Tips for small age gap

[Jadefeather7]

I currently have a 6 month old and just found out I’m pregnant again. Luckily the 6 month old is in a great routine. He does need a lot of attention and entertainment otherwise he gets upset. I expect he will start teething in a few months which I’m dreading. Should I look at a nursery place for him for when the baby comes along? Is there any advice you can offer about how to get through this? Thanks

Decent double buggy and organise nap times together.
14 month gap between my ds's..
Bin your iron!
No need for nursery - 2 together is lovely!!
Work on a good bedtime routine for oldest now...
Enjoy!

Encourage the older one to be as independent as possible getting around the house. It was a godsend to me to have 13mo DS toddling up and down the stairs and around the house when I was 9 months pregnant (make sure the stairs are well blocked off so they can't do it without you!!!) I spent days and days teaching DS1 to do stairs (he was a very mobile baby).

We had a big playpen which I used to put DS2 in so DS1 couldn't get at him and poke.

We did nursery for DS1 a couple of days. I felt guilty, but equally I needed it and he enjoyed it.

We bought our double buggy off eBay. You can get really good deals and many of them aren't well used because their owners had bigger age gaps.

When they get a bit older, find playgrounds with only one exit. Guaranteed they'll run in opposite directions, but if you can see the exit, you know they haven't left!

Good luck! The first few years are hard, but then they learn to play together, hit school age, and it's awesome!

I have four under 5 and 12 months between ds1 & dd1. Firstly I don't think you need to get through it, go with the flow. Get a double buggy for getting out and about and have places you can go to when baby arrives but your older one can do their thing e.g park, soft play, farm park, surestart groups. I took my first out of nursery when his sister arrived he wasn't enjoying it and expense as I was on maternity leave. We got out a lot and had lovely post lunch cuddles and stories. Be organised, pack changing back, snacks the night before. Try and get your eldest to help with baby, mine loved helping and it included him. Remember on the tough days they will play well together once mobile.

I meant to add whatever you can give your older child in one to one time once baby arrives goes along way. Mine appreciated extra bedtime stories with mummy and daddy, or looking at a book during the day, singing a song, dancing even just five minutes play with the toy kitchen. I found it helps reassure them and makes them feel better if that makes sense.