to be worried about getting a newborn and a toddler in a car that is 80ft away from the house?

[loveigglypiggly]

I just don't know how I will get a new born and a 24 month old in the car in the rain when our parking in 80ft away at the bottom of the garden. I want to move but DH thinks I have lost the plot???!! AIBU......and more to the point how would you do if safely???? Bags, babies, rain AH!!!!

I don't think you have lost the plot. I think that it will be a pain getting them both it to start with, but once they are a bit bigger, it will be fine. Don't sell the house for this reason alone as it will get better.

Anyway, here are some options for you:

You can get plastic raincovers to fit the infant carrier carseats - that would keep your newborn dry.

You can get a chassis to clip your carseat onto so you could wheel the newborn's carseat to and from the car. Plus raincover for carseat itself.

Your toddler - could get a thin raincoat thing (like a cagoul - sp??) that is easy to get on/off and won't make the carseat straps need adjusting.

Your toddler - if worried about running off, could get some reins.

Could stick them both in a double buggy in order to take them to and from car. Would think that one of those like a Phil and Teds sort of style would help re going through front door (I got a double buggy that wouldn't fit through my front door )

oh and possibly reins for toddler.

Hold the hand of the toddler and baby in carseat. Put baby in car... put carseat on the floor open the door chuck in carseat, don't let go of toddler and put toddler in the fasten baby's carseat and get in the car.
It really will not be difficult, it's just your toddler is not 2 yet and so you're forgetting the leaps they'll take by then.

In play park - toddler runs wild and you follow toddler with baby in pram or sling. Most play parks have gates/fences anyway, so toddler unlikely to escape, newborn can always sit in pram for a short while as you hunt down wayward toddler.

WRT getting dressed, the newborn really isn't going to make much of an impact, it's when they get older

So newborn in seat/chair/cot while you get dressed/showered. In bathroom on gym or mat while you get yourself sorted. You may find that the new baby is less stressful in these day to day situations than your PFB was as a newborn. Because you're an old hand now and realise that the baby isn't going to burst into flames if left for a moment, or melt in the rain. And you'll have things you have to do, i.e. meeting your existing child's needs, getting ready yourself and you'll do these regardless of whether the baby is grizzling a little or has to be put down in order for you to do these things.

Can you all move in and drill me! Your fabulous!
Congratulation Meep - you make it sound easy.

Tattifer I think I would be better off going to bed dressed for the following day than ask DH to get my clothes ready! I guess I'll have to get up at 5:30am and have a shower!

"baby isn't going to burst into flames if left for a moment, or melt in the rain"

I would definitely go the 'sling' route. I had a 'hug-a'bub' and can't recommmend it highly enough. I had a newborn and an 18month old and lived in London where we NEVER got to park in the same street as our house.
Yes, it does feel a bit daunting at first (I was very post-natally anxious at the beginning - but it wears off with practice! You get over yourself ).
All above posts are sensible options. If you do a large shop - just pack your frozen and essnetial stuff together so you can leave the rest in the car should you run out of hands. My shopping regualrly waited in the car until dp got home!
Or you can go to the bother of unpacking the buggy and then loading everything onto this and getting toddle to hold the side with newborn in the seat.
But, having said all that, when we finally moved to a house with a drive I felt like i'd won the lottery!
Good luck and get out and do it! x

I would try to shower and wash and dry hair in the evening rather than in the morning, then if you can jumo in for two minutes to freshen up in the morning then great but otherwise you will still be clean and hair will just need a quick brush.

OK. The thought of newborn+toddler is scarier than the reality.
If you haven't got one already, get a sling. Very handy if toddler decides they're tired after a walk - pu newborn in sling, and toddler in puschair.
As for getting yourself ready/showered etc. Have things ready the night before. Maybe bath/shower night before too, when toddler is in bed, and dh can look after newborn?

You'll be fine

As for food shopping - internet wins everytime

I have the same problem. I dream of a house with a driveway......or even.(swoons)..an internal garage! I worry about who/what to take out first and who to leave in the house. Makes every car trip a PITA.

It's a piece of cake. Give it a few weeks and you'll wonder whatever you were worried about.

My tip would be to get a pouch sling like a coorie for the newborn. This is easy to get on and off quickly leaving you with hands to carry a bag and usher the toddler along or hold a brolly.

I'm with meep.. have a nearly 3yo and an 8wk old.

toddler in raincoat, baby in arms under a blanket.. keep a dry blanket in the car.

Dressing.. really, just put baby in the bouncer and go wash/dress, baby will cry but isn't going to spontaneously combust from being left for 5/10 mins while you get a shower.

If you're worried about toddler being left with baby, take one with you or buy a playpen and put baby in there so toddler cant get to them... do not do what i threatened the other day and Duct-tape the toddler to a wall

And you don't have to dress your newborn in the morning. I was worried about how I was going to feed/change/dress DD when she was born and I had to get DSs to school on time. The reality was that we were never late and it was never an issue. DD simply got fed etc when we got home from the school run. My sling was invaluable for getting from the car to school with the DSs in tow though.

Agree that the thought of managing a Toddler and a Baby is daunting,but the reality is easier.Just need careful planning to save yourself time.

My advice would be to use the Buggy to transport baby,and all your essential bits to the Car,with Toddler dressed in Raincoat and wellies,which they love.perhaps get a wriststrap for toddler,which you could put over the handle of buggy,so your hands are free to push.

Get used to storing buggy in House somewhere.

I used to put TV/DVD on for Toddler after breakfast,whilst I took baby upstairs in bouncychair,and got dressed.

Alternatively,I now get out of bed,and get myself totally ready,before I wake up my DD's, (or undo the stairgate on their room),when I'm in their room I collect their clothes,and bring them and the clothes down.
I found it easier having a spare toothbrush and flannel downstairs,in the downstairs loo,if you have one,or available in the kitchen ,if not.

Lastly,I always packed my Changebag last thing at night,and get the bags ready for school/playgroup all ready that evening too,for the next day to just grab and go.

I thinks slings etc are good,but found it easier to load the buggy up.

It definitely gets easier.

get a wrap sling. stick the newborn in and walk down with the babygear whilst holding the toddler's hand. you would have to normally toddler's buggy in the boot.

i had this when i had a 3.5yo toddler (with a broken leg) and a newborn. Last winter I carried down the toddler with the broken leg at the same time as the newborn. I have minimal babyshit gear which just fitted in my handbag.

I can completely understand you worrying, but you can get round it. Train your toddler before your baby is born to do the things that are worrying you, such as walking safely to the car. One of mine was ds climbing up the stairs himself so I could get them both upstairs after bathtime. For getting out of the house I bought a backpack big enough to carry all their bits and pieces and a good pouch sling, leaving one hand free for toddler and the other for keys!

harness the toddler into a small baby sized cart and put the baby in the cart, toddler pulls baby, your hands are free. don't need car or need to go to park as pulling cart will both entertain and exhaust toddler.

All this can be done around the garden, in your nightie

what you need is a trolley from the supermarket
one of those ones that you can put 2 children in

You can buy kids from the supermarket

I'm really struggling to see the problem. Its only 25 metres. I dont mean that in a horrible way either I'm just wondering how you plan to do anything, shower, hang out washing etc I'm sure when you start you'll wonder whyyou worried

I've done it, and done it with a preschooler, a toddler and a newborn, and with a 5yo, a preschooler, a toddler and a newborn

YANBU to be worried about it, but YAB daft to think you won't find some way of doing it. Get a sling to put the newborn in, keep the buggy in the house, load up the buggy with your bags and the toddler, take it to the car and load it up from there. Think creatively!