How To Manage 2 Under 2

Are you about to take your second child in less than ii years and are freaking out at how on globe this is going to work out?

Fright not, you're about to read all of the survival tips that you are going to need to know to get through the outset yr with a baby and a toddler.

I've merely hit the one year ceremony of becoming a mum of two under ii.

Sadly I didn't get a prize for surviving simply I am notwithstanding standing, then that'southward reward enough for me!

It's been a tough year with very lilliputian sleep and a lot of adjustments having to exist fabricated, such as losing even more territory in our e'er-shrinking home.

To read even more advice on dealing with two nether 2, check out my 21 tips for treatment the first six months. This is a role two to that post.

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Hither are all the tips and hacks you need to make it through that commencement yr:

1. Babe proof again

You may recall that you baby-proofed plenty for the offset 1. Merely what yous'll notice is that second children accept all new tricks for getting around stuff that's supposed to protect them and they will be fascinated by things your kickoff child cared nothing about.

Double check all of the baby-proofing that y'all did with your offset, then accept a think most whether y'all accept definitely covered all bases. For me I plant I needed a stair gate for the living room to kitchen door as both kids were constantly hassling me while I was cooking and a barrier would have taken a lot of stress out of things.

See my mail service on baby-proofing for more tips.

ii. Forget peeing on your own

If you idea it was tough having a wee with your toddler effectually, forget information technology all together once your infant starts crawling.

You too won't want to shut the toilet door as you'll need to keep an heart and ear out for any sibling battles taking place during the two minutes you're out of the room.

3. Streamline all housework

You need to cut corners, because once you have a toddler trying to bound off of everything and a babe trying to climb after them, y'all can't spend much time doing chores.

Stop ironing, use baby wipes to quickly sort out counters, doors and other surfaces when yous're in the vicinity. Do 10 minutes here and at that place, which should mean your home is all the same relatively presentable.

Discover more housework tips for mamas hither.

There'due south as well a brilliant cleaning routine for you lot to follow.

iv. Cut back on the word "no"

You'll become similar a broken record and the discussion loses all meaning. Chances are that throughout the day, at least one of your children is going to be doing something that they shouldn't.

If they're not in any firsthand and terrible danger then effort to only accept a step back and let them piece of work information technology out for themselves.

Sometimes y'all just have to choice your battles.

5. Sharing isn't caring

Siblings do not share well. They will exist squabbling over toys and e'er desire what the other one has. Merely stop trying to forcefulness it and permit them sort it out between themselves every bit much as possible.

Of course you don't want to run across 1 of your kids bullying the other. This is a matter of sitting dorsum and picking the right moments to arbitrate.

6. Exercise not favour ane over the other

You dearest both of your kids as, of course. Only you may tell your eldest off that little scrap more because you don't like seeing a bigger kid whacking a smaller one on the head.

On the flip side when your infant crawls over to your toddler and tries to bite them, you let them off because they're then little.

The problem is if you're constantly telling your eldest off, then letting your baby off the hook, your toddler is going to starting time resenting the situation.

Try to bargain with them fairly and accept the sibling squabble are normal. You don't have to tell them off all of the time for fighting. Yous only demand to be firm merely fair.

7. Give them each their own cutlery and bowls

Save on the fighting over whose is whose, make sure they each have their own from the start.

Some people say double upwards in the same colours and designs. I think this can work fine, but I've found my toddler is really detail nearly her stuff and she merely knows the divergence even when they're the same color ("that'south the i with my teeth marks on it!").

Whatsoever works for yous is nifty here, but figure out how you can cut back on drama at meal times.

viii. Don't rush into potty training

If your toddler is non showing the signs of being gear up, or they're borderline, then don't do it just still. In that location's no harm is waiting for a bit.

You demand to be quite on the ball in the starting time few days when your toddler is getting used to the change so too don't pick a week when you've had a especially bad run of sleep.

When your child is ready it volition exist relatively straightforward, albeit still a bit messy.

You may like to bank check this postal service out: 5 signs your toddler is not set up for potty training

9. Endeavour to get the naps in sync

If you can so this will give you a really adept break after lunch to become things washed or take a snooze yourself.

This can exist tough, merely nearly kids tend to be ready to accept a nap after tiffin one time you're out of the difficult newborn refusal to settle phase.

x. Freezer numberless for clothes

You've got a large irresolute bag to take all of the stuff you need out with you, but everything only gets mixed together. Digging through it is frustration you don't need.

Make your life easier by putting each child'south change of wearing apparel and spare nappies in divide ziplock or freezer bags. That style they're easier to keep separate and you'll salve fourth dimension getting them out when needed.

11. Watch that potty

When y'all practise decide to embark on potty grooming, keep an center on where your baby is in relation to the potty. At some point they volition endeavor to climb in and it could exist correct after your toddler has fabricated a deposit in there,

12. Program activities they tin both enjoy

Once your babe is crawling it opens upwards a few more than options for entertaining them when out and about. Going to things like soft play and other indoor play places tin can allow your babe to crawl about and explore with your toddler.

13. But make time to do special things with your toddler

But your baby tin can be equally happy buckled upwardly in the buggy for an afternoon. Exercise things that enable your toddler to run nigh, like visiting theme parks and zoos.

xiv. Create traditions

Traditions aren't just for Christmas. It tin can really aid to cement the sibling bond by creating these little things that your family unit always practise.

It might be a Lord's day roast followed by a family motion picture together. It might be a particular pub for lunch on a Saturday afternoon or a detail volume you read together at bedtime with everyone doing their ain fleck of the story.

15. Kitchen nightmares

Try to feed your kids and you lot the same meals, equally it saves y'all fourth dimension.

Sometimes this just isn't possible, and it'due south really tough when you feel similar yous're spending an hour and more in the kitchen every evening.

Go along the meals simple and plan as much as possible when making your weekly shopping list.

16. Declutter

In one case yous're a few months in and have decided you lot no longer demand things like the bouncy chair as your baby is on the move now, information technology might be a good thought to declutter.

This will free up space in your children's play area. It can exist tricky doing this when the kids are around but either distract them with the Boob tube or practise it in the evening when they're non around.

Read these posts for tips on decluttering and the Marie  Kondo method.

17. Make time for your relationship

Once you take 2 kids, your relationship moves manner downward to the bottom of the listing of priorities.

Try to do something together whenever you can so that you stay connected as adults and not just parents.

eighteen. Find a bodyguard

If y'all don't have family locally who can help out, observe someone who you lot're happy to leave your child with. There are lots of websites and apps that offer a listing of registered childminders in your area.

This should accept the pressure off of you lot a little if you know you have someone you trust to call on if you ever go the hazard for a nighttime out.

19. Get over any personal space issues

Someone volition be climbing on you all solar day. Sometimes they will both be climbing on you at the same time. You need to have this, as exhausting as information technology is, and just expect forward to getting your body back at the cease of the day.

20. Have a good cry

Sometimes there's nothing else for information technology just to have a skilful old cry. This tin exist quite therapeutic.

I don't hateful wallowing in your anxieties and worries all solar day, every twenty-four hour period, every bit this could be indicative of a deeper issue you might need a bit of actress support with.

Simply I mean just a few minutes crying in the shower or bathroom or over the phone with your mum. It might be because your toddler has been screaming mummy non-cease for the last three hours and y'all've finally cracked. Whatsoever the reason, it can feel quite nice to wallow in cocky-pity a scrap.

21. Play together

Come with some indoor games or activities yous tin can all relish on a rainy afternoon. It tin can make the time pass quicker and distract the children from too much crying/demanding.

I've got a list of indoor activities for two under two to try here.

22. Don't panic if you haven't got out all day

Yep information technology's great to get out and do stuff but if you lot need a pyjama day then don't feel guilty. In that location's no harm in chilling out at home for the day and trying to recover from a long night.

23. Stay positive

At the finish of each 24-hour interval, try to call up of two or three things that were really practiced or that you have achieved.

They don't have to be massive things. Even getting your baby to consume more than three bites of food can be a huge deal.

Mayhap the accomplishment is simply that everyone went to slumber in the end, however long it took. Some days are only hard, but trying to list the positives should help you get to sleep on a brighter note.

24. Y'all don't accept to enjoy every infinitesimal

Resist the urge to punch people in the confront when they tell you to relish every minute while you lot're standing there with mascara running down your face and pilus similar a haystack.

Grit your teeth and smile, then walk abroad. It's very easy for people who aren't living your life correct now to judge and make assumptions. It'due south totally unrealistic to expect to savor every infinitesimal when you're running on very little slumber and coping with two very demanding children.

25. Cover the chaos

You may well have been totally punctual to admittedly everything before having children. That could be a struggle now you lot've got to wrestle two children out of the door.

Try not to panic and but accept that life volition exist a trivial messy from now on.

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Source: https://themummybubble.co.uk/25-tips-coping-two-two-first-year/

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