STM: picking up your other kid(s)

yesthisiskim0401

( Mobile: STM: picking up your other kid(s) )

Does anyone else feel like they are really straining to pick up their other children? My belly really hurts after an afternoon of a million errands and putting DD in and out of the car seat. I just put DD to bed and picking her up to put her on her twin mattress hurt! It felt like I pulled a muscle in my belly. I am now babying myself with some ice cream on the couch.  

I know we all still have a while to go and obviously there are times where I cannot avoid picking her up (like in and out of the car). Just wondering how others were feeling or if any other BTDT (been there done that) moms have pointers. I plan on asking my OB about it but my appt isn't for another 2 weeks.

CousinVicki

i have a smaller-sized 4 year old who is prob. about 34 lbs and i want to die when i pick him up (which isn't often, but happens still)

HFrizzle

I try to make my 3 yr old do as much as she can, but it still sucks when I have to pick her up. Not only does it hurt, but my center of gravity is all off and I feel like I could fall over. I have older girls though, 12 & 10, so if we are out and about I make them help pick her in and out of the SUV.

jorkz821

I don't know how old your LO is, but mine recently discovered the joy and big girlness of climbing into the car and car seat herself. All I have to do is spot her in case she falls, then do up her straps. Would your LO want to try this? Or is your car or seat quite high up?

SuperSecretStatus

Yes it's horrible for me. DD just hit 30lbs and likes to lean backward or not hang on so it's been even worse. It doesn't help that she's over half my height either.

meggie0109

My 3 year old asks to be picked up all the time and I'm really struggling lately. I have to tell her no a lot and I feel so bad!! My little guy us 16 months and just over 20 lbs....maybe 22 now...? I can still lift him pretty easily, but I struggle to hold him for long stretches. 

Lesley0228

My newly 4 yo is 38 lbs and used to be carried far too often. I've been trying to encourage her to walk as much as possible, climb in and out of the car herself, etc. I still have to pick her up, but I'm trying to limit it as much as possible. 

yesthisiskim0401

jorkz821:

I don't know how old your LO is, but mine recently discovered the joy and big girlness of climbing into the car and car seat herself. All I have to do is spot her in case she falls, then do up her straps. Would your LO want to try this? Or is your car or seat quite high up?

DD is a little over 2 and about 30lbs. We have a SUV, and even though it's low I don't trust her to get in by herself. I'll have to try it one day, however because this ish is getting ridiculous. 

hendy02

jorkz821:

I don't know how old your LO is, but mine recently discovered the joy and big girlness of climbing into the car and car seat herself. All I have to do is spot her in case she falls, then do up her straps. Would your LO want to try this? Or is your car or seat quite high up?

mine does this too.  sometimes i'll pick her up if we are in a hurry or if it's raining or something, but most often, she'll climb in and i'll help with her straps. 

she is, however, still in the crib and picking her up to put her in there is tough sometimes... at night, DH picks her up and we do our family hugs and then i take her to put her down, so i don't actually pick her up from the floor then, but at naptime there's no avoiding it. 

MsHenry30

I don't have a problem carrying either of my girls, as long as it's only for a short period of time, but I have a really hard time bending over to pick them up. They weigh 25.5 and 27 lbs. 

Luckily the only one I still have to regularly pick up is the 16 month old (25.5 lbs). My 2 1/2 year old (27 lbs) can climb in and out of her carseat by herself and insists on doing so, thank goodness. 

 

MySunshine213

It's definitely more work than it used to be.. But I'm not getting really sore over it.  (DD is 3.5, about 32lbs). Luckily she doesn't require a whole lot of lifting, as she can climb in and out of her own carseat.. I really only lift her into a shopping cart, or out of the car if she's sleeping.  

However, I nanny for a 7 month old and I feel like I get more tired after a day with him - he's much lighter, but obviously requires much more lifting.. I'm constantly bending to pick him up, put him in his crib, back on the floor, etc. I am so sore and exhausted at the end of the work day.

JenMatt2010

Not yet but I think I'm getting there. Thankfully DS is a peanut and only weighs 22 lbs, but I've still pulled a muscle in my upper back a few times lifting him.

Side note do you all still let your little ones sit on your lap and lean on your belly? I'll read to him on my lap but it's getting more uncomfortable...

MySunshine213

JenMatt2010:

Not yet but I think I'm getting there. Thankfully DS is a peanut and only weighs 22 lbs, but I've still pulled a muscle in my upper back a few times lifting him. Side note do you all still let your little ones sit on your lap and lean on your belly? I'll read to him on my lap but it's getting more uncomfortable...

Not dead center.. DD will even plop herself down and say "Oh sorry Mommy, I have to sit on your LEG".  Lol sometimes I'm comfortable however, but most of the time I need her propped on a side of me than right in my lap leaned against my belly.  Plus the baby apparently hates it as he starts going nuts anytime she leans against my belly (or if I prop a book/plate/etc on top).  

Lesley0228

yesthisiskim0401:

jorkz821:

I don't know how old your LO is, but mine recently discovered the joy and big girlness of climbing into the car and car seat herself. All I have to do is spot her in case she falls, then do up her straps. Would your LO want to try this? Or is your car or seat quite high up?

DD is a little over 2 and about 30lbs. We have a SUV, and even though it's low I don't trust her to get in by herself. I'll have to try it one day, however because this ish is getting ridiculous. 

My kid is older, so sometimes I forgot what 2 year olds can do, but can she climb over the back seat? My DD gets a big kick of it being put in the back of my SUV, then she climbs over the seat and into her car seat. All I do is walk around and strap her in. And since I'm picking her up from the cart and putting her right in the hatch, it's less lifting for me. 

You're a SAH mom, right? I do get sore on the weekends. My DD is much more demanding then my job and going to work is actually when I relax and get to sit down. I think if I was home full time, I'd be having to find more ways around the heavy lifting too.  

MrsMommyQ

DD is almost 3 and is about 35 lbs. Luckily she loves getting in the car by herself. Sometimes I have to get her out of it, but I half drag her out (sounds horrible but it's not).

The worst is at the grocery store. I have to pick her up to put her in the cart and it KILLS me--back, stomach muscles (whatever ones are left) really bother me for a while after. I try to leave her home for foodshopping but it's not always possible.

JenMatt2010

MySunshine213:

JenMatt2010:

Not yet but I think I'm getting there. Thankfully DS is a peanut and only weighs 22 lbs, but I've still pulled a muscle in my upper back a few times lifting him.

Side note do you all still let your little ones sit on your lap and lean on your belly? I'll read to him on my lap but it's getting more uncomfortable...

Not dead center.. DD will even plop herself down and say "Oh sorry Mommy, I have to sit on your LEG".  Lol sometimes I'm comfortable however, but most of the time I need her propped on a side of me than right in my lap leaned against my belly.  Plus the baby apparently hates it as he starts going nuts anytime she leans against my belly (or if I prop a book/plate/etc on top).  

Aww how cute! Thanks! Yeah this baby does seem to kick a lot when DS is on my lap crowding the belly, but I have been making him sit to one side...

shelley1002

DS is almost 2 and close to 30lbs. He wants to be carried all the time. I am trying to encourage him to walk more or have holding my hand be enough. Carrying him doesn't bother my belly its my back it bothers.

drcolleen

We have stools everywhere, in the kitchen area for when a DD needs to wash hands or "help cook,"  in the bathroom to brush teeth, DD1 has started asking to sit on the potty (after she's peed) so the bathroom stool is light and moves.  We have the 19mo old's crib made into the lowest position with the half rail she she 'can' get in/out on her own and my older daughter moved into a tall twin bed at 18mo and has a 3 step stool my DH made so she climbs in/out on her own.  I'm not saying we don't carry or pick both up, 19mo more than 4y/o, but it helps to encourage independence in some activities.  I'm currently thinking it's worse that my 4y/o is constantly elbowing me when sitting on or near my lap!

RunningGal900

I am just trying to encourage him to walk a little bit more and offering to hold his hand instead of carrying him. He actually can climb into and out of our SUV on his own, so we do that sometimes, though often he resists getting into the car, so I have to lift him regardless. 

jorkz821

yesthisiskim0401:

jorkz821:

I don't know how old your LO is, but mine recently discovered the joy and big girlness of climbing into the car and car seat herself. All I have to do is spot her in case she falls, then do up her straps. Would your LO want to try this? Or is your car or seat quite high up?

DD is a little over 2 and about 30lbs. We have a SUV, and even though it's low I don't trust her to get in by herself. I'll have to try it one day, however because this ish is getting ridiculous. 

I think our kids are about same age and size. Olivia saw her friend do it at DC one day and ever since she's been all "No, MY do it!!" The first few times I had my hand on her back, but now she swats me away. I'm surprised at her agility tbh.
Good luck!

Southerndancinmama

OMG yes. I have a 2 1/2 ur old who is probably 32 lbs and I can't hold her for more than a few seconds. I also have an 11 month old in a pumpkin seat which kills me everytime i get it in and out of car. Gotten to the point with her that I'm just taking her out every chance I get.... Way too heavy and has made me feel like I'm having BH after i do too much with them

chuicafina

Mine just turned two and he's about 31 lbs. He's a big boy and definitely getting harder to pick up. It's not too bad yet, but I'm trying to have him do as much on his own so that he starts getting used to it. He can climb into his high chair on his own, into his car seat on his own (I lift him up to the seat of the car and then he climbs into his seat). He's still in a crib, so that's obviously not one he can do by himself.

I do still wear him on my back quite a bit, but I find that much easier on me than holding him since we're kind of balanced out.

catycate

Yep, I've just been encouraging more independence. He's going through a phase right now where he just wants to be snuggled WHILE I'm standing, so I'm trying to break that habit. I'll do it first thing in the morning, but I've had to sit through some tantrums later in the day, just trying to offer my lap.

mrambo3

It's definitely tiring and straining picking up DS.  Especially when I have to lug him up and down stairs.  My doctor told me it was okay just as long as the pregnancy didn't have any risks.  I'm thinking this is another reason why my sciatica acts up so bad.  We're almost to the end but it will definitely be a hard 3 months  

yesthisiskim0401

quartermisses:

I still have to pick up DD1. And I feel like I kind of have to, since she's still a toddler and just needs it sometimes. That, and she just can't manage walking through costco, the grocery store, etc, so I pick her up to put her in the cart. It's definitely getting harder to do, but I'm not sure if that's because she's getting bigger, or because I am.nbsp;

Exactly this! Plus part of me doesn't want to stop picking her up since that's as close to snuggles as I get nowadays,

yesthisiskim0401

JenMatt2010:

Not yet but I think I'm getting there. Thankfully DS is a peanut and only weighs 22 lbs, but I've still pulled a muscle in my upper back a few times lifting him.

Side note do you all still let your little ones sit on your lap and lean on your belly? I'll read to him on my lap but it's getting more uncomfortable...

DD is going through a anti cuddling stage right now. Sometimes she will curl up next to me and hug my belly. She sits on my lap so I can put on her shoes, paint her nails, etc and its getting harder but I think that's more because I'm leaning forward and crushing my belly against her. It's definitely getting hard.

Christine&Chris

My DD is a peanut - 26 mos and only 23 lbs, but I'm having the same problem. I actually had my OB check because I was really hurting on my left side - where I usually carry her. Feels just like I pulled a muscle. I'm making her walk as much as I can.