Advice needed help!!

[brogo]

Hi there. I'm looking for some tips and advice, my baby girl is 2 weeks old today and my little boy is 2 next week!
Husband goes back to work on Monday, eek! Any tips on how to handle a toddler and a newborn? I don't drive but can walk to parks and the library, shops ect.. I suddenly feel terrified about being alone with them both.

Try not to do to much on your first day. Ceebies is your new best friend and don’t worry about the mess.

Loads of snacks for the 2yo, loads of tea for yourself. Sleep then eat then anything else. If they nap at the same time, rest, don't clean.

Sling the younger, walk the older, loads of playground activities so the older sleeps well.

Lastly make sure DH helps with bedtime routine. It gets too much in the evening,

Thankyou . Yes I have double buggy /sling / buggy board so I definitely need to figure out what's the easiest. I think baby is happiest in the sling but my back isn't!
We only have a small flat but we do have a shared garden so hopefully the weather is okay next week and we can use that.

My DD was 19 mths when her baby sister was born so I totally get you.

My baby spent the first few months in the sling from morning till night, sometimes I forgot she was there!

I tried to have all three of us dressed before we went downstairs in the mornings. It made leaving the house so much easier (whenever that time came).

I had 2 canvas 'go bags', one for each child. Toddler bag had nappies, Wipes, spare clothes, dry snacks and baby bag had her smaller nappies, Wipes, travel changing mat and outdoor clothes. Kept the bags separate as sometimes one was with her dad and one was with me. Also made leaving the house easier.

Maybe try a new sling? I'm no expert but we had the baby bjorn one first then then friend lent me an ergo baby and there was a huge difference!

Luckily toddlers have some self-preservation instincts and step up their game a bit when there’s only one parent, or at least mine do. I have a two year old and a three year old and when I’m alone they stay closer, watch and listen to me more etc. Unfortunately they somehow know that when both parents are there someone has the time to run after them.

When I first had ds2 I remember worrying about how to cope when they both needed something. I decided to sort out the easiest to solve first . For example if they both were hungry I would do a quick snack/meal for ds1 then settle down to feed ds2.

As time went by I would have a strategy for each tricky situation. I would try and save TV for when I really needed it but at the beginning that was quite a lot!!!

I have a similar age gap, although mine will be 5 and 7yo next month 🙂 I got through it with a lot of Cbeebies and going to toddler groups where DC1 could roam and play, whilst I sat, ate cake, and got adult conversation and DC2 slept/fed. The church hall-type groups were best for this unless you were willing to pay a premium for the singing/dancing groups. You may have to try a few to find the right fit. These groups have all restarted in my area, but you need to prebook. I found the children centres' groups were brilliant if you just had 1 DC, but often weren't open to/suitable for siblings.
Do you have any softplays nearby with good toddler areas? They reopen in a few weeks too. I used to lock my toddler into the cage, then sit close by with the baby so I could call words of encouragement over to DC1. Basically, my plan was to knacker DC1 out as much as possible whilst also conserving as much energy as possible myself.

@brogo

Thankyou . Yes I have double buggy /sling / buggy board so I definitely need to figure out what's the easiest. I think baby is happiest in the sling but my back isn't! We only have a small flat but we do have a shared garden so hopefully the weather is okay next week and we can use that.

A 2 week old shouldn't be hurting your back in a sling.

I wear my 3yo with no issues.

Which sling are you using?

Sorry it's because I have a bad back in general. I have mild scholiosis and it flares up my sciatica . I have the ergo baby carrier and it's by far the best but I still get achy!
Some great tips here thankyou.
Love the idea of the go bags! I am definitely going to do that as I always end up forgetting something when I get things together in a rush.

Also when baby cries my toddler cries too!! Is this normal? It's a completely fake cry but it makes the situation so much more stressful.

I have survived the first 2 days!! Even all managed to nap at the same time so far!