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Two Under 2
What has been the toughest adjustment?
I'll be having baby #2 within the month, and they'll be 22 months apart... What can I expect to struggle with? I want to be prepared for this as much as I can be...
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Re: What has been the toughest adjustment?
The first few months are hard, especially if you BF because that seems to be when LO #1 will act out. It also took us FOREVER to get out the door; two hours in most cases to BF the baby, shower, eat, get everyone dressed, etc. Even with DH's help the whole time it still took 2 hours. But fast-forward to LO #2 being 6 months and we can get ready within an hour and we have our routine down solid. I think BFing added a lot of time into the mix (totally worth it of course), but I was thankful that I didn't have to pump and be the only one to feed the baby anymore.
If you can get your baby down for a nap first, and then put the older one down right after, you might get some time to yourself! My oldest LO will take her nap pretty much any time I lay her down so I try to work around when DS falls asleep so I get a break.
My advice is to expect it to be stressful and hope its not as bad as you expect. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be in the first few months. newborns sleep a lot, so you have time in the first 6 wks to breathe a bit. Also, give yourself a break and try not to be so hard on yourself.
One big thing someone told me was to expect my oldest to give me the cold shoulder when the baby was born...she was right. He cared more about my mom and husband than me for a few days. After a week he was fine. I made sure I kept one thing the same that I did every day for him. So no matter what I gave him a bath, it was our alone time and made me feel like I was doing my mommy job for him and we bonded again.
GL you'll be great.
The hardest adjustment for me has been getting used to "ignoring" somebody when they both need me at the exact same time. When E wakes up screaming to eat and Drew is about to sit down for lunch, somebody has to wait. When he has a poopy diaper and she wants to be held, I just have to put her down even though I know she'll cry.
There's a lot more tears around here then there would be with just one (of either age). I don't like that feeling and I'm still getting used to it. I try and remind myself that the are both safe and healthy and neither one of them will remember this!