What do I need to know before baby number 2 arrives!

[postingwithlove]

We are soon going to try for another baby,

Current DD1 is 11 months.

What do I need to know?

How can I prepare myself and my daughter?

Anything you would do different?

Anything suprised you?

Thanks in advance xxxxx

The title was supposed to be a question with ??? At the end but accidentally put !!!

Preparation for eldest depends on their age, so you'll have to wait till you know that. I'm more familiar with larger age gaps personally.

Think about how you'll get around - again, depends on age gap. Double buggy, single with buggy board, single with youngest in sling... Smaller age gaps I think double buggy is more sensible (love our 2nd hand bugaboo donkey, but there are lots of different types).

Sleeping arrangements: how/where does eldest sleep? It's best to avoid any big changes onceeldest knows you are pregnant or within 3 months of birth. So Room Changes/Move To Big Kid Bed Need To Be planned in advance.

Your 2nd may be really similar to your first in terms of temperament. But they might not be! That can be surprising - you think you got something works out with your first but your next one you may need different strategies.

Thanks this is all really helpful

My dd1 was 2.5 and I got a few gifts from the baby when we came home with dd2.

I think the main prep is making any changes you need for your eldest well before of baby’s arrival.

So room moves, getting used to dad doing certain things if he doesn’t already eg bedtime (as realistically the newborn will need you more for a while)

Presents “from the baby” usually go down well

A doll to play babies with so they have their baby while you have yours

Your DH needs to be prepared to do the majority of the parenting of the older one whilst you recover from the birth AND help with the new baby until you’re back up and about which will vary how long depending on the kind of birth you have. If you need a section for example you won’t be able to haul a toddler around the park for a while.

Then the other prep is financial. If you can afford to keep the eldest in nursery / get out to groups for the toddler then life will be easier so saving up as much as you can to cover the time you’ll be on maternity leave

Prepare yourself for it being very hard! Sorry to make that sound miserable but i just mean if your expectations are that it'll be difficult then you'll handle it better. The first 6/7 weeks i felt it was near impossible to get anything done apart from getting everyone fed and dressed for the day (exclusively breast fed) But the difficult time will be short, this time next year you'll have 2 lovely little siblings with a lovely age gap

My second baby came on a BOGOF deal. Not sure you can plan or adjust for that though 😂

Boxes of nappy changing stuff everywhere. Every room. Boots of the cars.