2 under 2

[Hatetidyingthehouse]

Will be expecting 2nd child in august. Number 1 won't be quite 18 months. I'm after your practical tips to get me through the first 6 months. Thank you!

re no advice here, just following. Am 39 weeks with my DC2 and my DD is 21 months

I'm 5 months behind you, hope you don't mind me watching your thread.

So far I'm getting a play pen and that's as far as my plan has got.

I have no plan but plenty of panic!

Mine are 17 months apart. It's fine. Take all offers of help and meals and enjoy it. I had to have a routine and tried to time my toddlers lunch nap to coincide with the babies. That gave me a much needed rest. But looking back, I can't believe how fast it went. I know I was lucky that my toddler still napped though.

I'm afraid CBeebies was my friend but you can read stories whilst feeding and all sorts.

Congratulations.

I had an age gap of 12 months.

Incredibly hard to begin with but super easy after a year.

They are 8 and 9 now and a piece of cake tbh. Well behaved and great fun. No jealousy at all, never has been.

Just go with whatever works for you.

I've got a little box of things for my DD to do while I feed the baby. That's all I've come up with!

Ceebeebies or similar is your friend. As is a box of toys for our oldest to play with while you deal with the baby.

Get the oldest to 'help' by passing you nappies/wipes when changing the baby or clothes/blanket.

Lower your housework standards for a bit and don't try to leave the house till at least 10am.

When both DCs are asleep don't try to catch up on housework - sleep/relax.

There's 12 months between my first two and it was a nightmare for the first few weeks till I got used to it but not much worse than getting used to having dc1.

The worst bit is not being able to sleep when the baby does as there's dc1 to look after. Accept any help either round the house or if anyone offers to have dc1 for a couple of hours.

It won't be as bad as you think and if your DH/DP takes two weeks paternity leave you'll most likely be starting to get the hang of having two to loom after.

One day at a time! Accept all offers of help. Go to bed as early as you can. Let housework go apart from basics. Devise a meal plan and shopping list, shop online and get it delivered.

We have just under 18 months between ds1 & 2, it was hard at first but great now they are 4.5 & 3.

I found using a sling for ds2 helped. We also put baby gates in such a way that ds1 couldn't get out the living room while I was feeding ds2. Plus I definitely would recommend a double pram.

It obviously wasn't too bad as I had dc3 12 weeks ago! Good luck, just remember to take one day at a time.

It's fine and yes there was another thread on this very recently

congratulations! DC2 arrived one week before DC1s 1st birthday so 51 week gap.

Definitely get a play pen, but put the baby in it not the older one. For me, DS wanted to maul his little sister but I could put her in her bouncy chair/play mat etc etc in the play pen and she was safe as he couldn't get to her! We bought a second hand Phil and Ted buggy with the doubles kit on ebay which saved me from being trapped in the house, and already had a Baby Bjorn which we used a lot. It is happy carnage for the first 6 months or so, but don't worry about it, just go with it. Nobody outside the house knows or cares if the house is a mess. Embrace online supermarket shopping and when people come to visit make them bring food... MIne are now 4/5 and although most people assume they are twins they are great now as they are into the same things and therefore play together loads.