3 under 2

Venus04d

For a few weeks, we will have three under 2! I'm thrilled to have twins on the way. I'm also incredibly intimidated. I work at home and my DH works long hours away. I don't have much local help from family or friends. I'm looking for any sort of advice from moms that have been there. I know it will be a challenge, so anyone that has advice on making this transition as smooth as possible would be greatly appreciated.

ougrad1

Mine are 27 months apart.  You really have to just dive into it.  Everything is trial and error until you get into your groove.  Anyone that offers to help in ANY way-let them.

 

thetwinkies&Vivi

Ive no advice,as I'm not there yet. However, I will be with DD being about 13.5-14 months old when our girls arrive.

SpinningJess

ougrad1:

You really have to just dive into it.  Everything is trial and error until you get into your groove.  Anyone that offers to help in ANY way-let them.

 

What she said!!  My son turned two 11 weeks after the girls were born.  Not gonna lie, it's really REALLY hard.  I hope YH can take a fair amount of time off of work (and you too!).  Take whatever help is offered.  And you'll probably also have to learn to ask for help.  I was always bad about asking, but the next year or two will be a time when you will need help with cooking, cleaning, and people to watch the kids so you can have a date night now and then.  Our church has a group that brings food to families with new babies, and that was a Godsend for us!  Good luck (and I'm about to post another very helpful tidbit, but want to be sure everyone who is expecting sees it.  Look for my Dunstan post!)

Rangergal9

My girls are 21 months apart.  Once you get into a routine everything will be okay.  Yes it will be chaotic and crazy at times, but you'll manage.  I kinda wish I could go back to babies that just laid there because mine are into and climbing on everything!!!

Venus04d

Thank you all for your support. It's nice to hear from others that it's doable.

 I'm a planner(annoyingly so for my DH) and always want to try to anticipate our needs as much as possible. For now I'm planning on making about 60 frozen meals before the babies come to help get us through the first few months. 

 My DH can take two weeks off and my grandma is going to come stay for a week after he goes back. After that, I'm on my own. My DH is a huge help when he's here, but it's the 7a-6p time that I'm nervous about. I'm hoping I can recruit a friend to just come hang out one day a week for a couple of hours during the day. I'm hoping that will be enough to keep me sane and some time to try to stay somewhat on top of things(i.e. a shower or having enough clean dishes to eat dinner off of).

BananaPancake

This much I can tell you. The hours will crawl, but the days will fly. I can promise that you'll surprise yourself by how much you can handle. Our capabilities as parents just grow and grow. I'm looking down the barrel of 5 under 6, and my 12 month old will be about 18 months when the babies arrive. It's going to be a BIG job, but once the post-partum hormones even out, things really do just sail along. You'll have the girls on almost opposite sleep schedules during the day, so your 3 on 1 time will really be limited every few hours for the 1st year or so. My 3 year old and my 1 year old are still on opposite schedules, so it feels like I could have one kid napping all day if I let them. I've found that the hardest part of being outnumbered was the times between naps when one was hungry, one was bored and one was tired. It's fleeting, and before long you'll have a routine down. Just plan on not cleaning and not cooking for the first 6 months or so, and forgive yourself ahead of time for it. I was very upfront and honest with everyone and just excused all of my flakiness. I feel like I am finally thinking and reliable almost a YEAR after Claire's birth, and I'm okay with that. And now I have pregnancy brain to contend with. It's always something!

amy1007

Mine are 19 months apart and it was hella hard. Still is obviously but is much better now that my oldest is 26 months. Having help will keep you sane and allow you to leave the house to run errands etc. So if possible get some. You won't be able to leave with all 3. Well at least I have yet to figure out how!  Having 2 crying babies is very very hard to deal with and then adding a toddler to the mix sometimes can throw you over the edge. This is why I recommend getting any help you can!

It is amazing but the hardest thing I have ever done (and am doing!)  GL!!

amy1007

Also, what has recently helped me tremendously is moving my 2 year olds nap later in the day so that all 3 are napping at once. It is heavenly when they all sleep and I can have a moment.

TripMomma

I had 4 under 2 1/2, it was a lot but we did it. I did hire a mothers helper when I had to have an emergency appendectomy when #4 was 3 weeks old. She was awesome and was with us about 5 weeks. You can do it!

ougrad1

This is huge, too-get your older one in a Mother's Day Out or DC for the mornings.  That was the hugest help to me.  Try to start her before the babies are born so, it's not a huge change along with the babies.