2 under 2, what do I need?

[Sparrowlegs248]

Early days but pregnant with second child. Was speaking to my mum about needing a,second cot, she said I wouldn't as ds will need to be in a bed by then. He'll be 20 months when dc2 is born. Can't imagine that he'll be in a bed but I actually have no idea.

So, practically, what will I need to double up on?

If he's rolling off the beds all the time maybe a mattress on the floor, or a bed guard could work? I bought a bed guard, but it was more of a hazard for DD as she wanted to climb over it. The cot bed is pretty low, and she's always been a wriggly sleeper so for the first couple of weeks I put s blanket on the glop to soften her fall. She's mastered not rolling out really quickly!

We haven't mastered her climbing in and out of car seat yet. She climbs in her booster seat no problem

A medal!

Yes I would try mattress on the floor until he's used to that, then when he's stopped diving off stuff just move it onto the divan

Yes to encouraging stairs etc alone.

It's just the small things that help. Encourage them to play alone also now. Stuff like Dh or I would set up brio train set with them, and play 5 mins, then leave to play alone for a while, then play 5 mins with them so they get used to it.

Those debating double, remember shops deliver quick now. You can always try without, then get something later if needed.

cowbag Snap! I'm also expecting #2 in Sept with a 22 month gap.

We're mainly concentrating at the moment on getting him to self settle to sleep. So we can be more hands off at bedtimes and can be free to be downstairs with #2.

He's in a cotbed in his own room and I'm happy for him to stay in the cotbed until next summer with the sides up (as long as he doesnt start climbing over them).

If I were you OP I'd worry less about the cotsides than putting the cot in another room before the new arrival. He may not need to co sleep if he doesnt see you during the night so much anyway, you never know.

We have decided we're too skint for a double buggy and we found the sling a lifesaver last time so we're going to continue with original single pram & sling. Someone pointed out to me that we could go to lunch with #1 in pram and #2 in sling and then once there put #1 into pub highchair and #2 in pram laying down flat!

And once #2 gets too big to lay down flat, we'll try a buggyboard but that wont be for ages yet.

We also have a travel cot with changing table we're going to keep downstairs in a quiet spot and hopefully #2 can nap in there safely without being pulled at by #1.

But the biggest thing we're doing is having #1 in nursery! Just to allow me to feed in peace. Last time we introduced bottles at 2 weeks (even though I BF) and will be definately doing that again as it was amazing to never have a bottle refuser. Made such a difference to be able to give him to people for the odd feed!

I have a 19 month age gap and ds is 2.7 years and dd is almost one.

Ds is still in a gro bag in his cot. He sleeps for 2.5 hours in the afternoon goes to bed with no fuss at all (just milk downstairs then teeth, quick story then settles himself to skeep) and sleeps 11 hours straight. I'm not messing with his sleeping for the price of a second hand cot! We did buy him a bed and do up a bedroom for him but he's not keen and as he sleeps so well where he is we're just ging to leave things as they are. If there's one thing that made life in the early days easier it was ds's quick easy bedtime routine as it coincided with dd's fussiest time.

We doubled up high chairs. Dd could sit in one and play from 4.5 ish months and ds only tried to climb out of his a couple of weeks ago so for 6 months I had somewhere where they were both strapped in and safe- invaluable for washing up/going to the loo/cooking etc as I could give dd some toys and ds some crayons and a snack and get on with things.

I would not want to be without my Phil and Teds sport. I've got slings (Caboo and a Connecta) and they have been really useful but as long as ds naps I want a double. It makes a difference that I don't drive and we tend to like to go out for full days out- it's much easier to be able to put them both down. Dp and I have had many lovely lunches with them both asleep!

Throughout my pregnancy I collected lots of little, cheap toys and books, mainly from nct sales and charity shops, to give to ds whilst I was feeding dd or see us through a rainy day.
Some childcare would have been wonderful! I'm a SAHM so no nursery and we have no family help really so for the first 6 months it was just us(until ds stared a morning a week at pre school)-it would have been nice to have some time with just the baby.