Feel free to throw down all questions related to birth/baby stuff/ pregnancy symptoms/newborns/managing 2 or more and the transition/etc. here. I have seen in my research of other "Ask a STM+" threads that they have had a theme...so if you have a theme you would love round two of "Ask a STM" to have, go ahead and suggest away!
Re: Ask a STM+ (April Edition!)
It'll really just be a balance of divide and conquer; with our kids super involved in sports and activities now, we've mastered this; throwing a third in the mix should be interesting. Hoping s/he will be go with the flow!
Married: 6/27/2008
DS: 3/14/2010 Planned, PG first try
M/C 6/2012
DD: 4/22/2013 Planned, UnDx Infertility, PG on our own
BFP: 10/28/2016 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE!
M/C 12/12/2016
BFP: 10/27/2017 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE
EDD: 7/2/2018
Two kids is is a lot of work but I didn’t think it was the worst adjustment period. It’s kind of a controlled chaos.
pjs and teeth
stories together on the couch
I send DS to his room (he’s older) while I get DD in her bed and sing her a song and say prayers
then I go in to DS and say prayers with him (he doesn’t like songs) sometimes he’ll ask me about when I was little or we talk about different things for a minute.
Usually after that I have to go back to DD a handful of times.
Married: 6/27/2008
DS: 3/14/2010 Planned, PG first try
M/C 6/2012
DD: 4/22/2013 Planned, UnDx Infertility, PG on our own
BFP: 10/28/2016 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE!
M/C 12/12/2016
BFP: 10/27/2017 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE
EDD: 7/2/2018
Pur current is bath, PJ’s, two books, and then lay with for 5 min or so. I’m trying to decide if one person takes one child and the other takes the other? But I’ll be gone 3 nights working so that won’t always work. So maybe we will do bath together. Then dress. Than DD to her room while I put baby down? Then go In and read to her? Who knows???????
I also wonder...is it too much to think I can nurse and do bedtime stories and what have you with DS, like both at the same time? or switch our story reading time to the couch instead of his room so everyone can be part of that and then DH can take DS to bed?
Married: 6/27/2008
DS: 3/14/2010 Planned, PG first try
M/C 6/2012
DD: 4/22/2013 Planned, UnDx Infertility, PG on our own
BFP: 10/28/2016 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE!
M/C 12/12/2016
BFP: 10/27/2017 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE
EDD: 7/2/2018
This time around we will do the same. Everyone will get ready and do the same routine, we'll put DD and DS in their room and baby#3 in her co-sleeper/crib in our room at the same bedtime and once baby is old enough to be in her own room we'll keep it the same. Our DD(4) always falls asleep after DS(2) so I know that will be the same but keeping the same bedtime works for ALL of us. Kids are in their room by 730-745pm, DS usually asleep by 830 at the latest, DD by 9 at the latest (most nights both are out by 815pm.)
HaloVa Diaper Bag Multi-Function Waterproof Travel Backpack Nappy Bags for Baby Care, Large Capacity, Stylish and Durable, Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071RLWKGQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_8Q2EiVsCIqUF6
Also, if you search online for your area, there are groups dedicated to baby carriers/carrying that you can test out a carrier and get feedback. Some even rent out carriers.
Re: bedtime routines...we did have to change our routine but it worked out nicely. DH took over bedtime routine for DD about 3 months before DS was born. It was nice for them to have that bonding time and made the addition of DS that much easier for all of us. Before #3 comes, I think DH will be taking over bedtime again, but he's already had lots of practice from when I was sick in the first trimester.
Going from 1 to 2 kids is just a balancing act and requires both parents to step up to handle a variety of activities together AND solo like bedtime, meals, leaving the house, etc. I asked a friend once how to avoid sibling jealousy and she suggested that when you need to focus on the baby, don't make the baby your excuse not to spend time with the older kid. I never quite figured out how to do that, but I thought I'd share her advice in case it helps someone else.
I'm also interested in this carrier. Anyone familiar with this one? The reviews are really good and it seems to fit what I'm looking for in a second carrier.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AF5EES8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2TENM2M44PDDF&th=1
https://www.nestingdays.com