Newborn and 2 year old - HOW do you do it?!

[lentil88]

I have a 10 day old and a very busy 2 year old. Husband going back to work on Monday, long hours so will be alone from when they wake up until after they go to bed. We're struggling as it is with two pairs of hands! How on earth do people do it?! Please share your tips and tricks... x

I have a 4 month old and an almost 4 year old. The first 3 months were very difficult. Luckily we get the funded hours for DS1 so he went to nursery 2.5 days a week. As others have said, if you can afford any sort of childcare for your eldest, do it and don’t feel guilty about it. Make life as easy for yourself as possible. Get groceries delivered, don’t feel guilty about oven food and loads and loads of telly. Others have said they prefer being out and about but my baby will only nap on me so it means I have to plan our lives around his naps. Hardly ideal but it won’t be forever. Just do whatever you can to survive. You will look back at this time and be so proud you made it through.

Thank you so much all - some amazing suggestions, all noted and ready for tomorrow! Hope the others of you in the same position are doing ok xxx

It’s tough.
Agree with lots of above.
Sling- yes, yes
We also had a sectioned off corner of room with playpen type thing , that the Moses basket was in which meant toddler couldn’t get to sleeping baby.
It gets easier. Be kind to yourself, don’t have high expectations

No option of nursery for us. We went out for walks as was lockdown, now you have the option to go out to farms, parks, cafes etc. Go out at least once a day, even if it's only for half an hour. Use your two year old as a helper to get nappies etc. Set them up with toys to play with.

Enjoy it whilst one can't walk cos as soon as they're both on their feet it all changes. Mines 1.5 and 3.5 now and I'm constantly knackered

I have a four month old and a 17 month old and it has been harder than when I had a 7 month old and a 3 month old (I foster). Now I have them in a kind of routine where they have an afternoon nap at the same time which makes the housework easier. The 4 month old is now also dropping night feeds which has been lovely. We go out every day for a walk and spend some time at the park, the littlest baby is in the sling and nods off as and when the mood takes. The early days were hard though as the smallest baby just wanted to be held so we spent a lot of time with her in the sling so I could play with the older baby.