How did you keep LO2 from messing with LO1?

crene84

I have a week old son and a 14 month old daughter.  My daughter is super active and has always been very curious (unlike my niece who never got into anything!).  

We have a two story house so typically what we do is put DS in the bassinette upstairs at bedtime (until we move him to his crib), and in the rock 'n play downstairs for naps during the day.  The rock 'n play isn't working well as far as keeping him safe from DD.  She keeps wanting to rock him, moving his rock 'n play all around, put toys on top of him, etc.  

I've read it's too early to really be able to discipline a 14 month old, so basically I have to keep my eyes on her every second of every day which has already proven pretty difficult.  My only thought is to put him in the other room which is blocked off, but then I can't see him constantly...or to put DD in her pack 'n play which isn't very popular right now..

Suggestions?  TIA!

bookworm982

My little ones are similarly spaced. I was amazed at how quickly dd learned to interact appropriately with ds. We repetitively showed her how to rub his hair, touch his toes, etc. Until then we also has to protect ds though. With the setup you described, can you put ds in dd's pack and play? You could even set the rock and play in there. The other option I can think of is to baby wear the baby.

Congrats on your new little one!

crene84

bookworm982 said:

My little ones are similarly spaced. I was amazed at how quickly dd learned to interact appropriately with ds. We repetitively showed her how to rub his hair, touch his toes, etc. Until then we also has to protect ds though. With the setup you described, can you put ds in dd's pack and play? You could even set the rock and play in there. The other option I can think of is to baby wear the baby.

Congrats on your new little one!

Thanks!

I don't know how long it took your kids, but I feel like DD is so stubborn and very fussy every time we take her away from his rock 'n play.  She hasn't quite been herself though since we've been home, whether it be teething, a cold, or just the adjustment (or all of the above)...hopefully once all our company is gone, we'll get into a more "normal" routine.  

We actually did put the rock 'n play in the pack 'n play, ha...but she can technically still toss toys over.  Oy!  I guess I'll just have to keep testing things out and continue to show DD what is appropriate with him.

LC122

Agree with pp about instructing your daughter on what is and is not appropriate. Don't underestimate her ability to understand your instruction even before she has more control over her own actions/impulses. Besides, she needs to know your rules and expectations regardless.
I was going to suggest one of those gated areas - like baby gates that form a circle or semicircle with a wall. But that may have the same limitations as putting the RNP in the PNP.

As for putting him in the other room, do you have a video monitor? If it is the expandable kind, you can add a second camera and put it where you need it and use the same receiver.

Also, the pinnacle advice for handling most issues with toddlers - distract, distract, distract. Your ds will become less interesting when you draw her attention to that really cool thing on the other side of the room.

Good Luck!

laura1

We used to put a baby gate at the door of whichever room we were in, and then put DD on the other side of the gate in her swing or bouncy seat.  DS would run over and look at her, then run away.  Maybe it was a boy thing, but he didn't really care that much about her - after a few days, he ignored her and just played with his toys.  Until she could really interact back, he didn't pay her much attention!  Now they are BFFs

michelle7482

Mine are 19 months apart and for the first six weeks I kept a pack and play in the living room to put my older daughter in if I had to leave the room. We constantly reminded her and showed her how to interact with my daughter and eventually she caught on and is usually fine with her.

psychgirl33

Constant reminders were essential for us.  And not leaving them alone together.  If I have to leave the room, DD1 comes with me or goes in the PnP.  But it really just took some time.  Now after 3 months DD1 is learning how to interact well with DD2. 

One distraction method that worked really well for us was to have DD1 simultaneously care for her doll while we are caring for DD2.  So whenever DD2 does tummy time, DD1 and her doll do tummy time, etc.  It's really seemed to help a lot.

Also, DD2 is pretty tough.  And I just have to remember that babies are tougher than we give them credit for.  I'm pretty sure she's going to be a very tough girl!