Tips for 1 1/2yr old and newborn

[Dozeyland]

DD will be 1.5years when DC is born, what tips or advice to you have in regards

-to keeping DD in her bathtime/bedtime routine whilst i will be BF DC2
-Tips for including/entertaining DD when BF DC

• How to make sure we're getting enough quality time as a family as well with them individually

My mother was saying to me how a lot of women feel they are ignoring their newborn to look after their toddler, but that it was just that the toddler requires more attention and the newborn just really requires to be fed &changed and then either put down in moses basket or into a carrier (like moby wrap). Hopefully the newborn will feed every 2-4 hours so you can get the bedtime routine in there.
I'm afraid although my DD2 is 6 weeks old, I've been relying alot on tv when BFing, but I like to pretend its because of the weather...

I'd also recommend going to as many toddler groups as you can (if you feel you can get out and about) as then your toddler can use up their energy and not get so frustrated inside, again hopefully the newborn would sleep in the baby carrier.

I had this.
My top tip: get out the house once every day. Even if just to walk around the block. Everyone needs the change of scenery.

Bath time, I found, was an evolving thing. Something worked for a month or two, then both had grown and we changed it. To start, I'd bath DD2 with DD1 in bath but playing, then bath DD1 while DD2 sat in bouncy chair in bathroom. Then feed DD2 which knocked her out for about 20 mins during which I'd read DD1 a story and put her to sleep. It worked like clockwork as I've described oh, about 1 night out of 7.

I agree with finding groups, definitely a good to have "stuff planned".

You can read storys, or just talk to your toddler, while feeding the baby. I worried about that but it turned out to be the easiest bit.

A sling was also a lifesaver for me - was a "hands free" kit that let me hold the baby and play/get stuff for my toddler. This was a wrap sling (moby wrap) so DD2 couldn't fall out or dangle.

Good luck!! It can be a tough year but I am very happy my two are so close together. DD1 can't remember life without DD2 and they are very good friends now at 4 and 2.5. And, best of all, we are nappy free, cot free, changing bag free and nearly buggy free!!

DDs are 16 months apart. It might not be very helpful but I think it was about a year before I could do the bath and bed routine on my own. I was very lucky that if DH wasn't about my sister lives down the road and would come and help which meant I never really had to figure it out. I think a sling's a great idea though.

In general though, little babies don't really do much. We spent a lot of time and effort doing nice things with DD1, and just try and remember that they never asked for a sibling so you can't expect them to love every minute. Babies are really portable too so you can continue getting your toddler out of the house (whereas with DD1 it used to take over an hour to leave the house, the second time you just chuck some stuff in a bag and get out the door!) I do remember a couple of occasions of me BF the baby while DD1 just stood in front of me and screamed, we've all been there and it does pass. I'm so pleased I had them so close together though, now they're 3 and 4 and have been playing nicely this morning for the last hour and a half while I have a cup of tea and faff about in my PJs! Seeing them play together makes it all well worthwhile... Good luck!!

Agree that bathtime is difficult, at least initially. Your dc2 will be forced into some version of your dc1 routine and may eventually 'get' it. Took my dd, now 7 months, about 5 months to get bathtime in sync with ds who's now 2.2.

Bedtime is a 2 person job still as dd wants bed/bottle as soon as bath is over which is ds' story time. If I feed her while reading to ds she won't sleep then gets overtired. I want to stick with ds' routine as much as possible because it will be easy to.adapt to 2 when she can tolerate a half hour after bath. Then they can go up to bed together. Aiming to get them sharing a room then too.

Getting out is easier before weaning starts so do it then. Weaning means you're stuck in a cycle of milk, meals for toddler, meals for baby (which invariably will not be the same), naps for baby and naps for toddler. I found this most frustrating and struggled to get myself sorted. Many days with breakfast at 3pm and teeth brushed just before bed. If I got out of pjs I called it a successful day! Now she's dropped the 11am bottle and eats at roughly the same time as him its much easier.

Entertaining toddler while feeding is easier than you think. Cbeebbies will be a good friend for a while. I also find duplo keeps him occupied for a while. Could never do the reading thing as needed both hands for bfing (big boobs).

Hope that makes sense. Started it at 9 this morning, left my phone at home and been out all day. Told you it gets easier