Double-stroller Recommendation and Other Recs to Help Juggle Newborn & Toddler!?

Mine were also 26 months apart. Definitely accept help when it is offered. I actually don't use my double stroller often, but it is a necessity when I do venture out to malls and parks. I did a lot of research and ended up with the Graco Duo Glider LX. I just didn't think my two year old would do well on a Sit and Stand. They are typically recommended when the older sib is 3 and up. Some people do fine with them at a younger age, but if your son is as wild as mine, you'll want him in a more traditional stroller. My sling is probably my #1 necessary accessory. I had a wrap when my daughter was first born, which was great for a newborn, but once she hit about 6 months I switched to my regular sling. Mine were "The Ultimate Baby Wrap" and a "Green Pea Designs" sling. I LOVE that sling! I use it to wear my daughter, now about to turn 1, while I shepherd my son in and out of MDO. That is another life saver - enroll your two year old in an MDO if you can. It gives you bonding time with the baby, and a break from crazy two-year old games and tantrums :) I also became a bit more lax about letting my son watch DVDs. I still be careful to limit them, but am not as strict as I used to be. They can be a real life saver. Other things... Get a crock pot - makes dinner so much easier! And get a Dust Buster... because you'll need to clean up after your 2 y.o. but probably won't have time to mess with a regular vacuum as much as you'd like! If you can invest in someone to come and help clean, even if it is just once a month, then that will really help. If you have any other questions for someone who has been there recently, feel free to message me. It has been a very stressful year, but I feel blessed they are close together. They're already good friends. A friend asked my son a few weeks ago of he'd like to go on a play date with her kids, and he said yes, but he wanted to bring his little sister too. It is things like that which make it all worth it.

2 moms found this helpful

I agree the moby wrap is the best! You can get so much done with while wearing this wrap.
I bought the "baby wrap" brand and my child constantly was falling lower and lower because the fabric would slip out of the knot, so I don't recommend getting on of those.

What about one of those Snap and Go strollers? I think they make one that your oldest can stand on while you put the car seat on the other end.
I also bought http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3458507 that stroller for my cousin and her twins and she loves it. At the time she had an 18 month old and newborn twins and she was able to hold one baby, let the big boy sit and the car seat in the other spot and she could close the stroller with one hand.
Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful

Take it one day at a time. Ask for help when you need it. I thought it couldn't be done when my mom left and I was alone with my son and a newborn, but it didn't take but a few months to get in a routine and things became a lot easier. Make sure your husband is "encouraged" because you will need his help. Congratulations!

I definitely recommend the Moby wrap. It is an absolute life saver. My kiddos are 15 months apart and I could not have survived those first few months without the wrap! Feel free to message me if you have any other questions!

I have a Joovy Sit-n-Stand stroller. My two youngest boys are 22 months apart. I used a single stroller and snugli for the first few months. When the baby got too heavy I started using the double stroller. My 2 year old thought he was sooooo big because he wasn't sitting in a "baby" seat. You can use most infant seats with the stroller. I beleive I bought it at Babies r us. And the deciding factor to buy that one instead of a different one is because the handle is higher and the overall length is shorter. Hope his helps! Good Luck to you!