving within 15s

[Luckystar1]

Thank you that's all very useful!! I suppose my worry was that I have been told never, ever to leave them on their own together, but I think I'd be happy with DS running around while I could see baby.

I have no idea how the pp which 3 under 3 will do it! Super woman!

[KatharinaRosalie]

When DC2 was a newborn, DC1 was very interested in her and it wasn't safe to leave them alone, so took baby with me to bathroom for showers in her bouncy chair and left toddler playing in the living room. Of course, if does happen that you come back and they have decided that paper is no fun to draw on and walls are much better, but oh well..

Sling was an absolute must - didn't use it with DC1, but DC2 practicallt lived in it, so I could run after the older one.

[Fjlb]

I'm having the same thoughts. Dc 2 due in Aug ds will be 30 months so hoping old enough to help a bit. I am realising I will have to have either a toddler or a baby with me on every toilet trip!
I'be also realised with size of porch I'm not going to be able to get a double pushchair round 😕 tried sin on buggy board the other day and he hated it.

[Out2pasture]

I had 3 under 3 :)
I would recommend as many pre made meals in the freezer as possible.

[reallywittyname]

Getting them in and out the car and shopping trolleys etc... my rule is that the one who can run off gets strapped in first. If it's pouring with rain then baby can go in car seat and straps get done after toddler has been strapped in. Although if it's pouring with rain...don't bother going out

[CityDweller]

Sling is essential. Get a 'stretchy wrap' as it's easy to pop baby in and out. So if getting them into car: baby in sling, help toddler into car seat. Once toddler strapped in put baby in car seat

That, plus lower your standards on things like tv/iPad for toddler and quality of meals.

[Luckystar1]

Thank you. This is all very useful. In many ways it's much more daunting than when naively pregnant with DS thinking he'd just slot into life .

God I'm dreading it. Poor baby. I feel so bad for it already!