Small age gap between DC - what's your routine?

[passmyglass]

Am pg with DD2 and as excited as I am about her arrival, am slightly apprehensive about how I'll cope day-to-day. There will only be a 15 month age gap. No family nearby and DH works long hours.

Is there anyone out there who also has a small age gap between DC and could share their daily routine? I'd love to have an idea of how to organise my day with a tiny one and a just-toddling one!

A good sling will be your best friend. It's incredibly hard to look after a toddler and a newborn without one, IMO, but with one you can be with your toddler and let your NB sleep on you. I would also get DH to take all his year's holiday after his paternity leave (and even some unpaid if possible) so you've got a solid stretch of a few weeks with two pairs of hands. Mine were 17 months apart and it is Hard Work for the first few months. However when they're a bit older they will play together brilliantly.

I had just under 12 months between mine and found that a routine didn't really work but just took each day as it came! Dont worry about the keeping on top of the housework just do bits when and as you can your toddler may enjoy 'helping' with this, and when you get two mins to rest recharge your batteries! And just make sure u have a few meals in the freezer to whip out on days that have gone pear shaped!

After the first 3 months everything seems so much easier!

Am still learning have a 20 month old and 6 weeks old but would def agree with Zuleika D re pat leave. DH had 4 weeks and after first 2 mad weeks, we managed to get out and about more doing some really nice things rather than just functional tasks which helped us bond as a 4 and enabled DC1 to have lots of attention and fun to help in settle with DC2.

I find I only walk from house in week with double buggy or drive and use sling + single buggy / DC1 walks (e.g., into play place) - i.e. don't trog sround with double in/out car. Save double car outings for weekends.
DC1 goes to nursery 1 day a week . Worth every penny. He loves it. He's getting social time and makes me feel if I don't get to a group he's has some social peer time Mon-Fri and get to do 1-1 stuff with DC2 which sometimes can be difficult in day with DC1 around.
Agree re sling being great. I'm getting on with Babasling.
Keep to DC1's routine re bedtime etc. Remember in early days you'll get 1-1 with DC2 in evenings when they're not 'going to bed' as such.
Prepare meals when DC1 is sleeping. I find nothing can happen for a couple of hours and then everything (DC1 tantrum, DC2 wanting feeding, time for dinner etc) all happens at the same time.
Don't be too harsh on yourself and expect too much. You may need to lessen what you're used to fitting in a day with 2.

To end on a positive I have found it soooo much easier than I thought it would be. We have our moments but all in all you'll know what you're doing and it's no where near as difficult as adjusting from none to 1!
Good luck.

I have 15 months between mine. They are 6 and 21 months now.

The hardest things I found were leaving them in the same room together, so I have as much doubles of everything as I can, cots, bouncer, walker, kettle and bottle all downstairs as well as upstairs so that I can have everything to hand easily.

Routine is your friend and Ive managed to get my DH into quite a good one!!
I get up every day and have a shower. Whilst I do this, my DH dresses both babies. I then dry my hair and do my make up with them watching tv or listening to the radio whilst he comes down and washes their bottles and cups and puts them in the steraliser.
Then he makes my DS breakfast (toast) whilst I prepare bottles/change bag/buggy or anything else I might need for the day.
When he leaves for work at 8.15 we are all dressed and up for the day as well.

I have stuck to a routine of 2 playgroups a week and 1 visit to the shops. Everything I might need for the outine is prepared beforehand and put on the buggy so I just sling them on and go. A double buggy is a must. Indulgent but I have 1 in the house and a cheap light one in the boot of my car so we dont have to do all of that putting it in palaver when we go out.

We prob watch quite alot of tv but it occupies DS and lets me feed DD in peace.

I try my best to keep the kitchen and bathroom clean and then do a quick tidy each evening. Dusting, hoovering and polishing can wait a few years!

I think getting them into same routine ASAP is a lifesaver
15 month gap here, always tried to get lunchtime nap and evening sleep done at same time. Obviously baby will wake up and may not sleep for 2 hr nap or through night but it means you get a few hours child free

For the last 6 months they have both napped at 1pm for 2hrs, this gives me chance to make earning meal ( nightmare later at 5/6 pm when they are getting tired again)

We go out every morning and afternoon unless raining. Even if it's just a walk for 15 mins ( allows baby to fall asleep in pram at young age, and a little exercise to wear eldest out, plus fresh air). If alls going terrible and crying/ moaning from all sides it always sounds less outside :)

Against most people, I found using a double not te best idea. If you have space keep a single too or use sling for baby, as the main thing you want to do it make sure eldest is tired at the end of each day. ( we have park 2 min walk away - 10 min toddler snail pace, but a 30 min run around each day say 4-5 ish meant a calm evening of food ( see above already prepared), bath, story, bed.

Also for me having both in same room ( I mean once baby out of yours but all their stuff), means we have a stair gate on bedroom door and can settle both together/ read together/ change/ etc etc, all in one space instead of moving around. Put baby nearest door then you can sneak in and out without eldest seeing you ( if both still in cots- would also kee in as long as poss so eldest can't poke youngest etc..

Don't worry about fancy food for them. Seriously, some bread, with a selection of cheese/ meats/ fruit/ raw veg etc is fine every day for lunch. You can make hot food when they are napping for dinner.
Porridge for everyone- add porridge to milk/ water combo in eve in microwave jug and leave in fridge, in morning throw in micro and everyone has warm nutritious breakfast in mins without faff.

Also try getting eldest as Independent as poss as time goes on. It's a lot easier Feeding youngest if eldest can shovel food into his own mouth without needing you to feed them also. Same goes for everything but obviously increases over time . Also with walking here and there 5 mins increasing over time means your length of time needed double all the time with decrease which is handy if using buses/ just poping to friends.

Ok Iv written a story! Will stop now, hope it helps

I have 15months between my oldest 2. Ds1 was in a good routine by that age, sleeping well, playing independently and was a very laid back baby. Ds2 fitted into the routine we already had and was very happy to sit and watch Ds1 playing.

We went out almost every morning for an activity - toddler group/walk/library/food shop.

zuleikad completely agree with sling - am currently researching for a great one - I have a babybjorn which DD1 would LIVE in if given the chance, but it hurt my lower back at times, even when she was tiny. meitie seems too faffy and ergobaby just isn't as comfy as I was hoping.

Wish DH taking all holiday was an option, but for various reasons I won't bore you with, it isn't :( I should have him with us for a week, maybe 2, fingers crossed.

Excellent practical tips, especially hazbo and forevergreek, but hugs of gratitude to everyone - keep the advice coming, I'm feeling a lot more optomistic!!