Routines

amatistajoy · July 2012

FTM here, expeting #2 in March. With all the talk about routines lately, I thought I would ask.

Our two will be 22 months apart. We really don't have any routines in place other than bedtime (dinner, bath every other day, book, bed). DS is pretty easy and typically will 'go with the flow'.

Is there some routines or groundwork I should be laying now to make it easier on all of us when LO#2 arrives?

celiabwatson · July 2012

Sleeping is the most important one. I wish I'd gotten him to be a little bit more independent as a sleeper before the baby. But I also know that he's still little as well.

In general I wouldn't work on "routines" in the sense of doing things in a certain order, but instead work on independence where possible.

One that pops into mind is that my son can put on his own shoes, which means that when I'm getting ready to leave the house I can send him to find his shoes and put them on and it gives him something to do while I get ready and it also means I don't have to bend down while holding the baby to help with shoes.

Another good place for independence (if you're not there yet) is getting in and out of car seat and high chair or booster.

Mine is just now working on dressing himself, but he can pick out clothes and bring them to me. He can go through the motions of brushing teeth by himself. I have a friend who has set up a self serve snack area for her older one in preparation for their 2nd baby next month.