Tips for having toddler and baby?

Lauren - posted on 05/31/2010

Thank you everyone for the advice and tips!. It puts my worrying mind a lot more at ease.

Angela - posted on 05/30/2010

i'm actually 4 weeks away from having my 2nd child and my little girl will be 2. I have asked many friends with a toddler and bub for advice and here is what they gave me:
1. make sure you still have toddler/mummy time together when baby is asleep
2. when feeding newborn, use this time to read to your toddler or have him/her feed a doll with you
3. Nappy change time - involve toddler as much as you can, eg. add talc on bubs bottom or have him/her carry dirty nappy to the bin
4. when hubby/partner comes home from work (or if you have a family member around), use this opportunity for hubby to take care of newborn while you spend sometime with your toddler eg. cook together, play together.
5. on weekends, allow one to one time with your toddler out of the house. go to the park or shops together (hubby or a family member to look after bub)
6. give plenty of hugs and kisses when possible
7. still be a part of his/her bedroom routine
8. have toddler hold bub whenever s/he can so s/he has a special bond with him/her

So many other things but i cannot think of it on the top of my head. hope what i have written so far is a start for you. take it a day at a time and continue to enjoy both children's company!! xo good luck

Sarah - posted on 05/30/2010

My daughter came exactly 3 weeks after my sons 2nd birthday. He loves his sissy. I got him a doll to practice with and that seemed to help. The best piece of advice i can offer is to sleep when they do and have certain activities that are special to that child (more important as they get older) I sit and watch Yo Gabba Gabba with my son everyday and i have mommy and baby time everynight with my daughter

Jane - posted on 05/30/2010

our 1st was 18mos when our 2nd arrived. now that our 1st is 3 yrs, i notice that she is getting "assertive" and "aggressive". so he may be naturally more sassy anyway, it may not be all new baby. BUT i tried to include big sister as much as i could, ask her to bring me a diaper, a bottle, read to her little sister when i nursed, etc. keep him involved and let him know that there is a ton more love in the house for everyone, the baby brought more love for everyone, etc. show him how to kiss the baby gently and let him know the baby is only held w/you or daddy. my daughter got a big kick out of tickling her sister's feet. but she also did feel uncertain for about a month or two. i think she was trying to figure out how she fit in the new picture. i made a great effort everyday to let her know just how important she still was.

the first month for me w/two kids was hell. then around the third month i realized i was handling things pretty well.

try to feed into his "big brother" role him being more helpful and loving and reassure him that everything is okay and he will always be loved as much as ever, forever. they adapt pretty quickly but there will be some growing pains.

i felt very guilty for having our 2nd one. i actually believed that when our 18 month old got sick for the first time w/a fever of 104, that it was b/c i had had another baby! and when the baby was all ready to come home for the hospital i panicked, i thought i was going to be doing the worst thing ever by bringing her home to her sister. but they adore one another and giggle all day long. i think having a sibling is a great gift to give your children in life. i am the youngest of 7 so i think the world of my siblings. i wouldn't be who i am w/out them in my life.

good luck!