The 2 (or more?!) Under 2 Support Thread!

[GrrrlWith2Boys]

Post your woes (or joys) here if you're currently tackling 2 kids under 2 (please say i'm not alone!)

DS1 is super wingey today and driving me batty...the slightest thing and he's whining and crying.

Have managed a 10 min walk with pushchair to get out of house. DS1 watching far too much TV, i haven't brushed my hair and the dog won't stop barking.

I need some gin.

OMG Supergrrrl --constant screaming is enough to drive anyone crazy with despair, sounds like hell. Have you given DS2 any pain relief? I had to crack open the calprofen last night to get DS to sleep through his teething and I was still up at 3.30 then 6 then 8... (You get the idea.) Don't like giving meds to lo's, but sometimes it's the only way. Did your DH come home?

OTOH Justabout, Egypt sounds great. (Your pre-bub travels sound pretty cool too. again...) I like the idea of north or west africa (especially since we're probably going out of season) because they're usually very child friendly (and that's obviously just what I need). (Actually child-friendly isn't the only thing which cuts it, since I'm sure the people of Kabul, Grozny and the west bank are very child friendly, it's just that you might not want to go there with children in tow...)

Pooing in the bath, Padboz? (Not you obviously but your DD obviously...) I'm afraid I haven't a clue (not one I had much problem with will you punch me if I suggest that it's just a phase??) (Hell what would I know: DD did this once or twice when she was too young to know.) Could you swap her bath to the morning? (Or something.)

LOL at your holiday agenda, Padboz. We stuck to Wales last year for simplicity (and a car), but the weather was truly shite.

And LOL at your dd1's behaviour. I have to contend with a lesser version of this (but I feel this is where we're heading): DD has recently got very enthusiastic about doing what she shouldn't (climbing on the table, say) with the words "No DD" "Careful" "Fall over? NO. Hurt" This could get oh so much worse... (note to self: mustn't grin at her!)

no, he couldn't come home. It's been hellish. DS1 was never like this teething, and i'm afraid i haven't coped very well. I'm in 2 minds about playgroup tomorrow, but if i take the sling, he may be bearable for an hour.

I have given him some medised in his bottle, and some teething powders. I hope he sleeps well tonight. [fingers crossed emoticon]

supergrrl - are you still on your own? what time does DH get home?

he's home now- thank god. he bought chip shop tea aswell

chips: well thats just what a supergrrl needs after a day like that. It does get better. This time last year I had an 8 week old and a 16 month old and I'm sort of glad I hadnt found mumsnet cos I think I'd have been banned I was usually so hysterically miserable. January is dreadful. wait until you can bung them both in a sandpit or something in June and you can spend at least 5 uninterrupted minutes staring in a straight line.

she pooed in bath again. contrary to what I put yesterday this is dd2, _not dd1 (who mercifully potty trained herself ages ago). EVERY bloody time. And the crazy moo attempts to run away from it every night and screams herself silly in fright at the sight of it. Rather splendidly, apricots
and sweetcorn were included in tonights offering - consistency therefore soft. clearing up involved several iterations of smearing. DD1 fascinated. Much swearing. She's going on the atkins diet first thing in the morning.

The sun is shining!

Playgroup today!

DS1 napping!

DS2 stopped screaming so much!

My sack of spuds arse (pregnancy induced) is going!

hi all, can i join you?

posted ages ago saying i'd be back when no2 arrived, and he's here

tom (20 months) and henry (9days).
so far going well, henry feeding well and sleeping well.
of course still have dh at home, and cos i had a c-s (boo, but not getting into here), have in-laws next week (hmm, we'll see how that goes ), then dh working from home for another week, then may have to call in my parents for the last 2 weeks of not picking up tom and driving.
anyone else had a c-s with no 2 and what did you do re childcare/driving?
anyone else have parents that aren't that useful/helpful too? my in-laws are great but mine, well.....

right, look forward to tips and advice...

Go Supergrrrl!

(My day is like shit -- DS is teething and screaming, and DD is sick of DS screaming and now she won't nap. Just going to rescue her from the cot and watch Pingu or something...)

Hi Katyt1 and congratulations on no. 2! I had a cs with DS when DD was 17m and survived (but I'll have to give you advice later for the reason in brackets above) (grrrrrr).

Hiya Katy and (Henry)!!! Aw 9days

No ideas re: childcare, but my parents live miles away and rarely visit, and my PIL work, and though they are great, aren't available usually in the week. I'm pretty much on my own office hours Mon-Fri, but DH is a proper hands on Dad, so he does his bit too.

Talked to someone new at playgroup today- i even got her name! Result!

well done suppergrrl on playgroup progress i am lucky as have my antenatal friends from ds1 and we all go to a playgroup on thurs & fri mornings (same place, mostly the same people but the kids don't seem to get bored of it!).
i have been 'semi-brave' and went to the breastfeeding group i went to with ds1 this week. only semi as i know the 4 hv/counsellors that run the group so could just talk to them the next step is to go to the other under-1's group with ds2, don't know anybody who'll be there. will put it off until i can drive there myself tho.
[ds1 at nursery on those days in case you're wondering]

dh is away a lot during the week & stays away overnight so that's why i need a bit more help for the next few weeks. it does mean i am putting off the inevitable day of coping on my own full-time - good or bad thing...?

justabout - agree re the students, used to get my younger bro & his mates to help out for pizza and beer

chaotica - hope things calmed down for you

Hello everyone,
Supergrrl and Chaotica have you tried Anbesol for teething, it works wonders with Dd2. She seems to suffer much worse than dd1 ever did (same with colds too, she is just un-put-downable), but I tried this after going a bit mad and buying everything in the chemist related to teething (honestly, I must have spent about £30)after a long, long day of screaming.

My dd2 pooed in the bath tonight, Padboz, well first she pooed on the towel she was sat on, I dropped her in the bath, thinking she was finished, then she just carried on, poo everywhere - grim! Dd1 went through a bit of a phase of doing it, when she was about a year old (how old is your dd2?), I'm afraid I had no magic way of stopping it, just tried not to make too much of a fuss - she loves a drama, and at the moment is going through a phase of spitting - a lot, and trying to make herself sick!

Well I am sat in the middle of piles of boxes, that look like they've exploded everywhere. Dd1 is really unsettled and just wants to be cuddled all the time, she gets really cross if dh or I pick up dd2, so i'm developing the art of carrying both of them, thank god for all the baby weight that I've still got, it means that my lap is big enough for both of them to curl up on!
We're moving on Friday, and i can't wait to be there now. Went to our last toddler group in the village, and was given a couple chocolates, wine and goodbye card, tried not to cry (I am a huge wuss!)

Congratulations katy1, definately a good thing to get all the help you can, if only to entertain ds1.

not tried that- at the moment teething powders followed by sticking my boob in his mouth works. will look out for it though

Thanks for the sympathy and advice, ladies. It's so nice to be able to moan online (and in return you may, of course, moan back!). I'll try anbesol if I can find any, and although the teething continues, a tooth has actually been sighted lurking below the surface; so at least all this hassle is not in vain.

Well done at playgroup, Supergrrrl. I'm gradually getting to know the other mums at the playgroup I go to where most of them seem to know each other already (and be half my age!). It takes time, it seems, but it's probably worth sticking at it.

Good luck with the move, Hazeyjane. I hope it all goes as smoothly as possible (and that the TA arrive on time ).

What is it with this pooing in the bath? DP thinks he's got it bad because he can't stop DD drinking the bath water (or as much of the swimming pool as she can swallow) -- he obviously doesn't know he's been born .

Well what a shit couple of weeks Ive had with us all being ill with colds and viruses, ending with the most appalling behaviour from myself to DD 17mo last night. sorry long self-indulgent post
She whinged and screamed from 12 till 2 last night, I tried everything with her (nappy, tyxlix, calpol, bottle, took out of sleeping bag, etc. etc.) nothing calming her down. Shes had a cold for a week and has a mere 4 teeth which is just ridiculous for her age so I put everything down to surely teething at the moment. Anyway, I was in the middle of changing a horrible pooey nappy from DS in my room when she kicked off again, I went in to get a fresh nappy and slammed the door behind me screaming shut up at her, I then went in and screamed shut up shut up over and over and forced her to lie down in her cot. She looked petrified at me raging at her, and unsuprisingly didnt stop crying. I went back, did nappy then went through to say sorry and she whimpered off to sleep.
I feel absolutely dreadful for what I did, the worst thing is I felt so close to hitting her and I would hate myself if I ever did do that. I was just so tired and out of options that something inside just flipped, I couldnt control my anger.
I talked to a friend about it today and she said shes had similar moments when its all got too much (same age gap). Am I the only freak mother on this board who has a monster inside her? DH works 4 nights a week so I mainly deal with them on my own, plus a couple of bathtimes on my own too.

Hello Katy1, I had a CS this time and had round the clock help for 3 and a half weeks, then felt fine to pick up toddler, so went it alone. By that point I was desperate to just get on with things and not have somone other than DH around 'helping/hindering' (thinking of MIL!). I reckoned I could have driven, I rang my insurance and they said go ahead if you feel up to it, I think I waited a bit longer though, more just being lazy than anything else.

Hi everyone. Nope Cazwa. Been there. Be nice to yourself and stop worring about it - DD wont be.

been there too Cazwa.

Can't wait for DH to come home today. Kids aren't especially hard work today, i just miss him...and i want to drink Baileys in the bath while he watches the boys

Have turned the TV off because i ALWAYS have it on for the sake of it. It sort of feels like 'company' for me, but DS1 is delighting in adverts and now expects it on, so taking a stand. It's very quiet- i might get the radio in here instead and we can listen to music and news that way.

Lo girls. Supergrrrl - have you got DAB radio? Cbeebies radio isn't too bad - we try not to watch CBeebies toooooooooo much because the eldest literally stands transfixed by it for hours given a chance. But with the radio they have to do something else as well. This isn't necessarily a bonus but it makes me feel less guilty.

We're dancing to Sister Sledge Greatest dancer here ATM. Trying to teach eldest to stick arms out like this ...post.oftheday.com.au/images/john-travolta-saturday-night-fever.jpeg

little things....

Cazwa -- I'm with everyone else on this one... Been there, especially with lack of sleep. I find counting (to myself) the best thing to calm myself down when I'm really going to lose it (although I could try counting out loud to see if DD joins in). Or whispering (DD takes some notice sometimes then.) I have to remind myself that they're both very little and aren't really just doing it to wind me up (that'll wait until they're teenagers, I hope).

When DD screams like that we've learnt (from experience) to get her to the GP -- she had chest and ear infections from having so many colds (and maybe feeling a little vulnerable when DS arrived). It's such a pain when you've tried everything.

For some reason everyone slept at our house last night -- bliss! (And they would have slept in had we not had to go out and get DS his injections )

We have to limit Cbeebies here too (DD can get transfixed too if I don't watch out). But I'm trying to remember to put more music on maybe a radio would be good too as a bit of dancing seems to cheer everyone up (including DS when he's grizzling). DD is incredibly confused about what we put in the player to get some music though: first it was an "AB" (from ABCDE... etc), now its an "ABD"... She'll get the right letters eventually; and, I presume, be able to sing the alphabet song using more than the first two letters )

i know this sounds daft.... I have a miraculous cure for stroppy wriggling type crying during nappy changes/coat putting on and other fury (as opposed to pain) related crying...

"1-2-3-4-5 Once I caught a fish alive"

calms them down instantly...

if its not gone too far that is - won't fix a broken nose or proper teething or hunger or anything...

You're all going to flame me for a useless post by tomorrow now.