[maisiedotes]

My due date is 2 days shy of DD's second birthday. And honestly, I don't know how I am going to do it. I know people do it all the time- DH and his brother are 11 months apart. But my MIL is sooo laid back... I am thinking down to the stroller. Do I need a side-by-side? Or a front and back? Or do I just put the baby in the sling? how do I fit 2 carseats in the car? How do I maneuver them both out the door? What about grocery shopping??

I am a chronic worrier and i know I just need to roll with it.. I am just thinking about the logistics.

Maybe I should not have had that cup of coffee this morning.

 

[kolszewski]

I will have an almost 5 year old and this one is due almost 2 months before DD's 2nd bday. I am way nervous! Since my other 2 were nearly 3 years apart, DS was really doing a lot for himself. Could get his own drink from the fridge, snack from the pantry, etc. Also, he potty trained just a few months into having DD home. So, I was only changing 1 kiddo!

Now, I have DD who is a real spitfire. She goes around the house saying, "I the baby" and pretty much demands nearly 100% attention. I just keep telling myself that she will be a bit older when baby arrives. Nearly 2 is was different than 15 months!

As for strollers, I have a Joovy Caboose and I am hoping that will do us. Otherwise, I am considering a cheapie side by side to get us by for a bit.

Luck, luck, luck to us both!
Kelly

 

[rrs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by maisiedotes My due date is 2 days shy of DD's second birthday. And honestly, I don't know how I am going to do it. I know people do it all the time- DH and his brother are 11 months apart. But my MIL is sooo laid back... I am thinking down to the stroller. Do I need a side-by-side? Or a front and back? Or do I just put the baby in the sling? how do I fit 2 carseats in the car? How do I maneuver them both out the door? What about grocery shopping?? I am a chronic worrier and i know I just need to roll with it.. I am just thinking about the logistics. Maybe I should not have had that cup of coffee this morning.

My due date is the day before Carter's second birthday. I'm currently freaking out about the birthday party situation! I keep telling this one not to come before his or her brother's birthday. I'll feel really guilty if they end up sharing a birthday!

Maybe I'm in denial, but I really don't think having two car seats in the car is that big of a deal. And I have a Mustang!

Carter is already a good little walker, we get out and do a ton of stuff, and most the time he is walking, in the sling, or in the Ergo (no wonder I have SI pain, 30lbs on your hip will probably do that!) I'm planning on keeping my single stroller and carrying whichever little one is not riding. Grocery shopping isn't really too big of a concern either. Carter loves to ride in the cart, so I'll just have the new one in a sling.

Even though I don't have the same worries as you, I do have some! I'm seriously worried about tandem nursing. Am I going to be doing anything except nursing? Carter is a complete breast-addict! Plus, he loves to switch sides. How am I going to convince him to "share" and be nice and calm while the baby is nursing?

Also, I'm planning on taking classes this fall semester. I'm very nervous about my coursework! How am I going to get it done if I'm nursing all the time?

And bedtimes. Carter usually takes me about an hour or more to get down for bed. I seriously have no structure or schedule when it comes to his sleeping or eating. He eats and sleeps when he is hungry and tired. Do I need to be a bit more rigid? Like, maybe just having a regular bedtime?

I'm pretty loose-y goose-y in a lot of respects, but I'm a worrier, too. Maybe we can all toss around ideas of what will work for our various, differing concerns, because they are all significant and important.

 

[crunchy_mama]

I will have about a 2.5 yr old and nearly 5.5 yr old when the baby is born.

 

[mamaprek]

I'll have a just turned 3 yr old and a 16 month old when the new one arrives. I'm nervous too! We just went out and bought a mini van because there was no chance of fitting three car seats in our car. I have a double stroller which I plan to use for the older two - for outings, such as the zoo and then wear the baby in a sling. Sometimes when I try to go places with my two now I think I've gone crazy... but then I just keep telling myself that it will all work out! We usually don't go out a lot during the winter (we are in North Dakota) so by the time spring comes around, everyone will be a little older and hopefully that will make it easier. I think it will actually be nice to have them so close in age - even if it is busy at first.

 

[sarahmae1]

Yes, this baby is due about 2mos. after my youngest DS' 2nd b-day. I know people have kids 2yrs. apart all the time - but I never have! My older 2 are just 5 and 8 now. I'm thinking it will be a challenge for me! I had not planned on having kiddos this close together, but I'll just have to make it work.

 

[mommy2two babes]

This time around I will have a 5 yo ( Baby is due right around her birthday)
and a just turned 3 yo.
DS was due about 2 weeks before DDs second birthday.
I over thought things nd bought a double stroller that was barely used. DD wanted to walk by that point and was far more independant than I imagined.
She still nursed like crazy but that was actually a good thing because it allowed me to have her sitting quietly with me.

2 car seats should be relativly easy to put in a car lol I am a bit worried about 3

As far as getting everyone out the door you just do it. Get everything ready to go before the kids, then dress and go. I found my second alot easier than first because you have the experience you didn't have before.
My sling was a godsend and I tried to do the shopping with just one when Dh was at home.

 

[BroodyWoodsgal]

DD Will be 18 mos old....I'm not too too worried...but I know that I am going to be unbelievably tired. Oh my gosh, I cannot even think of it right now. The way I feel at the moment....I'm just so tired...I cannot imagine that it is possible to be more tired than I am...but I know that it IS and that I WILL BE!! EEEEK!

 

[perditafoster]

Heh heh heh...I have a six year old, a three year old, and a 14 month old...how to handle an infant in with this crew? Just put 'em in a sling and go! My 14 month old isn't walking yet...well, he walks about three steps and then crawls. If he's not walking by the time this baby is born, I guess I'll just get a wagon!!!!

 

[shakenbake]

thankfully my baby will be 8 when this one is born but the car seat thing is Killing me i had a blazer when my son was born and now i have a mini cooper HOW am i ever going to get a car seat in that?????? UGH i love my car and the thought of haveing to trade it in makes me soo sad!

 

[Shell_Ell]

My first two were 21 months apart. It was insane, but we did it. My oldest also has autism, so I think that added to the chaos, but who knows. This time I will have a 2 1/2 year old and a 4 year old in addition to this newborn. I think I'm in denial about that, but I've got some time to work it all out.

I agree with whoever said the sling. I was able to take both of my kids grocery shopping when my younger one was a small baby. I just timed it during his nap so I knew he's sleep in the sling the entire time.

You'd be amazed what you do when you have to.

 

[R8chel]

DD will be about 18 mo when her brother is born. She is already very independent so I'm hoping it will be a smooth transition. She does so well with other kids in daycare. She doesn't like to play by herself, so hopefully a sibling will make it easier!

 

[Mizelenius]

I'll have a 7 yo, 4 yo, and 2 yo when the baby is born. The 2 yo will be 3 in Feb.

I didn't buy a double stroller when I just had 2 kids. I didn't even buy one until my 3rd insisted on getting into the single stroller (she was over a year). If my 2nd had been more cooperative (she STILL runs away

) I wouldn't have even bought the double-- I would have had her walk. I think doubles are a pain. They are heavy, for the most part. Maybe the $500-700 ones are better, but I could not pay that for a stroller . . .and no matter what, it's STILL a double, which is automatically more awkward than a single.

Anyway, look on Craigslist if you really want one, but you have plenty of time.

For strollers under $300 (I don't like the tandem) I would recommend the Inglesina Swift, the MacClaren Twin (that's what I have-- got it for under $200 used), but these are both heavy. The only light one is the PP Aria, which my sis has and likes. A good place to look is www.Albeebaby.com

I think personality matters a LOT. My 3rd isn't so into running away, so I am not as worried about her. I will probably worry more about my 2nd when the baby comes.

 

[Scalpel]

Ours lives will be pretty hectic for awhile. We have a 7 month old daughter now and when the twins are born she will a year and 3 months

:

 

[marie1080]

My toddler will turn 3 a few weeks after this new babe arrives. I'm cautiously optimistic that it will turn out ok

I figure millions of other mamas have dealt with way more than that and survived, so surely I can stumble through it

As far as the logistics of how we will make the cosleeping and getting into places from parking lots and all those other things work, I'm not ready to think about it yet

 

[charleysmama23]

Dd will only be 17 months when this one comes...do I win?

I have no idea how I'll deal with it, we have no family here...it was super hard for me with dd, but part of that is I'm super social by nature and felt isolated with a newborn...am I being too optimistic to hope having a crazy toddler running around will help with that?

 

[jilly]

I will have an almost 3 yr old and a 5 yr old when this baby comes.

Ds1 was 28 mos and still very high needs when ds2 came along. It is hectic, but you find new routines and roll with it. Remember when you were stressed out about waking up at night to nurse and changing diapers, but now that is so easy? It is kind of like that. For the first month or so it might sometimes take an hour to get out the door, but you do get out the door eventually. You find a way for everyone to sleep peacefully (we had ds1's bed next to ours for about 6 months) and eat regularly. It is chaotic at times, but also a lot of fun to watch their growing interactions as siblings.

I agree with all the pp about slings - I wore ds2 a lot while doing my normal routine with ds1, and during nursing time I had a blanket on the couch and a bunch of quiet do-with-mommy activities he could do while I nursed the baby (puzzles, books, colouring).

I found that with your second you get out of the house a lot quicker because your toddler is driving you crazy, and you want to take them to all their normal weekly activities. And you are more comfortable with nursing in public and all that, so you don't need as long to settle in.

We don't have a double stroller. I carried ds2 and pushed ds1 for their first summer, then last summer ds2 was sitting well so we got a wagon, or I carried the littler one on my back. This year ds1 wants to take his bike or walk and so ds2 finally gets the stroller. Last year I would sometimes put my sleeping toddler in the stroller and let ds1 ride on the front where their feet are supposed to sit for short trips.

 

[impromptukiss]

my first two are 23mo apart & my last two will be 22mo apart. i will have a 6.5yr old, a 4.5 year old, & a 22mo old when this one comes.

the hardest thing about it for me when we had #2, was that dh was out to sea. ethan had to be held all. the. time., so it was hard for me to play with kayleigh. we lived in va & he got beet red when we were outside for more than 5 minutes, so we spent a lot of time inside watching tv that first summer, lol. if you have a partner around to help, you should be okay!

we didn't buy a double stroller. dd hated strolers, lol. when we went to stores, he went in the sling, she went in the top of the cart. same with the mall, ect, but then she walked & he was slung.

we did buy a phil & ted's with double kit when norah was born & it's gotten a lot of use, more than our old stroller ever did.

carseats aren't hard, one on each side. and getting them out of the house isn't so hard - you'll see! i just keep diapers/wipes in the car at all times, so i never carry a diaper bag or need to "pack": when we leave. just brush hair/teeth, get shoes on & go!

 

[C-Momma]

I'll have a 3 yr old...I worry a lot about tandem nursing and how ds will react to sharing his milk.

My son is also VERY high needs, so finding ways to continue meeting his needs while also caring for a newborn seems really daunting. I just keep telling myself that it we will all be navigating this together.

 

[NinaBruja]

ddc crashing...

my oldest dd was about 2.5 when her little sister arrived.
the best advice i got was 'it will get better at 2 months' i remember one day i wasnt so stressed out or trying to keep up and realized that was about two months.

on the milk front, sandrel was very involved in liesls pregnancy, we would lay in bed and talk about the baby, she would talk to the baby whispering at my belly button. and i started in with the whole 'tiny babies only eat boobie, they cant eat anything else or they could get hurt very badly' we talked about formula and why i dont find that an acceptable choice. and i let her know that the baby will be sharing milk with her. i would randomly ask her 'are you going to share milk with your sister?' and she was pretty excited about sharing with her new sister. when her sister came i did have to remind her sometimes to share.
by that time 'breastmilk makes my tummy yummy' was a favourite of hers. so when she got possessive i would say 'two can breastfeed without fuss, there is room for both of us' (from the tandem nursing page) and it helped alot.

when i was pregnant i also googled pictures of tandem nursing mamas and talked about it with sandrel.

i also got her a doll so she could have a baby like me.