Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Do I Just need eyes in the back of my head

34 replies

pollyRae16 · 23/05/2022 19:54

Can't leave DS1 with DD (8 weeks) for even a second . She's already been tipped out of her Moses basket onto the floor and now tonight he's trod on her face whilst I was changing her nappy and trying to get him ready for bed.
I'm filled with constant fear and anxiety. Does it get better 😩

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BiscoffSundae · 23/05/2022 19:56

How old is he? I have 4 and none of them did that. He tipped her out of the Moses basket 😳

Caspianberg · 23/05/2022 20:02

I would change baby on changing table or mat on chest of drawers

get a highchair with newborn insert so she/ up high. Ie stokke, hauck, maxi cosi all do one I think
use baby sling a lot more she baby is with you.
baby carrycot on pram probably safer

bigbeautifulmonster · 23/05/2022 20:06

Is it possible to carry newborn so you don't need to leave them alone?

How old is your son?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

OnlyLosersTakeTheBus · 23/05/2022 20:07

I got a playpen at some point to put the youngest in for safety reasons. Or just general time out. DC1 went through a stage of feeding his bogeys to DC2. DC2 would push DC3 over every time he tried to sit or stand up. DC3 would try to ride a crawling DC4. They all had their moments.

MolliciousIntent · 23/05/2022 20:08

Is it malicious, do you think? I was apparently famous as a child for pinching my baby sister and pushing her over if she was sitting up. DD in contrast has the same age gap but is utterly mortified and has a proper sob if she accidentally hurts the baby.

Original poster

pollyRae16 · 23/05/2022 20:22

To answer a few questions DS is 2.5 and I don't think it's malicious he is so excited around her.
Moses basket incident he yanked on the handle whilst DH back was turned - we've since stopped using it for this reason and tonight he was trying to climb on the bed to sit next to her 😩
Will definitely look into the high chairs and happy to use the sling more.
Feel constantly on edge all the time

OP posts:

Sponge19 · 23/05/2022 20:25

Wow that’s not normal behaviour, even for a 2 and a half year old

MolliciousIntent · 23/05/2022 20:26

Then yes, you do need eyes in the back of your head, or you need to maybe treat the situation in the same way you would if you had a dog - eyes on, constantly. No back turning or leaving the room ever.

breatheintheamazing · 23/05/2022 20:28

2.5 is a tough age to bring a sibling home. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt this time that he's just pulled on the handle so he can have a peek at her and it's fell over.

BiscoffSundae · 23/05/2022 20:29

No it’s not normal at all and sorry does sound deliberate mine knew to be very gentle around babies even at that age and younger

Original poster

pollyRae16 · 23/05/2022 20:37

Wow @BiscoffSundae nice to hear how perfect your children were 😬 both have been accidents not deliberate

OP posts:

BiscoffSundae · 23/05/2022 20:39

Never said they was perfect? Just that it’s not normal, not ime anyway, it’s nothing about being perfect and definitely need to supervise constantly if he is having constant accidents as you may need to take them to a&e if he is pulling them on the floor out of a Moses basket for a baby that is really bad and too many accidents won’t look good

mackthepony · 23/05/2022 20:39

Yes, with an 8 week old you need eyes in the back of your head. With your eldest too.

I'm surprised this comes as a surprise to you tbh

MolliciousIntent · 23/05/2022 20:42

Also, I'm sure you've already done this, but with an 8wk old baby you need to go to A&E for any head injuries or falls. Being tipped out of a Moses basket (I'm presuming on a stand) and having her face stood on would both warrant a check from a doctor.

ilkleymoorbartat · 23/05/2022 20:43

Ignore everyone who's being decidedly unhelpful here.

You're at a really tricky stage with a toddler and newborn. Some toddlers will react more extremely than others to a new child.

For now you will have to monitor their interactions very closely. And speak to your eldest about being gently. Show him gentle hands etc when touching the baby, and maybe have a warning word to walk carefully if the baby is on the floor etc.

BiscoffSundae · 23/05/2022 20:46

Exactly an 8 week old baby being tipped out of a Moses basket by a sibling isn’t normal and nothing about being perfect and having perfect kids, I hope you took the baby to a&e but if it keeps happening they will be concerned so he needs teaching immediately that his behaviour is wrong, it’s got nothing to do with being “perfect”

watcherintherye · 23/05/2022 20:53

Yes, of course it’s normal behaviour for a boisterous 2.5 year old, yes you do need eyes in the back of your head, but yes, it does get better!

Pinkywoo · 23/05/2022 20:57

I have a two and a half year old and a 12 week old baby, and it sounds normal to me! DS1 is really interested in the baby but is just clumsy and gets over excited so can be rough. I could totally see him tipping DS2 out of a Moses basket while trying to get a good look!

I've got stair gates on various doors so make sure I never leave them alone together by using the gates, and when I'm cooking, washing up etc DS2 is in his swing chair next to me, while DS1 plays on the other side of the gate. Fortunately DS1 is small for his age and DS2 is massive so in a couple of years they should be evenly matched!

NerrSnerr · 23/05/2022 21:00

You can't leave them alone together. If you leave the room one of them comes with you.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 23/05/2022 21:00

Oh FFS. There's a lot of distance between 'oh that's normal, they all do that' and 'your child is a sociopath'. At 2.5 they don't always know their own strength, or where their foot is going to land, and they definitely do lose sight of how weak and vulnerable a newborn is, especially when they're cross with it (i know you've said these have been accidents in your case OP).

It'll pass. But yes, you really can't leave them alone together unsupervised, and that's pretty normal (my experience - with a bigger gap! - and that of many other mothers I've spoken with over the years). Take one or the other with you to the toilet or the kitchen or whatever. My DC2 actually used the moses basket or seat more than my DC1 so that I could use my hands for DC1.

Congratulations on your new baby

AliceW89 · 23/05/2022 21:02

I feel like I need eyes in the back of my head with 2 year old DS and that’s without having a newborn thrown into the mix! My friend has 2 under 2 and a DH who works shifts - she regularly separates the baby from the toddler with a physical barrier, like a play pen or a stair gate. Might be worth considering until DC1 has settled a bit.

Original poster

pollyRae16 · 23/05/2022 21:19

Thank you to those who were kind in their responses I do appreciate it.
Just to be a bit clearer both instances haven't happened in the same day, they weren't left unattended together today I was in the middle of changing DD nappy. And of course she has been checked out.

OP posts:

DustyTulips · 23/05/2022 21:26

Stretchy wrap sling - wore it all day abs could pop dd2 in and out as necessary without re-tying.

dd1 once managed to make baby dd2 project vomit milk because she liked sucking her fingers, and kindly shared with the baby. But shoved them in too far.

Original poster

pollyRae16 · 23/05/2022 21:28

@DustyTulips that's a good idea about just leaving the wrap on all day. Thank you!

OP posts:

woody87 · 23/05/2022 21:51

I had 2 under 2. I used to keep the next to me crib in the downstairs living area and put baby in that regularly as they are very sturdy. Otherwise yeah you just need to be really careful as unfortunately they just don't realise what they are doing. I used to leave baby in the crib and encourage toddler to come to the toilet with me when I needed to go and DH wasn't home.

Ignore these maniacs saying he has deliberately tried to hurt her. Not saying he won't get her a slap at some point as mine did occasionally but pulling the Moses basket down I'm sure was just curiosity.

Flip

1 2