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Upstate NY Babies
Irisheyes1247
member
2u2 ?
Irisheyes1247
member
Am I crazy for thinking I can pull this off? My goal with C is to have a very definite seperation between her "baby" things and the time when the baby comes. We are ditching bottles which is going ok. We are ending paci, which also is ok (except when I waffle during the occasional bed time fit, but that is the only time she takes it). I plan to get her bedding and move her into the bigger room and put her in a "big girl bed" (aka mattress on the floor) after Christmas so that she is adjusted to her new room and sleeping arrangement way before the baby comes in March. I also try to point out to her when we are around little babies that we are going to have a baby come and live with us. When she flails around and smacks us, I take her hands and have her kind of "pet" us and say, "nice nice" or "gentle/kind hands" - same with our cats and any other animals she is around. I don't know if she really will comprehend all/any of this or if I am wasting my time and setting us up for failure by expecting too much. She generally is a pretty easygoing kid, so I guess I was kind of counting on that to help us ease throught the transitions.
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Re: 2u2 ?
Sometimes I feel like DS#1 grew up too fast b/c I was prepping for DS#2. Now I look at DS #2 and know that I baby him way more than I ever did with Reed b/c he is still my little baby. We didn't transition Reed to a toddler bed until about a month ago (his 3rd birthday)! He liked his crib and since we had sleep issues for so long with him I wasn't willing to rock the boat. I was so glad that I kept him contained for as long as I did. He never climbed out. We just had to get another crib for DS#2, but it wasn't a big deal since Reed's stuff converted anyways.
I also worked really hard to make sure he was well on his way to being fully potty trained before Pierce was born. He regressed a bit and I kept him in diapers when Pierce first came home, but he was wearing underwear and completely trained at 21 mos. I have high hopes that I will do the same with Pierce, but I've been a lot more lax with his training.
Reed was jealous at first and since he was so little he would take out his jealousy on Pierce (probably the first 3 weeks he was home). We had to be really careful and not put Pierce in anything that Reed could reach b/c he would try to hit him or kick him (bouncer seat) or try to shake the bassinet. Once we got over that, his little brother was his favorite person in the world. They totally love each other and it is adorable. I wouldn't change it for anything. I loved having them so close together....although DH wanted #3 just as close and I needed a break, physically and mentally haha.
Mine were not 2u2.. but all I can tell you.. is you can prepare and prepare and prepare.. but these kids are gonna throw you for a loop one way or another.
I wouldn't say our transition from 1-2 was tough, but it wasn't really how I expected, either.
For instance, Eve was transitioned to her big girl bed a few months before Natalie arrived.. she loved her bed and we had no problem.. but then once baby came.. she's asking to sleep in her crib again. She also has wanted her binkys more (We never completely got rid of them but she was down to just having them in bed and occassionally in the car.) Now we have had two spells of her wanting them constantly (and then almost completely giving them up for bit and back to wanting them)
Eve has never been rough or mean with the baby. not once.. she adores her.. but she definitely has some underlying jealous/vying for attention going on.. We've had a lot of troubles with her behavior, both at home and school.. Its starting to get better now, 4 months in.
m/c 1/2/08 and 3/12/08
Eve Amelia- Born 2/24/09. 6lb 9.9oz
Natalie Ruth - Born 6/13/11 7lb 6.6oz
Hmmm...where to begin
I think the best thing is not push your older one to grow up too fast (although maybe I should have been doing it a little more) Don't push them to give up their bed, their diapers, their routine that much. Keeping Evan in his crib was the BEST decision we ever made because he would sit and play in there while I finished a nursing session and I didn't have to worry about him. Another great tip is to ALWAYS have the next thing ready. Both are napping?...get snack and milks ready. Both are playing quietly or enjoying a cartoon?...get that next meal ready, even if you have to warm it up before regular dinner time. The worst is having two babies crying for food at your feet (or one at your feet and one in your arms) instead of just having it ready. I always have clothes laid out and diaper bags packed the night before.
And get a double stroller - don't be one of those "I can just wear the baby and put the older one is the single" type people...haha!
I have to say having 4 under 2.5 is going quite well considering all the things you dread! DD is amazing with the babies. Sure there's an occasion toy flying in the direction of a baby, or a nice pet turns into a vicious poke or smack, but it's a learning process, and we make sure she's always being watched when near a baby (of course!). A little harder said than done when there are 3 for her to get at!!!
One thing we didn't change was the crib. She has never attempted to escape her crib, and yes, it would've saved us a little $ to just use hers (thanks to one of the ladies on here we got one of our 3 new to us cribs for free!! u know who u are!!) but that is like her safe haven, if you know what I mean. All the changes of bottles/pacifiers are things that are transitional at this point, with or without new sibling(s) on the rise....but the crib, IMO is something that can wait!
DD is a HUGE thumb sucker, and of course we wanted to wean that, but the Pedi said let it be, until it starts becoming a problem, and maybe that's the paci thing too... kids need their "outlets" just like we do!
So you aren't expecitng too much, just take it one thing at a time, and if it doesn't work the way you plan, be flexible! 
And most of good luck!
This has been our experience:
We kept the crib. He showed no signs of not wanting to be in it and it was a saving grace in the beginning if I could not get to him right away (ie. feeding the baby).
We kept the binkies..and I am glad that we did. We were going to try to get rid of them before the baby, but I really thought about it and they give him such comfort at naps and bedtime (only time he gets them) and he sleeps so well, that I did not want to mess that up before the baby came. The ped. has not problem with it and we might try to get rid of them in the next several months, but no rush.
E started to go through a hitting phase before the baby came. It continued when the baby came, but only when I was nursing. Now EVERY once in awhile he will throw something toward the baby, but it is always when we have not been able to give him attention right away. Luckily he has never hurt the baby, but I can't say that we have been free sailing with no hitting.
We really involve him in the care...can you help me get a diaper, etc. and this seemed to help.
I also agree about the double stroller...it has been a lifesaver. We got a used Graco DuoGlide for $60 and it has been great.
It will be okay
OMG. I haven't nursed dd since she was 15 months old. I even offered it to her at like 17 months in a panic bc she was sick and she wanted nothing to do with it. Now, just TODAY, she looked at me when I was changing and said "sippy please". I was just like - "yes, go downstairs and ask daddy to get you a sippy of water" But inside I was like NOOOO, why do you even remember?!? I hope she doesn't want to nurse again when the new baby comes!
m/c 1/2/08 and 3/12/08
Eve Amelia- Born 2/24/09. 6lb 9.9oz
Natalie Ruth - Born 6/13/11 7lb 6.6oz