To ask your ‘early days’ hacks with a newborn and 3 year old!

[Moonicorn]

DC2 due in a couple of weeks, DC1 is 3. Looking for helpful hacks if anybody has any!

Will probably be bfing but will give the odd bottle (or rather DH will so I can sleep).

Yeah that struck me too! If it hadn’t been for my DH being on 3yr old duty neither my second nor third DC would have been breastfed and I’d never have had a minutes rest!

I had tricky breastfeeders but this applies regardless! Before you sit down to feed the newborn make sure older DC has been to the toilet, has a snack and drink, and has entertainment (thank you octonauts!).

DC2 and 3 had almost all of their naps in the sling so I could play with the bigger one/cook without having to worry about them waking up!

There will be hard days and when there are
give yourself a break and do whatever gets you through it. But pretty soon you’ll have a system!

Google home. I remember being kid feed once and we had a google home in the kitchen which I could command to put music or videos on to entertain my 3 year old until the feed was complete. Yes it's a scene but it helped when you are in a feed with a bouncing around 3 year old desperate for attention.

Safe places when out and about - I would only go to playgrounds with a fence and single exit. I remember the terror in one playground where there were bushes and tunnels and sand. Pram got stuck in the mud and I lost him: for about 30'seconds. Never went back:

But have a plan to get out - 3 year old needs exercise and fresh air. I didn't have a routine for the baby bar feed as much as possible in the day time but kept strictly to the 3 years old routine

Use a playpen but for the 3yo not the baby. Its a place where they can play with their toys that are too small for the baby to safely pick up, or do construction playing without baby crashing into. Even before baby is mobile they like having their own little space.

If in doubt go out. Use a sling, or pram for baby + reins for toddler (mine hated buggy board).

When the baby cries ask the bigger one why they think they're crying.

Duplo bath!

@UWhatNow this is what I’m aiming for, wish me luck!

My 2.5 year old learnt early that demanding the potty got my attention! I learned to always have it within reach when sitting down to breast feed.