thread: How to prepare for a new baby due when your child turns 2?

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  1. #1
    Moderator

    Dec 2006
    Smidgen-ville
    3,736

    Just to offer another opinion...
    We did buy another cot. We decided that DS was just not mature enough to cope with a big bed. He's little-ish anyway.
    We also tried TT, but it was too much for me as I had SJD and was struggling to deal with the bending down etc. We delayed TT until after DS2 was born and it went perfectly smoothly. I use flats/prefolds for the newborn anyway and DS1 didn't need so many nappies by then, so i didn't even buy anymore MCNs. (it was summer too mind you - that helped!)
    I have a Phil and teds with the double kit. DS1 loved to walk and i had many baby carriers too, but i have still found the double pram invaluable! We sold the old one and bought another.
    I feel that the boys could have easily shared a room, if we had needed them to. DS2 did not move out of our room until about 6 months anyway, and when he has a big cry he wakes ds1 up anyway - one wall between them makes little difference.

    (BTW - there is 21 months between my boys)

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Dec 2009
    605

    Hmm I'm really thinking it might be ok to transition DD into a bed.. We already have a spare double bed, if I chuck rails on it, it might work? If it fails, I suppose I can buy another cot that converts to a bed.
    What about kids that don't sleep through the night? Can you put them in a bed or will they walk around the room and fall asleep on the floor??
    I will have new baby in a bassinet in our room for a few months anyway, should I just wait till then so I can tell what stage DD is at?
    Very interesting to hear about the toilet training too, I'll endeavour to try that too!
    Gosh I'm getting so excited. Fingers crossed!!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    Springvale South, Melbourne
    2,826

    For dd2 when we put her in the bottom bunk we just tucked one side in and had a rail on the other. She would wake and still does. She walks into our room, I just grab her hand and walk/carry her back to bed, kiss her good night and leave. There has only been a few times where they have woken each other up, so not too bad over the past 2 years! I have found both dds asleep on the floor at one stage or another.... actually we found them sleeping together in the same bed one night! I havent really got anything to say on tt as I just did it as I saw the need for it. Im in the process of tt dd2 and shes 2years 4months. I wasnt in a rush to get them on the loo.... you will know when she is ready or at least showing signs of it.
    Good luck

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Melbourne
    3,300

    Have just transitioned DD into a bed at 21 months in preparation for DS arriving in a couple of months. We just got bunk beds from IKEA with a trundle bed underneath, for the first month just pulled out the trundle in case she fell out (the bunk is only about 30cm from floor anyway - we decided against rails) - found her on the trundle asleep a few times, and now don't even pull that out - sometimes her legs are dangling out, but she has fallen out of a slightly higher bed while on holiday and didn't even wake up. She loves her new bed and has gone to bed better than did in cot - we lay down next to her and read three stories then kiss her and teddies and say good night leave room and thats it. We haven't found her wandering about overnight, but DH did discover her in our room once when she was meant to be having a day nap - I use the monitor still so I can hear her if she wakes up, and normally I get up if it sounds like she gets out of bed (often I hear her 'reading' to herself in the morning). I ask her in the morning if she has slept well, she always says yes and really seems to like it - she is often laying across the bed or upside down etc though, but I just cover her back up with the doona before I go to bed.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Dec 2009
    605

    mimatron you said bunk bed? So who sleeps in the top bunk, or is that for when new baby is older?
    Coz I do have a spare room, but if I have another girl, I think it's nice for them to share eventually, and saves me moving house when I have a 3rd! Maybe i should invest in a bunk bed instead of buying a new bed (if DD doesn't like the double we already have).

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    Springvale South, Melbourne
    2,826

    I have my 4 year old on top... we brought the bunks just before Christmas so she was 3 years 8 months. I thought I got the low ones (off ebay) but they werent that low! They have railings all around the top and we havent had any acidents from the top- just a few mid ladder ones at the start where they (Miss 4 and Miss 2) would fight. It doesnt happen anymore! So Yeah... I have Olivia up top, Rebecca on the bottom (she is 2) and Amy in the cot all in the same room. I was thining if we do have #4 we would get another set of bunks and put DD2 up top... by then she would be around 3 and a half- 4!

    I think the double would be fine to start off with. Do you really need to move house? We only have 2 bedrooms and an office. It is tight but for the moment its fine and I can see it being fine for at least another 5 years or so! (hopefully) Personally I dont think that its essential for kids to have their own rooms at this age. I tell you what though... I love hearing them at night having chats and when they wake up they have chats too. Its really nice.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Dec 2009
    605

    That would be so lovely hearing them chatting away together! It reminds me of when I was a kid, there were 4 of us in one room, and it was a lot of fun actually.
    I'm definitely going to let them share a room I think.
    Thanks so much for the tips ladies!

    Oh and if anyone has any extra advice, please bombard me. I need all the tips I can get!

    What about breastfeeding? Will DD get mad that I'm constantly holding and feeding the new baby? Will she be bored at home being houseridden?
    What about at the hospital? Do I bring DD? We don't really have anyone to babysit.
    DH will have to take her home at night for sleep and then I'll be all alone in labour! What did you guys do?