Right mumas, tips please.
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Mine are 23 months and 5 weeks… I prep some food for my toddler, like omelette or veggie pasta as frequently they need feeding at the same time, means my toddler has a home cooked meal but takes a minute in the microwave. I even chop his fruit ready and get snacks sectioned out to make everything simpler and it frequently saves me as my 5 week old only goes 2 hours between feeds and takes 30 mins to feed. Also have a spare vest and sleepsuit in all nappy caddy’s for your new born so if they have a leak or explosion, you have clothes on hand rather than upstairs. Also when my toddler gets up in the morning, I reset his cot straight away so when it’s nap time it’s sorted. And baby wearing, it’s a life saver. All sounds daunting but you’ll be fine!!
I wrote a very similar post a couple months ago! My first was also 18 months when my second was born and I was so nervous when my partner went back to work. Definitely agree with the above comments, spare clothes in the nappy caddy are really helpful as well prepping meals. Every evening I would get out both their outfits out for the next day as well as mine, prep my toddlers breakfast and sometimes lunch and refill the nappy caddy. My baby is 3 months now and we are more in the flow and I'm loving it. I find life overall easier getting us out and about and also just taking one day at a time. You've got this!
Take it easy and don’t be hard on yourself, dinners don’t need to be perfect and tv time to relax is ok. As previous posts say baby wearing will be your saviour! If you feel like you can take the kids out for walks in the pram, even if it’s to go to the corner shop and get a treat :) The range and the works have fun craft projects, that’s helped keep toddler happy. It gets easier and you will find your own rhythm and routine x
18 month age gap and 3 weeks pp. The first two weeks i legit had thoughts i never thought i'd have. Extreme ppd, regretting being a mother, wishing i could just take a long break from everything, not connecting at all with my newborn, and lashing out at my toddler. But, hear me out, I'm out on the other side now. Turns out i needed my husband and my mom to LEAVE and for me to be alone with my boys in order for me to manage my emotions and to maintain a certain flow/routine. Day 1 with them alone was ROUGH, only due to a total fail at toddlers nap-time. Other than that, things have been going as smooth as i ever thought possible. You'll literally learn as you go, what works and what doesn't. You already know what meals your oldest loves, his/her fav snacks, songs or games that entertain them, etc. You'll be able to keep all that up even while caring for the baby because as soon as the baby sleeps a little, you spend time with your toddler. It will be OKAY! 🫶
Baby wearing, also just let your toddler help and know that you have to take care of the little one more than them will be extremely helpful and important. My daughter would never throw a tantrum while I bf or putting my son to bed, she’ll play quietly and wait (most times) she can do that better now since she’s 3 now but back then it was still an adjust period, but having her understanding that there is now a new baby in town helps massively. I only have to deal with one tantrum and that’s already amazing 😅 to make it possible I think you’d also need to spend times with your older as you say you would as well. Idk, I would say do what also comes naturally, don’t force it, don’t push yourself, if you’re tired, rest and start again, baby can tummy time, toddler can play, you can have coffee. Baby sleeps, you sleep, toddler can also sleep - this is the best case scenarios you can hope for 👌
Thank you ladies for your advice. This all sounds really helpful. Thanks for taking the time to reply x x x
Baby wearing is the only thing keeping me sane currently, it means my hands are free to play with the 15 month old. Also get some meals put in the freezer so you just have to take them out and pop them in the oven. Dinner time and bedtime seem to be the most stressful ( for me) And having meals prepped has made it that little bit easier.