DC2 due in a week,DD1 more clingy, stroppy than ever! What to do?

[mammainlove]

To be fair she has had a cold and cough for over a week,, but it's about gone now. We've been extra sensitive about this, and we know she will be aware of a big change being imminent, so we are very soft and shower her with love and understanding when she throws a tantrum etc. she is nearly 2. Her tantrums are just getting worse though,, she is getting more rude, e.g. demanding things, smacking us, crying all the time..

I am starting to worry tbh. I put her to bed every night. I don't really mind this, I like cuddling her to sleep, we co sleep, cot with side down joined to bed. She has started to wake up in the night and demand to sleep cuddled up close to me in our part of the bed, making me really squashed! If I try move her back, she screams, a lot! My dp has tried putting her to bed, this is only possible if I'm not in the house. She also is stuck to me like a leach these days, will rarely go to dp, and relies on me for everything..

Obviously I'm concerned because when DC2 arrives, as I intend to bf, it's going to make life very difficult!! I don't know if to start being a bit firmer with DD, letting her cry more. I just feel this is harsh as she's already coping with a lot.. My partner works a lot, and often late shifts, so there's not much chance for him to spend much 1:1 time with DD, or put her to bed much..

Sorry for long post!! Any advice appreciated xx

Have you been talking a lot about the new arrival?
If so, don't. You'll be building it up and up for her! With ds, we didn't really say much about DD's arrival until just before and even then in passing and took DS's lead. So if he lost interest, we stopped.

When dd arrived, we casually introduced the new baby to ds then gave him tea and put him to bed so his routine didn't change.

It's too late to change your DD's routine without it causing a lot of headache. What will you do about sleeping arrangements when the new baby arrives? Will your DP move out as you can't have the baby next to your toddler. If so, I'd try and set that up now but in a matter of fact way - present it as a change.

When your new baby arrives, you'll be quite hormonal and might feel like your relationship with your eldest has changed for the worse (well I did at first, couldn't stop crying ). You need to get plenty of help - your DP and anyone else to take your dd out and take the new baby for half an hour at a time so you can look after your dd a bit too. Also newborns are very intense and need you so invest in a good sling so you can carry baby and look after your dd. don't worry about routines etc for baby, just feed and carry about. Then it makes it easier to keep to your eldest's routine, which is very important.

Thanks...yep got plenty of slings.