no.2 on the way - what do I need to know

[Liz79]

DD was 2 just before Christmas and number 2 is due 2nd April, just bought one or 2 bits for the baby before VAT goes up tomorrow and whilst I had a 10% mothercare voucher. Its starting to seem a bit more real now and I'm feeling a bit daunted. How will I cope? How will DD cope? What do I need to do or know? Any survival tips for me?

Happy New year!!

Congratulations

Two is great but definitely daunting beforehand, in reality it fluctuates between being wonderful and being knackering!

My DD was 2.9 when DS arrived and the best advice I had was to teach the oldest one to sit next to you when reading before the baby turns up - helps when heavily pg too as lap seems to disappear! Also get them to turn the pages then when feeding the new baby you can spend ages reading. Got to the stage that whenever I looked like I was going to whip a boob out DD would go and get a book

Get as much help as you can in the beginning... It really helps!

Admit that there will be days when you just feel you can't cope... but you will. I hit a wall when DS2 was 6 weeks old - I was ill, DS1 was teething BADLY and I just felt like I couldn't do it anymore... DS2 is now 8 weeks old and I feel a million times better than I did.

My two are 20.5 months apart. It's difficult (because you have two to look after) but also easier in some ways (because you have done it all before and a lot more relaxed!). Good luck!