2 under 2 club!!

[can]

Hi so I have a 21 month old boy and a 12 week old boy (plus my lovely 9year old boy!) so just thought I'd see if any of you ladies with 2 under 2 are getting on!! We are finally getting into the swing of things, got ourselves a routine going and I have to say I'm having a great time. Yes it's VERY hard and not planning on getting any decent sleep for the next few years but diffidently not as hard as I thought! Just wanted to see if there's any advice we could give each other or just vent after a stressful day! And most of all just to say well done your doing great to anyone with 2 under 2 and it DOES get easier

 

[Jolly81]

I no longer have 2 under 2, mine are now 9 months and 29 months, but I did have 2 under 2 from January to may and it has honestly been the hardest 9 months of my life- doesn't help that my youngest has bad reflux.

One thing that's helped is nap timings. My eldest naps from 1pm until 3.30pm, and I follow the 2,3,4 rule with my youngest (naps 2 hrs after wake up, then 3 hrs after wake up from 1st nap etc)- so I try to time her naps to make sure I get at least 1.5hr - 2.5hr where they're both sleeping at the same time in the afternoon. This takes some serious stealth and determination!! But it's really worth it because those couple of hours are heaven

Well done on getting a routine sorted, the first 12 weeks were definitely the hardest x

 

[kumber]

I have 2 under 2! 16 months and 2 months, both turned that today! We're in a fairly decent routine, things are a little up in the air but we're getting there the hardest thing has been how utterly exhausted I am all the time. As soon as my head touches that pillow I'm gone!

 

[flisstebbs]

I have a 1 month and a 23 month old. Only had my first morning on my own with them on Monday but there was over 2 hours of crying in total, arg!

Any advice on how to help toddlers be a bit more patient???

 

[BunnyN]

I dont have two under two anymore but have a 29 month old and 9 month old. Life is a bit chaotic, sleep and house work suffer but I have found it a great experience too. Things seemed to have calmed down and started to get a bit easier recently. So it was time to get pregnant again lol, I'm 7 weeks pregnant! DS will be just over 3 and DS will be 18 months when this one is due.

 

[BunnyN]

I have a 1 month and a 23 month old. Only had my first morning on my own with them on Monday but there was over 2 hours of crying in total, arg!

Any advice on how to help toddlers be a bit more patient???

First off try not to panic, you will soon find your feet and manage to get into more of a routine. It wont always be like the first day. Of course there are always those moments where everything falls apart and everyone ends up screaming at once. But there get to be less of them and they last less time! When that happens all you can do is deal with one thing at once.

As for getting toddlers to be patient I think it takes a while but they will learn. To some degree they learn by defalt they just have to wait sometimes. Up untill this point they were used to being first in line all the time. I find it helps to take some moments of one on one time with DD when I have the chance so she doesnt feel like she is always second. In the early days I had a box of little goodies like coloring books, stickers and other little presents so I could pull one out and hand it to DD when I was desperate. It would almost always buy me at least 5mins. And there is always kiddie TV. I try not to have the TV on all the time but there were days I dont know how I would have gotten through without it. DD likes youtube videos with nursery rymes etc too. That has the added benifit of her learning her shapes, colors, counting and alphabet at the same time, lol.

 

[can]

Defiantly agree with trying not to panic once you lose it so much harder to re-gain control! Of course there are times when it all goes wrong but I try and tell myself I'm only one person and can only do so much. My 21 month old can be a handful and is slowly learning to wait for a bit. He is clever and will start acting up the min I try to feed my baby!! I try to let some things go like him throwing Cheerios all over the floor for attention. I just say oh wow that looks pretty, hoping he will get bored eventually!!

 

[Mrbump83]

I have a 20 month old and a 7 month old. It's been a tough 7 months but fun too!
My 20 month old is just starting to get a bit jealous which is making things harder plus they are both currently sick x x

 

[Sharmon]

I have 2 under 2, a 2 week old & a 21 month old. My Hubbie went back to work today, but my mum has come over to help me out for a little while, I honestly don't know how I would have survived the day without her. My 21month old is very excited by the baby but quite heavy handed, so I'm having to keep a close eye on her. She has also recently started to act up a little hitting when she does not get her way etc & im unsure what best way to deal with this is? Any advice would be appreciated. My baby isn't really in a routine yet, but my toddler naps for about 2 hrs most days from 12-2pm. I'm finding it quite difficult to entertain my 21month old now weather is getting worse as she loves to run about outside & I know being indoors more is frustrating her!

 

[kumber]

Not sure if this is the right or best thing to do but I take my LO's hands off me and say no firmly, if he continues I move him away from me but as he usually happens mid-feed, it usually ends up with him falling over

 

[BunnyN]

DD is very active and bouncy. I probably found that the hardest thing about 2 under 2. It wasnt safe to leave them in a room together without someone else there even for a few seconds. When she is trying to to be nice, just heavy handed. I keep repeating to her "gentle", "not too heavy" etc. and eventually it gets through. on the odd occasion she was mean on purpose I was really firm with her. I raised my voice because I rarely do that and told her no and moved her away firmly. Then I explained he is only little and she hurt hum. Thankfully she hasnt done it often and now that they are a little older I can even nip to another room to get a nappy or turn off the stove without fear DS will get squashed.

 

[can]

Yes we have hitting here too!!! Don't think I'm best person to give advice as my lo continues doing it. I've tried moving him, firm voice, explaining, pretending to cry, ignoring him yet he still does it. But tonight children just me, hubby and his older brother �� as for entertaining toddler whilst caring for baby in emptied a draw in living room cubboard and filled with safe "grown up" things do he feels he is important sorting through it!! Well for now until he gets bored again!! That and mr tumble on CBeebies!! I try to get out everyday for all our sanity and to burn of lo energy. My real struggle is bedtimes. Who do you put down first? I have both babies in my room so don't want them to wake each other. Once they are both asleep it's fine but at min this is at about 9pm so really want to get it to around 7.30-8pm.

 

[jazz1984]

Eek I have a 9 month old and am 12 weeks pregnant so this is a very interesting thread for me! Its nice to hear it does get easier as im dreading it lol!

 

[Glitter2707]

Me too Jazz - in around 5 weeks time we will have a 19 month old & a newborn! Argh!! Exciting and terrifying all at once

 

[jazz1984]

Glitter I know exactly what you mean! Thank god for these ladies as its obviously possible

 

[BunnyN]

We are doing it a second time so it cant be that bad!

 

[can]

Ha ha well congratulations to you both and when the stressful times hit and it seems impossible remember they don't stay small for long and you will miss it when they get older.

 

[hayes]

Hi ladies. I have 19 months between my two. Harry's now 21 months n summer is nearly 8wks n so far it's been fine. The worrying about it was most defo worse than the actual reality. I have a fab hubby who helps out a lot n my mum n mil r also keen to help out so I am vert lucky. But of course there are times when they both want me n it's tough to prioritise but u do get use to it n they do have to learn to wait.

Melts my heart when I see Harry playing with summer and I can honestly say I don't regret them close for one min.

Michelle.x

 

[flisstebbs]

Is it wrong that as much as possible I'm weaselling out of being on my own with 2 for long?? Jess is in nursery mon to wed, then thurs and fri I make sure at least half the day has other people around like grandparents or my sister... so much easier, but can't imagine how I will do whole days alone again??!!

 

[BunnyN]

Rule 1 of two under two. Accept all the help you can! When its just you yoou will cope better than you think though.