Last week I had a long-overdue lunch with a girlfriend who is expecting her second child this spring. We both have two-year-olds. I’m also currently wrapping up my second maternity leave with my 5-month old. We were chatting about life with two little ones and what, if anything, she can do to prepare for the craziness of life with a toddler and a newborn.
Though I definitely found the zero to one transition harder, going from one to two has its own unique challenges. Here are a few things that have helped make the logistics a little easier:
1. Backpack Diaper Bag
This is an absolute must, in my opinion, especially if you have two kids in diapers as I do. Your hands will be too busy to carry much else with an energetic toddler in one hand and an infant car seat in the other. Get one with pockets and internal organization so you can store different size diapers and all the stuff you need for the different phases they’re in, i.e., alllllll the snacks for the toddler and extra clothes for the baby’s blowouts. There are loads of options at different price points, ranging from the cult-favorite Fawn to a Target or Amazon find like Skip Hop.
2. Baby Carrier(s)
My daughter has spent the first few months of her life being worn by me (primarily) or my husband. Thankfully, even now, at five months old, it’s still her happy place. Whether you are chasing around a crazy fast toddler at the park or are braving the aisles of the grocery store with two under two, babywearing is the name of the game. Need to make dinner? Wear that baby. Need to get a fussy baby to nap while your toddler has his umpteenth tantrum of the day? Wear that baby.
It is literally the only way I can get anything done when I’m alone with both kids. It has saved my sanity more times than I can count. There are tons of carrier options out there, and we all have our favorites. This time around, I love the Solly wrap and our Ergo 360 – so find one (or two) that work for you and always have it at an arms reach.
3. Double Video Monitor
Our son is young enough that we still need a monitor on him at night. I knew we’d need to invest in either another single video monitor or upgrade to a two camera model. I found a great Black Friday deal on a dual-camera VTech model and couldn’t be happier. Right now, the baby is still in our room, so being able to keep an eye on her without getting out of bed myself, as well as on my son in the other room, is really helpful.
4. Double Stroller
This one goes without saying if your oldest child is still too young to walk everywhere. We found a gently used BOB double stroller on a tag sale site, and it’s awesome! There are tons of options out there – even inexpensive umbrella double strollers will do the trick.
5. Surprises for your first
My mom gave me this idea (thanks, Mom!) and started it for me. I have a bag in my closet of small, inexpensive toys (think Matchbox cars, small stuffed animals, mini coloring books, stickers, etc.) to dole out to my toddler on days when he is restless and I need a few minutes of peace to nurse the baby. A new little find will keep him occupied for a solid 15 minutes most days. Stock up at Target’s Dollar Spot or squirrel away small presents brought over by friends and family. You can even put away toys your toddler already knows and loves and then take them out as a fun “new again” surprise that is sure to keep them busy for a while.
