Any top tips for raising 2 under 2?

[maria2bela]

Second baby due September, when LO is 22 months old. I feel like I need to be prepared! Any tips welcome x

Make a good effort to synchronise nap times to give yourself a break! Decent double buggy and a good walk works ime!!

Learn the mantra "all fed + none dead = a good day"

22 months to the day with my two. Things were very different second time around...I don't remember much of it but the bits I do remember.....

Baby led weaning for child 2. No pissing about puréeing everything....one family meal only will save your sanity. Double portions of everything when cooking and freeze half for another day. My son is now an incredible eater and I'm sure this is one of the reasons why.

Lots of baby groups to help structure your day and give you a break from the house. (when things are a bit more normal obviously)

Potty train number 2 as soon as it feels right. Getting mine both out of nappies seemed to make life a bit easier and got it over fairly quickly

Work towards (bit don't beat yourself up about), getting a nap going at the same time

Good luck!

Okay, our age gap is just over two, but the already mentioned mantra is key in the first year! Literally live by it, so long as you're all still alive, you're winning. Just survive, lower your expectations of everything (especially housework) and get through it. Once baby number two is becoming a toddler, you will reap the rewards of a small age gap... Instant playmate for eachother, sharing/reusing of clothes/equipment, days out/holidays, easy peasy to please everyone. Feelings of guilt towards your firstborn during the beginning are completely normal, but don't worry, once that baby is a month old, your firstborn will have forgotten life before being a sibling. There will be tough times, trying to juggle them both, but it will definitely be worth it.
Invest in a sling for baby, a buggyboard was also a saviour for us, orchard games were great to entertain toddler one handed when feeding baby.

I've got 16.5 months between mine. My tips would be coffee and wine 😂.

Buggy board for pram.
Baby led weaning.
Definitely a sling for baby as much as possible.
We also kept our eldest in childcare a couple of mornings a week,saved sanity and meant she was socialising with other kids still.

It's chaos for a while but my youngest is now 2.5 and things are getting much easier, they're into the same stuff and can do classes together.

Ahh thanks guys, really great bits of info I hadn't even thought about yet! X

I'm tired just reading this but really want this age gap!!

This is so useful! We are about to start TTC baby number 2 as DD will be 1 this month and we've always wanted a small age gap! It's great to see what people recommend!
All the best OP! I think it's a really lovely age gap (though granted I have no experience yet!)

21 months between my 2, now 12 and 10. Try and get as much help as possible if you can!! Seriously, if you can get family to take them out for a walk for an hour to give you a break, or even to take the toddler so you can get a rest.

Baby and toddler groups, play groups etc.
The good thing now that they are older is they get on well together and play together. Good luck.