new baby and 2 yr old toddler

[backpackingfamily]

DS is now 5 weeks old.

DD is 2 1/2 yrs old.

Overall, DD has adapted really well to having a new baby, having to share mummy etc. but she does "love" him quite enthusiastically which tends to make him cry.

Its tough trying to balance keeping DD involved, and not making her resent him by saying "no, don't touch the baby" all the time, but also I am fearful that DS is going to get scared of people coming too close.

DD really wants to be involved in his life, and is trying really hard to learn how to be gentle etc. but she is still 2 yrs old.

As a mother, you are meant to be a place of sanctuary for your baby where they feel safe. Will the over enthusiastic love he receives from his sister whilst i am nursing him, make him feel less safe with me?

Congratulations! And to answer your question, I doubt it. Ours are 25mo apart and despite saying very little to dd for the first few months of DS'a life apart from "please don't climb on me when we're feeding... Do you want to get a book... No don't pull his feet... I am not a climbing frame... Go and see your father..." DS is now 11mo and they get on fabulously. Watching the delight on DS'a face when his sister comes in to talk to him is lovely.

When my 2nd ds was born I felt like I spent my life saying , leave your brother alone, sit still etc, he was quite jealous and aggressive. Now ds 2 is 6 months old and already no one can make ds2 laugh quite like ds1 does. There is 26 months between my 2 and I worried so much the first few months. I think the 2nd one just adapts and is more resilient/chilled than first one. You have given her a little friend for life and your 2 nd child will be fine, I think the protective animal instinct just comes out and we want to protect number 2. I felt so bad that ds2 was always surrounded by noise and chaos and dragged along to groups etc, but he is such a chilled happy little soul xx

Congratulations, I remember those first few weeks well. I have 22 months between my two and my daughter also liked to help out alot. I think it is important to remember that babies are alot tougher than we think and also that your daughter is going to your son's favourite person for a long time. Let her help you out and make the most of the time he is asleep to give her special one to one time.
My 2 are two and four now and the best of friends most of the time. Try to enjoy it, it is hard work at first but so worth it.

My DDs are 24 months apart and DD2 now
10 months old. Like other posts, no one can make DD2 laugh like DD1 can. DD1 is also fiercely protective of DD2.

I let DD1 'help' with bringing nappies and wipes, and 'tucking' DD2 in for nap, splashing water on DD2s body only during bath times etc. I remember constantly telling her to be gentle, but thinking back, this probably makes DD2 more resilient!

Congrats on your new arrival!

24 months between my two, now 3y and 15mth.

To start with I thought DS2 was going to be killed by brotherly love! We did quite a bit of "lets gently tickle his feet" "shall we get a new toy" etc

Like everyone else above, they now absolutely adore each other. Stick with it, it gets better, and babies are quite resilient! It took til DS2 started crawling (at 5 months!) for me to be less edgy about it tho.