To ask for your top tips on dealing with the arrival of DC2

[BB2000]

I’m expecting DC2 in about a months time and while I’m getting excited about meeting the new baby I’m also a little (a lot) daunted by it. I found having DC1 very challenging – difficult birth with c-section and baby in SCBU, very demanding clingy baby, and stressed out mummy. This is all coming back to me now.

My DC1 is now 2.4 months and lovely little thing, my DH while great is away 3 to 4 nights a week so I’ll have to manage a fair bit on my own.

I’d love to know what was the best advice you were given, or the best strategies you developed for going from 1 to 2. I’m thinking things like :

how to you keep DC1 happy while you are breast feeding/feeding – especially when it takes so long at the beginning?

how do you bath and put two children to bed at the same time?

how do you stop DC1 getting jealous and split your time fairly between a demanding toddler and a new born?

These probably sound like silly questions to people with 2 (or more DC) and I’m sure I’ll just muddle through, but I’d really like to have a few techniques/strategies up my sleeve for the early days. What advice would you give?

the cot is called the Gulliver cot

Less than 2 years between mine. Also had hideous time with first one and geared myself up for absolute hell with the second.

But I have to say having 2 of them was a piece of cake compared to having the first one and that whole adapting to being a parent thing (horrendous time). I was so pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the whole process so much more than first time round.

Hopefully it will be the same for you OP.

Would also recommend lots of jigsaws, books, fuzzy felt and other stuff you can do with one hand that doesn't need too much tidying up.

Good luck!

Thanks yellowowl! How did you fasten it to the side of your bed? Was it the right height?

it was the right height for our kingsize bed, but we were going to saw bits off the legs to make it fit . we used flexible rods with hooks on the end to fasten it . (cant remember what they are called, sorry!)

DS was 2.5 when DD was born and this is what got me through it...

Cbeebies
Chocolate
A travel mug
Using a sling instead of a buggy (esp to chase after the toddler on his scooter)
Online shopping
Taking turns hanging out at friends houses
Low expectations
Learning to multitask while breastfeeding (never as well as my best friend, who claims she once played tennis with her toddler whilst feeding his baby sister)
Getting toddler DS to sing songs for DD, which would miraculously stop her crying.

I've just checked back in - so many suggestions! Lots of good ideas I would have never thought of. Thank you!