Caring for 2 kids

[alison]

I'm embarrassed to post this, but need your best advice for how to take care of my newborn and 4 yo. My dh has been home ever since dd2 was born (over 2 weeks now---luxurious!), and he goes back to work this Saturday.

How do you do bath? How do you get 2 in and out of the car? Baby first, then big kiddo? Dd4 is a good listener and never wanders off, but does have a tantrum button.

Give me your tips! TIA!

[moonlight]

I'm about to have the same problem. Is your DD4 in school this summer? Mine goes to preschool year round and I'm scared most of getting them loaded and unloaded for school. We have to clock in at school, we absolutely can not be late.

[SoonerTexan]

I bathe them separately or have them shower with me while DH is home and I can hand the baby off to him to dry off.

N gets in the car first, then I bring out J, and buckle N after J is buckled.

[Thirteen]

My plan:
Baby out first, in carrier of some sort.
Toddler out next, and if he's wild, directly into the stroller/shopping cart. Perhaps a leash? *groan* I am that mom now.

Bath time: baby in carrier, toddler in tub. Baby in bouncy chair or Moses basket, toddler out of tub, dress toddler. Put baby back in carrier.

You can make fun of me when I come back here in a few months, head spinning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alison]

Mine is doing a few weeks of summer camp. We're keeping it low key this summer, because she's got some severe separation anxiety. She won't go anywhere without dh or me. It's kind of bad right now, but the baby's here, and she seems to be doing better now that the source of her anxiety is here.

Once the baby is big enough, I plan to put her in a carrier. I have a bugaboo stroller with a kick board. Dd4 likes riding it, but it's not easy to maneuver the stroller with both kids on board. Dd4 is too big for a double stroller, too, and it's just not practical in a city to push something like that around.

Moonlight: the age difference is interesting. One moment the 4 yo loves being the bigger/better sister to the next moment where she wants to be a baby again.

[alison]

My plan:
Baby out first, in carrier of some sort.
Toddler out next, and if he's wild, directly into the stroller/shopping cart. Perhaps a leash? *groan* I am that mom now.

Bath time: baby in carrier, toddler in tub. Baby in bouncy chair or Moses basket, toddler out of tub, dress toddler. Put baby back in carrier.

You can make fun of me when I come back here in a few months, head spinning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lol!

[Thirteen]

DS is pretty much too big for a double stroller as well, unless it has zero canopy.

Crap!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alison]

DS is pretty much too big for a double stroller as well, unless it has zero canopy.

Crap!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How tall is he? City mini has nice double strollers, I think. I bought a stroller from them for dd to get her to school!

[Thirteen]

Taller than the city mini height requirement. Almost too tall for the BOB (1.5" left), as well as the City Summit double.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OrionGrad]

What about bedtime? How do you handle that with 2 on nights when your DH isn't home?

[Thirteen]

What about bedtime? How do you handle that with 2 on nights when your DH isn't home?

My plan: put DS down at his usual time, then do whatever I can to stay awake while DS#2 refuses to sleep.

(DS#1 never slept, and I would basically bounce/sway/walk/shush him until he was "all screamed out" for the night. Until like 2 hours later...)

I'm hoping (so hard!) that we get a good sleeper this time, but I'm not counting on it.
The house we bought has a split floorplan so the hope is DS#1 won't hear all the insanity happening in our room.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alison]

What about bedtime? How do you handle that with 2 on nights when your DH isn't home?

I'm thinking no one gets a bath. . My dd just loves to sit in there and play for god knows how long. Sometimes she's in there for so long that I have to add more hot water. Kiddo loves her bath... It's relaxing for her, and I don't want to rush her or take that away from her.

[OrionGrad]

My plan: put DS down at his usual time, then do whatever I can to stay awake while DS#2 refuses to sleep.

(DS#1 never slept, and I would basically bounce/sway/walk/shush him until he was "all screamed out" for the night. Until like 2 hours later...)

I'm hoping (so hard!) that we get a good sleeper this time, but I'm not counting on it.
The house we bought has a split floorplan so the hope is DS#1 won't hear all the insanity happening in our room.

But what will you do with DS#2 while you're putting DS down for bed? Carrier?

[Thirteen]

I basically plan to wear DS#2 a lot.
I think if he can hang for a little while in the bouncy chair or his Moses basket, I'll do that.
Otherwise, my peanut shell and the ergo will receive quite a work out. :/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[spotty_dog]

But what will you do with DS#2 while you're putting DS down for bed? Carrier?

Sometimes a swing would keep my DD content during that time, or sometimes I would put her on the boob and sit on the floor with her while I sat in the dark room with DS shushing him down. Or just get DS to crash watching TV and then try to transfer him. It's survival mode, man.