Newborn + toddler in lockdown? Come here!!

[PGTips83]

Hi parents! I have a two week old baby and a two year old with my husband going back to work this week. Argh! Anyone in a similar situation? I thought maybe we could join forces in sharing ideas on how to get through this and how to keep a toddler entertained when the newborn is having a meltdown, or vice versa.

So far, play-doh and Duplo have been fantastic for quiet solo play for her but I know I can't rely on just these things. What works for you? Let's do this!

Yes similar though larger age gap, one four years and one four months. Mine doesn’t really do quiet solo play! We have been playing Mario, racing his toy cars, making train tracks, making cakes... and lots of TV. Try to get out for a walk once a day with the baby in a sling.

Yes! I’ve a 2 year old and a 4 month old and agree with above about a sling (especially for naps) I got my toddler a plastic tea set, a heap of cars and of course CBeebies.
But my biggest success is hiding his toys around the living room, nowhere hard obviously, it takes enough time for me to put the baby to bed, then I get him to hide them for me whilst I am doing something else, or feeding etc. We can do that for hours!!
Good luck, I know it doesn’t seem like it but it’s a very special time x

I love the hiding toys idea!! Thank you!

Also hiding mini eggs, chocolate ones in wrappers. Let them eat one occasionally then hide again and keep playing.

Almost 2 year age gap. Youngest is 12 weeks. We've been rotating toys so they seem more fresh. Big tray of water in the garden. Latest big success is a mixing bowl full of pompoms that he pours out then gathers again. I do admit to more netflix cartoons then im happy with.

Small snacks like raisins work to keep him occupied for a few minutes.

We also play hide the duck.

5 week old & almost 3 year old here.. I’m finding it HARD. My newborn won’t go down for a nap. Has to be held & wakes up at the slightest noise or me talking 🤦🏼‍♀️ So basically, she doesn’t sleep & cries all day or I get her to sleep but can’t play with my elder daughter as she’s so loud! It’s a nightmare.. but I’m sure I’m not alone!

I’m also finding it very full on having no time at all without a child attached to me 😰 My other half is fantastic, we share everything equally including the night shift but with two, there’s always one with each of us bar a couple hours in the evening where we pass baby between us while we try eat tea, tidy up etc!

But at least with the second, I do have hindsight that this full on new baby stage does get easier & I’m hoping it kinda ties in with some ease on restrictions 🙏🏼 I’m not expecting miracles but just able to see the odd family member or potentially part time nursery maybe?!

Ps. Love to all. This isn’t what any of us wanted for our newborns & maternity leave. But we’ll all come out stronger in the end and we should be really proud of ourselves!

Oooh bump hasnt arrived yet but ill be in this situation whenever he does!

Desperate for ideas as I'm nervous to say the least

Ten week DD two year old DS. Worst part is the baby changing by the day and no ones getting a hold of her
We watch way too much paw patrol 😭 I started potty training last week for something to do. Otherwise we go for little wanders on the estate, play on my bed which he loves, afternoon baths are a good way to kill some time.

16 month old and a 4 week old here! Baby needs to be held constantly so it’s like trying to look after a hyper toddler with no arms. Lots of CBeebies/snacks and outdoor play until it hopefully gets easier

Hopefully it wont be long until we can at least see close family

I have a 3 week old and 3 year old. I’m in despair at the exhaustion. My newborn is up all night then I’m in charge of both children all day as my OH is a key worker and leaving the house for work so I literally don’t sleep 😭 My toddler has become very angry and started to hit me and throw things which she’s never done before. I think it’s a combination of lockdown and a baby brother arriving. I have family and friends locally who all planned to support me and my daughter would have been in nursery 3 days a week. I don’t know what I’ll do if lockdown is extended without any easing!

2 year old and a 2 week old. Husband also back at work today. The toddler is wired all day and the newborn awake all night! The weather had better stay.....

My mum is coming to look after DC1 when DC2 is arriving, I'm so tempted to ask her to stay a few weeks.

Annoyingly i actually will need her more in a month or 2 after though

I have DS aged 2 and a half and a 3 month old DD. It's naps I struggle with - every time I get DD to sleep and go to put her down upstairs DS wants to come too and he's so loud!

We've been hiding toys to find too - started doing it after realising how much he enjoyed his easter egg hunt. He also has a torch and I ask him to find things that a different colours or that have 4 legs or wheels or whatever and he loves shining his torch at things (doesn't even matter if the room isn't dark!) It's a good one for when I'm feeding the baby. He also has a dolly and we sometimes do online baby classes with our babies (he usually gets bored after 2 songs)
But generally we're watching a lot of fireman Sam

Following for other tips!

I have a 16 month old whirlwind and a 4 month old cling on 😂
Long days lol
I gave my 16 month old a box of pegs today and they kept him occupied for at least an hour, he was just taking them out and putting them back in again over & over 😉
I find sitting 4 month old on the floor in front of me with a book open in front of him gets the 16 month olds attention so I can play with both of them at the same time, usually involves colours or shapes.... and cars!
Honestly I must hear the word car 1276382648264 times a day 😂

Im impressed at an hour peace and quiet! Nothing lasts my almost 2yr old that long

I'm in!

I've got a three year old and a four week old. Way too much Paw bloody Patrol on in this house for my liking but needs must.

3yo is great at entertaining herself but I still feel the guilt.

Me too!

I have a 11 week old and 3.5 year old. It’s utterly brutal. Almost impossible to meet both their needs - baby isn’t great at sleeping other than with me or on a walk. He is also ENORMOUS and weighs over 16lb already (which is a lot for a baby with no head control). So hard to do activities with older one (who is watching a horrifying amount of TV). Mum guilt is horrible and I’m eating my way through the pain 😆. Love and positive craft vibes to all x

On a more positive note, the following work well for the 3.5 year old;
Magna tiles (brilliant though toe curlingly expensive
Stickers
Giving her a magnifying glass / the peg basket etc
Dancing (which I can do with baby)
Play doh
Collages (cutting up magazines, flyers, papers etc)

Did I mention the TV....

Can I join? Lol

3yr old boy and 4 month girl

Its crazy i have no time myself atleast DH is wfh and does his share been brilliant

Toddler likes his lego box so keeps him busy for an hour or so, we have a small space at the back where he runs around and play, builds "house" with our cushions, lots of tv/tablet(ive noticed if its tv he just glance while playing but tablet its full on attention 🙈), some drawing, story books, we have the stick on black board thing in kitchen and hallway that he scribbles on with chalks, we dance, its exhausting

Baby is more chilled i think, shes trying to roll so shes busy sometimes haha

Our son dropped his nap and go to bed at 8 or half past

Been trying to potty train but hes being stubborn lol

Peanutandpumpkin same here - no time at all. If I’m not looking after them, I’m clearing up after them (or cleaning the house / washing). Really tiring. I started well with a bit of learning each day but that’s gone out of the window as the baby has stopped sleeping in the day (will only sleep on walks now)! Sending love and luck for another week! X

Hi all can I join, baby is 10 days old and toddler is 2 years and 3 months. I'm really struggling as is my husband. My ds (toddler) is full on and struggling with not seeing grandparents etc (they are over 70) I'm struggling with the lack of family/friend support and being able to be 'normal'. I'm recovering from a cs and dd is not sleeping yet- think she has reflux. Dh is feeling overwhelmed with ds and without sleep struggles with mental health.

In my head I'd always assumed grandparents would be able to give some much needed attention to ds whilst I recovered, I expected to be able to pop out for a coffee or lunch or play barns etc to entertain ds. I expected my parents and dh's parents would be able to hold my dd.

Hit a bit of a wall today.

Got an almost 3 year old and a 4 month old here. Baby is great, it's her big sister I'm struggling with a bit at the moment.

Her behaviour is ok during the day but she is a disaster come bedtime.

We are surviving with daily walks even if it's in the pissing rain, and a lot of screen time.