To ask how to manage a toddler and baby

[waterlane]

It's come to something when cooking dinner is a welcome escape from the children. Tried to do crafts with the toddler and sit baby in the high chair but he was having none of it. Toddler then wanted to get out. Baby went in jumperoo for all of five minutes and now tv is on. Any tips?? Baby just wants to crawl about on the floor and play with wires rather than his toys. Constantly feel like I'm neglecting one of them. I can't wait for the day they play together!

My 8 month old is actually easier when my three year old is around. She kind of wriggles after him picking up all the mess he makes and seems quite fascinated by him. When he's at nursery she's always getting herself into corners or under the side tables and whinging! I'll be digging baby jail out of the garage as soon as she can sit unaided.

I'm not an "activities" mum. Sometimes we bake or play jigsaws but I'm not interested in raising children who can't make their own fun so I try to just be there chatting about what he's up to while doing other stuff.

I had my first July 06 and my 3rd in Sept 09, no twins, I feel your pain!

Get a cable tidy for the wires. I had a massive playpen for mine so I’d highly recommend.

I feel you! I went for my smear test a few weeks ago when my DH got home from work - it was such a lovely break haha! Hang in there!

This was the thread I needed today. 3 month old and 2.5 year old and just had the worst day. Solidarity!

Mine are 2.5 and 1.5 and just this last week I have started to see some light at the end of the tunnel. They are starting to play together a bit, the biting phase has passed, and they will reliably sit and watch an episode of Blaze while I cook dinner.

Solidarity here too. It's a challenge.

I used to have a box of toys for the corner of the kitchen that were only used when I was cooking.
Old plastic jars filled with rice or beans (with the tops screwed on extra tight) so they could make towers, Colander and some of pipe cleaners to shove in the holes, aqua doodle mat thing to draw on but not make mess (dd2 used to love eating felt tip pens so could only colour when I was watching like a hawk. Eating blue felts makes your poo a disturbing shade of green who knew!) really anything to give you that time.
Prep early when you can cause the evening is manic.
Mine are now 6 and 3 and play together well most of the time.

It’s a phase of do what you can to get through stage.

My oldest used to love throwing soft balls or balled up socks down the hall for her sister to fetch once dd2 was crawling.
So I used to save that for when I was desperate for alone time or needed to get something done.
She’s totally normal now and doesn’t always think she’s a dog...

Mine are 18 months apart. I feel your pain - it is a struggle but you have to push through and eventually it's ok.

But there is no doubt that sometimes it's just a huge round of frustration and tears. Sorry not to be more positive but some days I seriously celebrated getting through the day without losing my marbles.

It's difficult if the toddler is your first because you're both learning. They have a really short attention span and i found the best thing was to get one thing out for the DC and one thing in reserve, so that when they got bored of the first, they got the 2nd which i put away and got the next thing ready.

It is also really ok to put a short children's programme on for one while you attend to the other.

Cover up any wires and things that baby is not allowed to get to. If this is too difficult due to your house layout then try a baby pen. At least it gives you peace of mind for a short while and they can both play.

To be honest, I find it almost impossible.

I have a 3 year old and a 7 month old who goes ape shit when I put her down. Partner now looks after both while I cook dinner.

I also had to lower my expectations of what sort of dinners I could make. For the foreseeable future it will be pasta, or things that you can make loads of and then have it for dinner two days in a row like spag Bol, stir fry. Easy roast dinners are always good as well as you can just bung a chicken in the oven and leave it be. I then just do packet roast potatoes etc. I also now buy frozen meals (as awful as that sounds), but things like fish pie, battered fish.

There just isn't actually any time to do anything, and children and babies don't let you do anything. I'm guessing it gets easier. When they are both about 3 years old 🙈.

I have a 23m and 4m old. I haven't slept longer than 4hrs straight since my youngest was born, but thankfully my oldest sleeps 7-6 uninterrupted most nights.

During the day it's all about survival. Toddler spends time in his pen, or watching cbeebies while youngest fed. We play with his toys together if baby ever sleeps independently. Going out takes fair bit of effort to get us all ready, but generally more manageable on the move so worth it.

Covid doesn't restrict life as much as 2 under 2 does. I just hope they like each other when they're older and it's all worth it!