Single mom with 2 under 2?

nikkivonnekro

Anyone else out there a single mom that have had a newborn and a 1 year old? Unfortunetly things between FOB and I didnt work out and I am due to have my baby any time now. Im currently living with my mother as he has the house so I have some family support for help with DD1 when DD2 gets here. Any tips on how to juggle both babies by yourself?

celiabwatson

I am not a single mom, but my husband works 2nd shift so I do dinner, bedtime etc by myself 6 nights a week (the 6th is for his company softball team, but still). I don't claim it's at all like being a single parent, but maybe some of my routines can help you.

When making dinner I let my son watch TV and I put the baby in a high chair in the kitchen so she can play and talk to me while I cook. For the first several months she would nap around this time, so I'd wear her while I did safe prep and then when she fell asleep I'd go put her down and finish cooking. I also allow my son to watch TV after dinner. He's a typical toddler in that he eats more in the morning and less as the day goes on, so he barely eats any dinner. I need the time to relax and enjoy my meal as much as possible to gear up for bedtime.

We rarely do bath in the evening, but when we do we all get in together. I get the towels ready and put them by the tub, get everyone undressed, put baby on the floor by the tub (on a towel), climb in, get baby and then invite toddler in. I hold the baby, wash them both and then put the baby on the towel and get out. I get her all dried off while the toddler plays in the tub for a bit. If I'm smart I have her pajamas in the bathroom too so I can get her dressed, but I usually forget that part.

Bedtime we take turns a lot. I'm a pretty AP parent and don't believe in CIO. My son still needs me to lay with him while he goes to sleep. Here's our bedtime routine:

-Baby in pajamas, love on her for a bit, put in crib with toys

-Toddler brush teeth and get pajamas on

-Lights out, lay in bed with toddler and sing lullabies to baby

-Toddler calm but not asleep, get up and rock baby (toddler sometimes gets out of bed and lays on the floor or plays with stuffed toys, but he's not allowed to talk or leave the room)

-Baby falls asleep, I get back in bed with toddler until he falls asleep.

The routine itself takes about 20 min, but the waiting for the toddler to fall asleep can take much longer, depending on a variety of factors, but I'm only parenting one at that point.

Good luck! 

sweetpea2003

Not a single mom, but I'm a military wife and did a 7 month deployment last year. DH left when DS was 6 months and DD was 22 months. 

I am very schedule oriented. Naps, bedtimes, meal times are very routine in our house. It helped me stay organized and sane. I think the kids do better too.

One tip - once you can, get out of the house every day. It will save you and your toddler's sanity. One of the hardest things about solo parenting for me is the isolation. The more you get out the more it will feel easy and doable. Your toddler will get some energy out and you will get some adult interaction.

Good luck! It will be okay!  Attitude is almost everything.