Suggestions Needed! Going to Have 2 Babies in Diapers!

I'm right there with you. I'm due the last week of February and my baby girl will be 19 months when he/she gets here. I petrified!!! My first two are 6 years apart and it's been pretty darn easy. I don't have any specific advice....just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

Congrats. I have twins. Some of my thoughts...

Double Stroller - It really depends on your budget and style. I have heard the sit&stands aren't so great for the simple fact that when you have to put pressure on it to go up a curb/etc. you can't really do that. Most double strollers are big and bulky so it's hard to get around that. We have a Kolkraft that allow for both seats to face one another or in each direction. The one bummer is that it doesn't have a tray for kids and the cup broke off right away (I know someone with same problem). But overall it's a good stroller. We also have the standard Graco which is usually a safebet. We also have a side-by-side but with any side-by-side, aisles and doorways are hard.

I would have a stash of "nursing/feeding" toys so your son is preoccupied when you feed your new baby. These toys are ONLY during feeding times.

As far as sharing room, we always had the kids share the room but we started it that way. This is obviously different. There will be an adjustment but eventually your son should get used to sharing a room... make it like an honor and what a helper/etc.

Good luck.

As far as feeding, it'll come to you. You just feed one and then the other. Your son will be pretty self sufficient with eating so that will help.

You're going to be just fine! Mine are 15 months apart, 18 months old and 3 months old right now. I LOVE my double stroller, it's a Phil & Teds and I highly recommend it, you can fit in any doorway! My other suggestion is to get the newborn used to a sling or some other soft carrier, I use the Catbird Baby "Pikkolo" style and it's awesome. My hands are free to chase after my very teetery toddler! It's tough but I wouldn't have it any other way, I am all for having them close together. I was very nervous about the whole thing when I was pregnant but, just like with the first, you just figure it out and it works.
Feel free to ask me any questions and CONGRATS!!

Hi S.,
I have 2 that are 17 months apart. While it was challenging for the first few months, now they are great friends (they're 2 and 9 months). We put our 2 year old in a booster chair at about 15 months, and he sits at the table. We've also had him feeding himself at the table since that time. At first we just put food in a dish and he ate with his hands; around 18 months we transitioned to silverware, and while he still uses his fingers occasionally, he does really well. We bought a double stroller; we just love the Graco Quattro Duo Tour stroller, and it works great. If money is not an issue, my neighbor just got the Phil&Ted duo stroller, which is awesome (and about $500!). However, it's much more compact and easy to travel with.

We try to spend a lot of one-on-one time with my 2 year old, and have since the baby was born. one thing that worked great was to bring a 'present' home with the baby; this sweetened him right up! We also bought the book I'm a big Brother (can't remember the author) and we read it to him daily. By the time the baby came not only did he know it by heart, he would say "I'm a big boy, I eat pizza and apples and ice cream', which it says in the book. That worked great. We also didn't push him to hold the baby; he was happy just sitting by me while I held the baby. We would have 'cuddle time' on the couch or in our bed and he loved the time together. Good luck! It will all work out great; it may be rough the first few months but it'll be fine!

I'm having my third in the next 8 weeks or so. My first two are two years apart and my second/third will be 20 months apart. I transitioned my son into "big boy" before my daughter was born and my daughter into "big girl" before our youngest daughter is born. There is so much your child can accomplish before your baby is born. Both were/are potty trained, in big beds, and sit at the table (youngest with a booster). It was a somewhat intensive, gradual process over my pregnancies, but well worth it! I will now only have one baby, one toddler, and one preschooler.

As far as strollers go, I own a prenatal fitness and stroller fitness company, so I've seen them all and tried many myself. I had the Phil & Ted's for my first two. It's an incredible stroller and well worth the money. I decided to sell the Phil & Ted's and purchase the Valco Runabout when we decided to have a third. This gives me the option of having all three children on the stroller when I need to (stroller, jump seat, and hitch-hiker). Both of these strollers are perfect for having more than one child who are different ages. There will come a time when you don't have both children with you (preschool, etc) and you aren't going to want to be stuck pushing around a double stroller with one kid. I saw a women open her trunk the other day and it was full of various strollers for different purposes...with the Valco or Phil & Ted's you only need one for all purposes. You can find both of these strollers on www.totsonthego.com (any many more).

Good luck, it's not as difficult as you think it will be!

Congratulations! My two are 12 mos apart so the best advice I can offer is to get and stay organized and prepared, but be ready to be spontaneous - lol.

It is amazing how resilient our children can be so set up routines and schedules and adjust as needed. My two have always shared a room on weekends on ou boat and have their own room at our house and both adjusted seamlessly. Just what they got used to quickly.

The first 4 mos were the hardest, as with any newborn there are just so many needs and changes in this timeframe, but once the infant gets closer to 6 mos, things can really fall in place. We slowly adjusted both naps, nightime, meals, baths etc for both making it much easier to manage.

Loved my combi twin stroller - lightweight, double reclines, folds easily and compactly, easy to steer with one hand (I also have 2 dogs that I had to hold onto....), enough storage and durable/rugged, fits fine on sidewalks, most store aisles, etc.

Don't worry, you'll be fine and you just figure it out. I know it came seem overwhelming but somehow it all comes together. You can probably buy a booster chair for the table for the 2yr old at feeding time. Maybe don't move new baby in the room until sleeping pretty good at night and there are so many women who have two in diapers. Trust me, enjoy just having one for the time being because it is more hectic with the next. You will do great and it will all come together.

Congratulations!

I have 3 kids and one on the way, and they are 2 years or less apart. My youngest will be 19 months when the next one is born.

Here's some advice - first, the closer they are to 2, the less they will seem like babies. 18 months usually is a big turning point in their lives, and they really start to seem big. Transition your oldest to a booster chair at the table, a big kid bed, and away from anything else that the new baby might use. The sooner you start him on big kid stuff the easier it will be for you and him. As far as sleeping together - kids usually sleep pretty hard, and they get used to each other's noises, so while you might have a few rough nights, they will start to sleep through disturbances. Also, I love my Graco double stroller - it's fairly light weight, folds easily, and fits in the back of the van. As far as diapers goes, it's really easier than you think. My two oldest were potty trained shortly after 2(I think they saw the new babies in diapers and tough, I am done with that!), so I didn't have much time with 2 in diapers, and even the time I did have wasn't that hard. You find a way to organize and manage your time. The hardest thing for me with going from one to two was nursing. I did a lot more than I thought I could nursing my second!

Remember even though they are a lot of maintenance(feeding, changing etc.),newborns are essentially blobs for the first 3 months, and don't need to be entertained the way older kids do. They are very portable and don't talk back yet either :)!

Enjoy and try not to worry, it really does all fall into place quickly.

You'll be fine. You do what you need to and know automatically what needs to be done. My 3 kids only 1 minute (triplets) apart so I had 3 in diapers at the same stage in their lives. I wouldn;t worry about having 2 in highchairs at once. By the time the baby gets into a highchair, your first born will be ready to be a big boy and sit in a regular chair or booster seat. And if potty trainig doesn't seem "on schedule", don't fret about that. You will be surprised how ow key it can be. But make sure you have a little time to yourself to destress. It will also be easier dealing if you make big boy time and involve the older one in taking care of the baby.

I am due in Aug with #2 and my son will be a bit older, 2 1/2.

I am getting the Baby Jogger City Mini.
http://www.babyjogger.com/cityminidouble.htm

Switch your 2 year old to a booster when baby #2 begins solids.