You're in the exact same position as I was a few weeks ago. I still ahte DH going to work, but it has to be done I guess! It's actually not as hard as you think it's going to be. But some days are tough, especially when your toddler is being clingy. Your newborn will sleep alot of the time and you will have time to spend with your toddler. Hardest for us is when I'm bathing the baby, and preparing meals, especially dinner. I try to do all of that when my toddler is sleeping, if not when both are sleeping. Even dinner. At least prepare it then, and then you can cook it later and make quickly cooked meals. If you're prone to 'woe is me' (like me!) thoughts try to get out at least once a day for a walk or to go and get bread and milk or something. It really does help and is worth the effort. Hmmm....have food that is quick to prepare and easy to eat for both yourself and your toddler, like muffins, fruit, crackers, maybe have sandwiches prepared in the fridge for the next day. It stops the stress of what to do when bubs is screaming and your toddler needs lunch! Or if you need to eat something in 2 minutes and want something healthy and reasonably substantial. Take one hour at a time, and really it's not as hard as you think it will be.
Thats all I can think of at the mo, will post more if I think of it!
Oh, nap when they do if you can. It's soo tiring, especially if your toddler wakes as well. I'm up to my toddler once or twice a night at least, as well as bf'ing my baby every 3 hrs. I'm stuffed!! On that note, I'm going to bed, LOL!! Good luck.
Last edited by MrsFabuloso; October 15th, 2008 at 08:54 PM.
Well i had 2 under 12 months and soon 3 under 25 months!!!
My way of surviving (when DD2 came along) and even now (aged nearly 1 and 23 months) was routine. They would nap at the same time, feed around the same time, id sleep when they did, forget house work until your settled into home alone, EAT...something i stopped doing.
Ask for help if you need it...dont do it alone if your not coping
Yes well DS woke every hour last night and i finally got to sleep about 615am to have DD wake (DH attended to her) and omg the tanties of all tanties. Wouldnt eat breaky, screaming and thrwoing herself on the floor. I think she is teething too which doesnt help. I finally got breaky in her about 815am after i calmed her down and got DS in the bouncer to sleep.
I have started preparing DD's meals for day time already and i know that DS will sleep lots so not so worried about that. But yes the rest for me bit is harder. I cant stop thinking of the nappies i need to wash and the basket of ironing from2 weeks ago.... lol
PP - just put the clothes away - iron clothes as you need them honey!!!! As for nappies - I do mine of a night time - when the kids are in bed or if one of them is in bed and DH has the other one under control.
I also (in the early days) made a lunchbox up for DS so during the day I just went to the lunchbox and grabbed him some food, at the same time as feeding DD.
Plus movies - lots of movies.. and now he can change them himself, its better, but also a pain in the butt cos he wants to do it all the time!!!!!
I found the hardest part when I was trying to settle DD and DS wants me to play with him or give him a cuddle and would SCREAM the house down because I couldn't do it - which then made it hard to get DD to sleep. But that doesn't happen every day (thank god!!)
I found books good too. When feeding the newborn, have the toddler next to you and read them a book. then they feel that they are getting attention too.
Ummm... thats all I can think of at the moment. DS is at daycare today (woot!) so I have a lot more time to actually concentrate on my housework.
Thats my biggest tip - childcare - even for one day for the toddler - lets you catch up on the housework/ironing stuff that is hard to get done with both of them around.
Oh - and go out on the weekend - even for a few hours - the break is nice. DH watches both the kids on a Sunday morning while I go get the groceries (although this weekend will be Saturday since we have the meet up!!!)
Good luck - it gets better - the first month was the hardest for me - I was pulling my hair out. Its easier now - but we still have our days of frustration (ie, yesterday!!)
Let me know if you want a visitor, cos I can bring DS down to play with your DD - and then we can sit down with the babies and have a cuppa or something
Kimbaz, you need a medal or something, I think I'd go crazy with three 2 and under!!
I agree with Arimeh, that you need to try to take time for you. Just an hour or two, a few times a week, every day if you can swing it!! I have long showers most days and do all the moisturising and stuff for myself. And I go for walks alone when DH is hoem and the kids are settled. I can only leave for 2-3 hrs cause DS is bf, but it feels good to be alone for a while. When I can afford it I will get a gym membership. THey have childcare and I can do something for me which I enjoy.
Mel - i am so happy to hear that things have calmed down for you. I remember reading your posts thinking... that will be me hehe! I found the hardest part when I was trying to settle DD and DS wants me to play with him or give him a cuddle and would SCREAM the house down because I couldn't do it - which then made it hard to get DD to sleep.
I am finding that she wants to sit on climb on me when feeding and i really dont want to isolate her by sitting up where she cant get to me. I guess i am trying to involved Ashley as much as i can so no resentment begins towards Ethan. At the moment she is loving the baby.. will go to him if he cries and will stroke his head when he is sleeping.
But the book idea is good. Might need to get some new books too.
The past week she has has ABC1 and 2 on repeat lol pretty much and i feel bad. I am scared that that much tv is not good for her and really want to cut it out to about 1/2 hr in the morning and 1/2 in the afternoon... i guess that will be a challenge.
As for daycare. I am waiting to hear back from FDC about a placement for ashley. HOping that she will be accepted. I was not happy with her previous CC - hence why she is at home with me now 100%
Lilias. The walks are great. I am planning on a pram walk to the park every morning after breaky. HOping DS will sleep in the pram and allow DD to play on the slide etc to burn some energy.
Kimbaz - ditto was lilias said. SO strange because DH would love a third child and now that the pregnancy is over i think.. mmm could be nice hehe... but you know i think i need to stop ... i dont know why . But if we were to have a third we would probably try in 6 months again like with DS.
PP - I so know what you mean - now that DD is staying up a bit longer between sleeps and doesn't take over an hour to feed - I feel bad that DS is watching all this tv - he hardly plays with his toys anymore!!!
So I'm planning on doing a walk (once I work out my Ergo) up to the nearest park here in the mornings that he isn't at daycare - so she can sleep in the Ergo, then he can have a play - and gets him away from the bloody tv!!!
Arhh SAHM 2 under 16 months....
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