Having 2 under 2...any survival tips?

[Littlebagoflaughter]

I'm expecting my second baby in November when ds will be 18 months. We're really excited but aware that it will be seriously hard work so I was wondering what you did/wish you'd done to make life as manageable as possible?

I was just a huge planner - always got everything ready that I could the night before to make mornings easier.

Also watched tons of CBeebies with elder dc when feeding baby.

It's dead hard at the time but now they're 11 & 12 it's soooo easy! (maybe not too helpful )

I agree routine and tv. I had 2dc 11 1/2 months apart and coped fine, so will you.

Ah, we don't have a TV, guess I can Iplayer cbeebies!

I'll let u know in 2wks time please god. Ds1 will b 14mths. I'm trying not to panic and keep telling my self plenty of people manage it. I am pretty organised so hoping that will stand to me.

Praise the older one as much as possible when he is being good I.e. Even if s/he is just sitting quietly playing, or even watching tv, just say how good s/he is. This means that s/he won't have to misbehave to get attention.

I read this just before my Dc2 arrived (16month gap) and it worked wonders (the theory is that often if we only tell kids off, we don't really acknowledge when they are playing nicely, so they learn that if they misbehave they get attention).

Routine and an activity every day to get everyone out and meet others to save my sanity. And lots of Cbeebies

Thanks everyone, that is very helpful and reassuring. We're really looking forwards to the long term benefits of having them close together. Mrswolowitz I salute you, if you can do 3 under 2 I'll be fine!

I didn't actually find the TV that useful to start with when DS was born. DD was 15 months and wouldn't sit and watch it for that long. She's now 22 months and would happily watch it for hours on end if I let her, which is not really ideal either!

What helped me with entertaining DD were books, books and more books which she still loves. Also, before she gets up in the morning, I set up the living room with her toys laid out - puzzles on a little table, aquadoodle ready on the floor, dolls house set up nicely, tea set laid out with teddies ready for tea, a little 'band' corner with all her musical instruments set up etc. She plays so much better with this than rummaging through the toy box herself. I toy rotate to keep her interested too. In the kitchen I have different, messier activites such as play dough, paint or crayons (she can't be trusted with these on her own in the living room yet!) and a sensory box of coloured rice. I supervise these. I have found if the toddler is entertained that is enough entertainment for the baby.

DS just had to fit around DD - he slept and fed anywhere and was occasionally known to have his nappy changed on the kitchen table while DD ate. I had a little tub with nappies, wipes and cream that I could take anywhere in the house for portable nappy changes.

My gap is 14m. One of the hardest things I found was trying to feed the baby and keep my 14mo occupied. He was - and still is - a tornado of a personality so wouldn't sit still or watch tv/draw as he was too young. I sometimes took the cushions off the sofa and turned the room into a soft play. I was that desperate!
If you can get some help from any family / friends at all to take your older child out on their own the odd time each week you all will appreciate that. Our eldest has been very jealous and advice to us was to certainly ensure he had a 'boys' day or half-day out with his dad once a week.
I agree with duvet time above: just staying in and letting your eldest play in the garden or just potter about is relaxing. I find that mine take a while to settle into play but then the time just passes and you're not stressing about buggies on buses, feeding, logistics etc.
I was also a big fan of Gina Ford's Contented Baby in terms of establishing a routine for DS1. DD2 followed suit. Her other book was about having a sibling was not useful. It was more aimed at families with a much older eldest child who would a) go to school and b) sit nicely and colour in for hours!
Good luck.

Ds1 is 4 (tomorrow!) Ds2 is 13months and baby os 3weeks. 3 boys! I have a ball thst ds2 wil play with with me (I chuck he brings) tv on in background too.
ds1 has sn asd and adhd etc so at times hes the hardest.
its hard but doable.
You will find your own way to cope.
You have to lol

sorry for the typos feeding baby