Any tips for going to one to two children?

[Starlive23]

Just that really! I have DD who is 3 in two weeks time and baby DS is due 5th April.
I'm tremendously excited but obviously know it will be hard work with a toddler and a newborn.

I'm just curious really, any tips, things to avoid or just stories of what it's like going from one to two!

My tip is storytelling. When feeding the baby tell the 3yo a story. Something very simple that you can do off the top of your head. Like the Three Little Pigs. Much easier than trying to read a book at the same time as feeding and both feel like they have your full attention.

Also have 5-10 mins before bed that you spend with the toddler, reading a book or such. It's ok if your partner does all the rest, but those 5 mins make up for a lot of neglect during the rest of the day. And even a newborn can wait 5 mins for a feed, if your partner is cuddling them.

A good sling is essential imo. Great for cuddling newborn but being hands free so you can play with your older child too. Getting my DS involved has worked well - he helps give DD a bath, puts her baby grows in the washing basket, passes me nappies. Don't worry about limits on screen time, likely your eldest will be watching more than you'd like in the early days but it's ok.

Sound obvious, but no comparisons. Had to pull dp up on saying things even in a jokey way like, oh you don't like that but SHE will. This one is going to do as she's told. Etc etc. Don't create a rivalry.

Get your DD her own doll and pram, bottle, accessories etc.... for it. So when she sees your newborn in the pushchair, gets jealous and suddenly decides she can’t walk and needs to be pushed, you can suggest she pushes her own ‘baby’! That’s what worked with my DD1. Likewise for when you’re feeding your newborn, she can sit next to you and bottle feed her baby.

These are brilliant, exactly what I was after!

It’s probably an obvious one (to everyone except me!) but don’t expect what worked for baby no.1 to work for baby no.2. I drove myself demented trying to get baby no.2 into the same routine’s and patterns as had worked with baby no.1 but in hindsight it just didn’t suit her. She was unsettled and would cry for very different reasons to baby no.1.