Is having a newborn and toddler easier than being 36 weeks pregnant?

[Eeeeek2]

Please someone tell me it is.

Exhausted, not sleeping well and feeling huge. Poor ds (almost 2) is bored out of his mind as we're not getting out much and is throwing the most amazing tantrums.

Any suggestions on activities for ds for now that require little movement for me, or tips for when the new one arrives?

Yes. It’s 100 times easier. Get a sling and you can be out and about.
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Yes, I’ve been there, my toddler hid under the table as he knew I couldn’t get him under there at 37 weeks pregnant.

Can you go to any groups where you can sit & they can run around a bit? Or are you able to do short walks? Even to a play park, that’s just what I used to do in the end.

About to do it all again with two toddlers.

Oh thank god.

The problem with my local park is it's all in one section and ds has stunt man tendencies so will try to climb/throw himself off equipment that is meant to be for much older kids. Definitely need to get out walking more though so might brave it later.

God no, being pregnant was like a holiday in comparison. Even now with a nearly 1 year old, it’s exhausting. But you’ll manage!

Yes, for me, being heavily pregnant with a toddler was harder than toddler plus newborn.

Yes. Definitely. And I had a c section!

hell yes it's easier!! But I was not v mobile by the end, and 2 weeks overdue to boot.

just getting your lung capacity back is wonderful!

Yes, much easier.

If your toddler likes sticking stuff then Hobbycraft have their felt tree with Velcro baubles to put on it out again and only £6. Occupies one of mine for ages

Being heavily pregnant and having my 2 year old DD1 home was really hard. I ended up persuading her to watch a lot of C Beebies and Disney films even on sunny days - I just felt physically broken and had no energy left. She got bored and a bit moody but I knew it was only short term. Once DH had gone back to work following the birth of DD2, it was harder getting out of the house but MUCH easier managing DD1’s energy levels and trips out to tire her out were perfectly do-able.
The only hard thing now is that they never nap at the same time but on the other hand I sleep better at night (even with the wake ups to feed!) as I’m not uncomfortable and needing to pee every hour! It will be easier. Not long to go x

Yes and that was even after a c section. There are bits that are harder for sure, emotionally mainly. But physically I found it infinitely easier!

Oh yes lung capacity, I miss that

Yes I definitely found it easier, even after a C-Section. Being pregnant with a toddler is very difficult and incredibly tiring. Nobody really tells you this but newborns seem SO easy in comparison to toddlers. They sleep so much, they don't throw food or crayons or laundry all over the floor, they stay exactly where you've left them, they don't answer you back, ('eh, no thank you mummy') they don't ask for macaroni cheese and then scream that it's the wrong macaroni, or cry because they wanted the Peppa yoghurt and they ate the Peppa yoghurt yesterday...

It's been a long week.

Sadly my experience is toddler + newborn is so much harder, but then I had a very easy pregnancy and a toddler who happily played by themselves in the garden whilst I sat in the sunshine mumsnetting

The newborn is now 4 months old though and it does feel like I've finally emerged from the fog because DC2 has become a smiley happy baby and DC1 is over the jelaousy and now finds the baby wonderful. So although I found newborn plus toddler stage horrific it's a phase that is short lived.

So glad to hear that for most it was easier

I imagine it will be harder, but I have not been in your fortunate position.

You'll be fine- suck it up