What advice would you give Kate Middleton - going from 1 DC to 2???

[BogoPogo]

I've just seen loads of articles about this recently and it got me thinking, what advice would you pass on?

Mine would be:

1)If both are crying, go to the toddler first - the baby won't remember it had to wait an extra 30 seconds before it got your attention, but the toddler will and won't understand, will get more upset, and will never buy you a decent mother's day present again.

2. Enormous praise for any 'help' the toddler gives you with the baby, however haywire it goes ("Thank you sooooo much for dropping the wipes on the baby's head - you're such a helpful big DC")

3. CBeebies is your friend.

4. Breast-feeding a newborn while helping a toddler wipe its bum is not unhygienic. Probably.

Here are the articles I saw:
www.fenwick.co.uk/daily-muse/articles/royal-baby-what-kate-middleton-can-expect-with-two-children (Points 5 & 9 so true - and had forgotten about the 'baby breast feeder' - always hilarious)
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/royal-baby-letter-kate-middleton--5553003

1. she has a nanny
2. useful
3. she has a nanny
4. she has a nanny

I have seen those posts and it's basically assuming she doesn't have help! I would if I have the money and so I could be a better mum to both instead of stretching myself thin

She has help. No advice needed.

I'd advise her to get the nanny to sort them both
What age gap will she have? I'm going to have 2 under 2 soon and no nanny - don't panic!

I'm loving all the advice so thanks for starting this thread DC2 due on Friday, DS1 is 2.2...

She has a nanny, a housekeeper, a maternity nurse, a husband not working and her parents.

The woman can and will pay for all the 'advice' she needs. As pp have said she has an army of staff to attend to her and the baby.

A few years ago I had 3 under 3 and an older child. Now I have dc1, 12, dc2, 8, dc3, 7, dc4, 5 and dc5, 11 weeks.

I don't think it's that hard. Routine is your friend, but being anal about it isn't. Be flexible!

Also try to get out as much as possible. Even small babies benefit from fresh air. Feed the ducks, go to the park, walk!

She's got plenty of help but sometimes too much help is a worse sort of curse than not enough. Trust yourself and be the boss. Don't let the "help" make all the rules!

Yeah, true, she does have practical help, but she'd still going to have to learn to split her attention between the two which is the hard part I guess. DD1 is 6 and DD2 is 4 and I still have both of them bellowing at me at the same time about completely separate things and expecting a response now!!

The best bit is when they (hopefully!) become friends. Still get mushy when I see the two of them playing together. Hang on to that thought New mums of 2!!

Yes, yes - go out lots!! The park saved my sanity on many a sleep deprived day.

What My arks said, with bells on!!

I doubt very much she'll have many sleep deprived days either

I'd say 'What with all the papparazzi and whatnot, have you considered a lotus birth?'

I would advise her to have a home birth in Norfolk and issue one picture of the baby a week later to simplify things for a start.

Then just make sure the staff are ready and know what's expected.

For non-royal soon-to-be-mums-of-two, I would absolutely agree with OP's advice. From the first article, I would change the advice about what to do should you ever achieve simultaneous naps - get some sleep yourself! Straight away! I also found the part in the second article about feeling sad to say goodbye to your previous cosy family-of-three, resonated with me - so strange to feel that way, even while you are anticipating the new arrival with such excitement.

I'm afraid I never let DC2 or 3 cry either, just like for DC1. I just couldn't do it. Obviously, sometimes a baby has to wait a minute or two but I couldn't bear the noise! Also my baby guru Penelope Leach advised telling the toddler that you need to see what the baby needs, then you can settle her and attend to toddler properly. Apparently the toddler wants the reassurance that you are looking after the baby, in the same way you cared for them when they were newborn. It worked for my DCs and they are such a tight knit bunch...
I'm not saying I was perfect, I played many games, did many activities with newborn in arms and kept the toddler's attention by talking and talking. Also when baby was settled, DC2 and DC3 spent a lot of time in jiggle chairs joining in!!
Interestingly my older two were 9 and 6 when DC3 was born and they both urged me to help the baby first. I know they were much older then though!

I wonder is it lonely for her. I would've lost my reason if I couldn't get out for walks and have coffee with my nct group and go to groups/classes. It's not like she can pop to the Kensington bumps and babies if she's had a rough day.

We never had simultaneous naps. Never. DD1 helpfully gave up daytime napping 2 months before DD2 arrived. I still remember the sinking feeling as it slowly dawned on me that I would not get any daytime naps. Would've cheerfully allowed paparazzi to take snaps of me napping in exchange for a Royal nanny for a couple of hours!

I think Kate has a friend with a baby. There is also Zara and Autumn Phillips in the family.