Tips on taking toddler out with newborn - am I a wuss?

[Fernlawn]

So I have a very energetic 2 year old. He is very sweet but obviously, he has his moments and melts down for nothing etc. In the heat of these moments, he can be difficult to ‘manage’ physically - tosses himself on the floor, kicks, hits etc. I am currently on mat leave with a 4 week old DS2. As I’m not spending as much time with DS1 due to the baby ( he is in nursery full time), I would like to take him out of nursery early on Friday and take him to a library event for quality time. Any tips on how to go armed? I’m thinking keeping baby in sling and maybe keep toddler in buggy to walk from library to car for more control? I’m sure he will fight to leave at the end of the event. Usually I’d pick him up but now with baby in sling, I won’t be able to carry him…

also, will pack snacks for bribery 😅

Reins? it’s also fine to use a buggy- he is only two. How do you do it on the nursery runs? Or is that always in the car?

I would say that though that as the baby gets older (obviously very much a newborn at the moment) are you planning on keeping him in nursery full time 5x a week? If you’re at home with the baby he will probably benefit from a bit more time with you and getting used to life with a new sibling.

Put baby in pram, not a sling. I know mumsnet loves a sling but I found them to be a pain and not that practical if you need to bend over etc.

But would it be better to leave baby with dad on a Saturday and Sunday and have some one on one with the toddler? So he gets more of you.

I agree, put the baby in a buggy and use reins on the toddler.

Once the baby is in the buggy, at the end of the event, you'll have both hands free for chasing after the older child.

It's hard, getting used to two children!

Completely agree with PPs, I LOVE slings but the "just put baby in a sling so you can run around after your toddler" line is so misleading. Putting my baby in a sling is the quickest way to have my otherwise reasonably cooperative toddler lying on the floor demanding to be picked up and carried and refusing to move! And if you're wearing a sling you're a bit trapped! So I only ever go out with both of them with baby in buggy, free arms for toddler. I'm a big fan of buggy boards but that depends how much your toddler can be trusted not to get off and run. Reins+buggy board??
Good luck. The first few solo trips out can be daunting!

My baby lives in her sling, but my toddler isn’t really one to want to be carried and my baby gets upset after 10 minutes or so in the pram; so this is what works for me. It keeps my hands free for the toddler and if he does want a boost, he goes on my shoulders…

You figure it out, promise.

double buggy only let him go in fenced areas play parks ect until your more confident/feel better and get a little life backpack I would put newborn in pram have backpack and hands free to carry him if necessary. Don’t stress he will pick up on it! Put a treat he wants in car he can have after to encourage the transition (Ben your sticker books in the car shall we go and get it now) hopefully he will just focus on that and come effortlessly! Hope he has a good time.