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

567 replies

GrrrlWith2Boys · 04/12/2007 14:50

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.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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kittykat77 · 05/12/2007 19:31

Ok this is definately a club I should sign up for.

DD is 17 mths, DS 6mths. Yes things are very busy but we seem to struggle through somehow!

Quite surprising how many of us there are. Sometimes it feels like we are alone with 2 who are so little. And yes it definately feels like a breeze when only one is around - particularly when it is the baby - can manage to get the whole house cleaned!

hazeyjane · 05/12/2007 19:58

Hello lulalullabye, was missing the other thread, good to have a whinge about the day, and on the advice of mums on that thread now spend a huuuge part of the day out of the house, thank god for lovely cafe in our village and phil & teds.

Sadly my tips for survival are cbeebies and biscuits.

scouserabroad · 05/12/2007 19:59

oh wow there's so many of us with 2 babies! DD1 is 17 months & DD2 is 9 weeks they are soooo cute but drive me nuts. Then when they're both asleep I walk around the house not knowing what to do with myself...

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oregonianabroad · 05/12/2007 20:28

Hello! Can I join you?
Mine are 23 months apart, ds1 is 2.8, ds2 is 8& 1/2 months.

Just before spotting this thread I was wondering to myself if we should have had them even closer -- ds1 can get so jealous, and is so dangerous now!

Still, we are having more and more good decent days, so perhaps we are about to turn a corner? (please god, I can't take much more attention-seeking....)

But I love them both so much, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'll have a glass of wine, please, or a gin, or really whatever anyone else is drinking so long as it's wet.

WulfricTheRedNosedReindeer · 05/12/2007 20:36

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WriggleJiggle · 05/12/2007 20:45

Carrying dd2 in her carseat, and throwing a tantruming toddler over my shoulder, I could just see every one in the doctors surgery thinking "2 under 2, thats madness!"

Chaotica · 05/12/2007 21:00

Wulfric -- bigger gaps are for cowards! Seriously though I know this can be done as my sister was adopted when I was 16 months and we get on great... (I do remember plotting to get rid of her though when I was about 2.6 )

smallwhitecat · 05/12/2007 21:05

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scunnered · 05/12/2007 21:06

I have a 20 month age gap between my 2. Things that have helped me are

  1. Remember it is all about surviving one day at a time. Do not plan too far ahead.
  2. A double buggy is essential. Nothing seems as bad when you get out of the house. A buggy that you can push with one hand while drinking a coffee with the free hand is also good.
  3. Coffee, chocolate and a glass of wine(obviously not all at the same time)helps me to deal with the madness.
  4. Do not be too proud to ask for or accept offers of help. I was with my first child.
  5. Remember it does apparently get better.
jellyrolly · 05/12/2007 21:14

Mine are 20 months apart. DS1 22mnths and going through 'mummyyyyy dooooooo it' phase and DS2 13 weeks and having a growth spurt feeding every hour or less day and night. Have just discovered this website and it's the first time I've been able to smile in weeks, thank you everyone!

Mine's a...a...I can't remember, haven't been drunk since my wedding day.

hazeyjane · 05/12/2007 21:21

I now spend so much time out of the house I have asked for a thermos cup for Christmas, so I can have a cup of hot chocolate/extra strong coffee/mulled wine whilst at the park for the third time in a day (we live in a small village, not a huge amount to do!)

My Dh took dd's out for a walk today with dd2 in a backpack carrier...but no buggy!! He ended up carrying tired,whiney dd2 all the way around the village as well - amateur!

nikkibrown · 05/12/2007 21:27

Mine were 19 months apart. They're now 4.5 and nearly 3, and its brilliant. Life was hard, but you're still 'innit' with the first, so it was best to just get on with it. Now the double buggy has gone, YEAH!!, and the kids are the best of mates. Very glad we did it this way. Might consider a third now....

oregonianabroad · 05/12/2007 21:29

At least there is a park in your village, hazyjane! We live in a very rural area double buggy gets mired in mud at this time of year. But outings are absoultely essential. Also, time your return trip to coincide with nap-time they might both be snoozing by the time you get home and then there is a brief respite from the mayhem (this only works once in a blue moon).

hazeyjane · 05/12/2007 22:26

I don't think I could cope without the park and the village cafe, oregonianabroad, especially as I don't drive. I'm a bit of a townie and I think I would go a bit crazy in a village smaller than ours!I've got a feeling that nap time might be a thing of the past for dd1, she went to bed without screaming the place down for the first time for ages tonight, and I think it was because she didn't have her daytime nap.

I always feel cheated if they both fall asleep when we're out, I think 'oh my god all the things I could be doing at home...' of course if it happens when they are at home then I usually lie on the bed in shock, or go on mumsnet of course.

Original poster
GrrrlWith2Boys · 06/12/2007 07:05

Good day yesterday- DS1 only whacked a kid twice, as opposed to trying to take their eyes out. He ate his food without chucking it on the floor, and put DS2's nappies in the bin for me (it's his new hobby, won't let us do it!)

Days like yesterday i feel like a great mother

Here's hoping for another one today- for all of us!!

OP posts:
CharlieAndLolasMummy · 06/12/2007 07:44

oh gosh yes I remember these days! Have 22 month gap.

agree, get out every single day, come rain or shine (invest in waterproofs)

but most imprortantly, remember that you are doing a bloody a hard job here. Don't push yourself too hard, don't feel bad about spending "downtime" vegetating.

And remember it gets better quite fast. I have a 2 yo and a 4 yo now and it is incredibly much easier. The key for me was losing the double buggy.

(am due baby #3 in february BUT will have 2.5 year gap this time around and am hoping it will be easier!)

Belgianchox · 06/12/2007 08:07

god i remember this, mine are 2.10 and 17mths now, so 16mth gap. It does improve, i find mine quite manageable now, they've actually started (getting into all sorts of mischief) playing together. But definitely the early days were a bit of a chaotic haze, much depending on getting them to nap at more or less the same time, and eat roughly the same thing - it helps! Having said that there will always be days when the elder one's jealousy takes over, and everything goes to put, and they are hard to handle.

CharlieAndLolasMummy · 06/12/2007 08:11

oh yes thats the thing.

See once they are a bit older, they will play together, and usually MUCH better than slightly bigger gap siblings.

My kids are very close now (despite being boy/girl) Actually our big worry now is whether the new baby, with a 2.5 year age gap to dd, will be left out

CharlieAndLolasMummy · 06/12/2007 08:28

the OTHER thing that is just mad with 2 kids close in age is the mess

I am afraid that this doesn't get massively better, though as they get older you can make them help tidy using bribery and coercion.

3missyshohoho · 06/12/2007 09:00

Morning all! Does any of your children play with the other siblings toys? Toys I buy for DD1 who has just turned 2 DD2 wants and the toys I give to DD2 (9 months), DD1 think are fantastic and are hers! That is one good thing about close in age siblings - well I can only speak for myself I suppose - but they are into the same toys - well for now anyway!

Belgianchox · 06/12/2007 09:13

My DD (2.10) doesn't want to play with anything that's her brother's (17m), the same cannot be said for him, who of course favours his sister's belongings. Cue lots of shouting/crying! Mostly their playing seems to involve lots of rough and tumble, and playing with things that actually aren't toys, and that i'd much rather they didn't play with at all, eg the entire contents of my handbag, the kitchen cupboards, or the cat...... Forget Fisher Price, real life is much more interesting!

3missyshohoho · 06/12/2007 09:21

Belgianchox - yes can relate to that - favourite "toys" are for my 2 at present is the sieve (hat, mask, teether, carrier etc etc!) an unopened tub of black pepper corns (great rattle - is sealed well so they couldn't get into it - but still closely monitored!) A plastic whisk - (drumstick to the sieve) and finally the washing basket - A whole host of fun to be had in that! I was actually considered painting a carboard for them for Christmas as no doubt they will want to play with the packaging more so than the actual toys themselves so why not give it to them as a present!

hazeyjane · 06/12/2007 09:23

Morning.
Every time I give something to dd2 to play with, dd1 swipes it, so I think dd2 will have to get used to playing with whatever dd1 throws on top of her when she is in her big donut gym thing(?) - yesterday that was potatoes.

Woke up this morning to dd1 saying "How do you do" to dd2 in her cot - aaah.

What exciting plans does everyone have today, we are going to village for cup of tea (raining), home for lunch, then back to village for doctors (I hate going to the doctors with both girls, but seem to have to do it every other week), I always start the day with a plan, which usually falls apart when I realise its 11 and I haven't managed to get dressed.

3missyshohoho · 06/12/2007 09:33

Hi, Hope your day goes well today Hazel - I always have a plan but like you it never quite works out... I was just an organised and on time person before children - now I always seem to be chasing my tail! -

The word "popping out" isn't just a case of picking up your keys and mobile and running out the door it is a case of packing the whole of my house in a bag, while rugby tackling my eldest when she only has one boot on and she won't put the other one on, all whist holding on to DD2 who thinks its funny that mummy has hold of DD1 by the leg and she is running away, then DD2 thinks she will just sick up a bit of her milk/food just as we are about to go out so she needs to be changed, DD1 has now taken off her other boot so rugby tackle is needed again, we eventually get out the door, only to realise that I have forgotten DD1 juice so when I finally get that and out again I am probably half and hour late to where I should be! Everyone can relate - yes?

jacobandlysetteandabump · 06/12/2007 10:02

3missy that's us with just ds! although i know it is going to be much much worse with 2. anyone else's DH seem incapable of carrying more than one thing at a time? if he carries ds then all the beakers / muslin / socks / anything else you can possibly think of all gets left for me to bring afterwards!!!

isn't it awful weather today?