Newborn tips with you also have a 2yr old?

[Mummabear12]

As the thread says really? I know there's a thread for a first timer but what about when you have another toddler running around? Dd will be 2.2 then and she sleeps well... 7.30pm- 8am and naps for about 1hr in the day :) x

Jen2014 regarding what to do with a boy, my DS shows no signs of wanting to copy or have his own baby and is very much into his cars. By all means get a doll (i very nearly did) but if he wants to play cars then let him. You can involve them in other ways.

When changing baby DS often stands next to me and plays with his cars around the edge of the change mat so i let him and speak to him about what colour his car is and if he think baby likes his yellow car or his red car etc.

Also, when i've finished feeding i'll ask DS if we should put baby on the play mat or in her bed/moses basket etc.

Yes to sling, yes to cbeebies, yes to getting out of the house.

DS2 gave DS1 a gift, it's one of DS1's most treasured possessions, it was in DS2's crib when DS1 saw him in hospital.

Lots of talking to DC1 about why you have to jump when DC2 needs something, and completely focus on DC1 when the baby sleeps.

It is hard, and the older child will feel jealous, it's natural. He will also hopefully take out any emotions on you as his mum and not the baby, if he does, then don't take it personally, it's a sign he loves his sibling, but is angry at having to share you.

Get them involved in helping and making choices and go easy on yourself for a while.

My DD was 21mo when her sister was born. Things were a bit different for us as DD2 (and I) didn't leave hospital til 3mo so all the plans I had went out of the window. Also due to DD2's issues I wasn't able to bf.

I've got no family or friends around to help so just basically threw money at the problem - kept DD1 in full time child care (which I wasn't planning to do) which makes me feel guilty but has been necessary as I'm constantly at hospital with the younger one. My mum comes to stay occasionally and that's a real sanity saver. We couldn't get out to groups etc til the baby was 6mo. I wish things had been different but we've survived and you can too!

Dinner, bath and bed is really difficult when I'm on my own. DD2 is 8mo now so it's a bit easier than it was, but am always looking for tips for the 5-7pm slot!

19 months between mine. I've been lucky as ds has continued to go to cm two mornings a week and still mostly has a 90 min nap every day.

I have a second hand phil & teds but have only used it as a double a handful of times as I'm a sling girl. Which gets me some funny looks when I wheel the empty pushchair to the cm to collect ds with dd in the sling

My mum has also been fab, here a lot when dh is working and ds is aware that if I'm feeding dd then he can get Granny to play.

If your toddler likes "jobs" (mine does) then help with nappy changes is a good way to involve then (can you get the changing matt/pass me a nappy/wipe etc)

Try to keep to whatever routine you have now (groups and classes)

Try to encourage some "quiet" activities. Favourites here are jigsaws, playdoh, colouring, snack time and building the train set.

Ds used to pat dd on the head a lot but mostly ignored her. She's 6 months and crawling now so they are starting to interact beautifully together. Except when she demolishes his train set...

I too am overseas, no support network, and dh working in another state for 1-2 wks at a time after pat leave (2wks). 15mths between ds3 and ds4. Would second that a brilliant double pram is an absolute MUST have. I still walk between 4 and 8kms daily with mine. Walking saved my sanity - loads of it. Mothers groups were also a godsend. Having to be out the house before 08:45 every day to take ds1&2 to school really helped - forced me to have a routine. I swear by routine, would probably sink and burn without it .

I always tried to ensure that ds3 was cosied beside me on the sofa with film on/books/toys while I bf. Ensure toddler is gated in with you while you feed, to stop him shoving stuff down the loo/rearranging the kitchen etc.

Invest in a good playpen or baby dan to either cage in the toddler, or lay baby in on a mat to stop toddler jumping or falling on baby (or, as happened to a friend of mine, pulling over the Moses basket) while you nip to the loo.

If toddler is still napping during the day, use that chance to get you and baby's head down for thirty minutes. Power naps are your friend. Also, batch cook while you have your other half at home, to ensure you always have easily accessible nutritious food available. Sandwiches get boring. Keep your fluid and food intake up, to help with energy levels. Lastly, enjoy! It's bloody hard, but so worth it.

There's 2 yrs 2 months between mine who are now 2.8 and 6 months.

Firstly being pregnant with a toddler and worrying about how you're going to cope was much much worse than when I'd actually had the baby. Pregnancy plus toddler is exhausting!

My advice - stretchy sling, lavish attention and presents on the toddler at the beginning, and every time he starts acting up, get out every day as much as possible, get your DH to make you and toddler a packed lunch before he leaves each morning. Will try to think of others. Oh yes pick out clothes for all of you and pack the nappy bag the night before.

Try to look forward to it. It's so amazing when they start interacting.

I had a 21 month gap.

Batch cook as much as you can and freeze.
Get you LO as independent as you can, teach them to get into their own car seat etc.
A close sling.
A doll and accessories did help.
When you run out of pre cooked food, cook your evening meal at lunch as you will have someone crying in the late afternoon.
Forget about a spotless house.
Get out for fresh air twice a day, get the toddler walking as much as you can.
Keep up some toddler group/ singing stuff but not too much.
Bathe together every night, you can have baby in the bath with you, then get out and feed/dry baby while LO plays.

My toddler stopped napping when baby arrived ( sigh) but if you can get them to continue napping do so.

I didn't find it that hard really, you just muddle through.

Oh and bath them alternate days.

18 months between my two and yes yes to dealing with toddler first. In my mind the eldest knew what was going on whereas so long as baby was fed and changed she was happy.

I was worried second would be a nightmare as first is so good but if anything second is even better! Rarely cries and it's an absolute godsend that at almost 2 and 5 months they are both sleeping 12 hours.

I think being relaxed about it all is the key!

I bath them together as eldest loves to help clean swat with a flannel youngest