- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Two Under 2
a one year old and a newborn???
So this is my first post on the bump in a very long time. My bff referred me here because she's learned so much from this message board. So here is the scoop on me. I just found out I am pregnant and I have a 4.5 month old DD. This was unplanned but welcomed. I'm terrified, anxious and excited all in one. Any tips? I'm still breastfeeding DD and I plan to unless contraindicated but my nipples have become very very sore. I look forward to all and any advice to caring for a one year old and a newborn in the future....(also I have a history of stillborn twin girls that were born at 29 weeks due to ttts. i've been pregnant every year during the same time for the last 3 years....twins were born 2/9/10, DD born 2/26/11, and my due date will be sometime 3/12(unsure of actual dates but i'm pretty sure my lmp was 6/9/11))
This discussion has been closed.
Re: a one year old and a newborn???
It's not as hard as you think it might be. For me going 0-1 was the hardest. 1-2 was way easier because I knew what to expect.
Personally, DD didn't have any jealousy issues with DS (14 months apart).
I allowed her to watch cartoons since he was born, so that I could feed DS without DD wanting me to pick her up.
Expect everything to take you 4 times as long. If it takes you normally 5 minutes to get in the car, expect it to take you 20 minutes now.
Accept help, but do things yourself when you're alone. Don't get overwhelmed.
It's not nearly as bad as you think it will be.
There are some rough moments, but overall it is great. My advice now is to line up a babysitter when you have to take one of the kids to the pedi. Try not to take both of them at once!
Congrats!
I had the same timing. I found out when my DS was 4.5 months old I was expecting DD, and they ended up being 12.5 months apart.
First off, congrats!
Second, dont worry yet. You have 8 months to go.
For me personally, I found that age gap to work well. DS was too young to be jealous. When I brought DD home, he had just started walking full time about a month prior, so he was so busy investigating that he didnt care when I held DD a lot. We did watch a little more TV than I would have liked in those first few months, but we all survived.
Now that we're 6 months in, I would say having 2 isnt that much different than having 1. I think it's easier in ways because you're still in that newborn mentality, you're getting those stages like diapers/sleepless nights/teething out of the way quicker instead of getting spoiled and starting all over again, etc.
It's tough in the first few months, but it gets much easier as time goes on. I take the kids out alone to places like the zoo, pool, etc every afternoon. Every now and then it doesnt end well and we have to leave early, but most days it works out great and it's still life as usual.
GL!
I always enjoy reading your posts because you make me a little less nervous about what is to come!
(very, very soon).
Congrats OP! I also do not have any advice, but mine will be 12.5 months apart as well.
Congratulations!
I think that you should invest in a good baby carrier and some type of white noise or sound machine.
I had a babysitter for my toddler in the very beginning. I was glad to allow him time to play with a peer (babysitter's son) and it gave me time to heal (c-section), rest, and get to know my baby. If this is an option for you I would recommend it.
Now, life is wonderful. LO#1 simply adores LO#2. We've never had a jealousy issue and I think that's a result of being so close in age.
Congratulations!
Mine are 11.5 months apart. I am a month into this. For me, it IS very hard. I am not going to lie.
Some days I feel like I am going crazy :P
I am two steps beyond absolutely exhausted. And my son *has* managed to be extremely jealous at his young age.
Recovery from my repeat c-section has been rough bc of having to lift my 25 pound son.
Thankfully, my daughter is an easy baby (besides from not sleeping at night)
I suggest accepting as much help as possible. Trying to establish good sleeping and napping habits for your oldest. Get lots of new toys for the oldest to keep busy. Baby proof at least 1 room in the house where the oldest can play for a while . And have lots and lots of coffe at hand.
Apparently, from previous posters' experience, it does get better with time. So I think there's hope for me :P
Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly lucky to have two healthy children. But...this sh!t is hard!!!!!!
2 of my DDs are only 9 months apart! We were only 3 months PP when we found out we were expecting again...and then we unexpectedly delivered at 25 weeks due to placental abruption. So I feel your pain!
It's not as bad as you think it might be. (I actually have 3 daughters ages 3 and under)
One of the biggest things I have had a hard time with is giving up complete control. Sometimes you do have to ask for help (or accept offers of help when the are given). Some days it is quite an accomplishment if we are all dressed and out of our jammies...and most days I just have to be happy with the fact that the girls have dry diapers, fed, and bathed. Some days it's just an uphill battle to get the basics done, like laundry and dishes, and I have to let go and be okay with the rest of the house being "cluttered". We cannot expect ourselves to be "supermom" all the time for very long...sometimes there just isn't enough time or energy at the end of the day to get every single thing done, or do every single craft project with the kids, and sometimes, you do NEED to use the TV as a babysitter here and there, just to get something done or catch a break. I just keep telling myself that in a few years, it will all be so much easier, when we don't have to do the diapers, and bottles, and sippys, and they can dress themselves or walk themselves to the car (NOT that I want to wish my kids; lives away...but I just know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel when we do get there!)
And I agree with a pp...everything WILL take 5 times as long to do!
Good luck!
So true!