Making The Time For Two

1. Tips To Manage Both Kids

The initial days or weeks seem to be very hard, but nothing is impossible. Look at some of our tips on how to manage both kids.

• Always take any help if offered. Ask a family member or one of your parents to stay with you for a few days after birth.
• It doesn’t matter how your house looks these days, your main concern at this time should be to give enough time to your newborn as well as your older child.
• From the very first day tell your toddler the baby loves him and is always watching how and what he plays as he would later join him too.
• Take little help from your tot and make sure you tell them how much you appreciate their help.
• Ignore your older child’s negative and unwelcoming behavior, but be firm when any line is crossed.
• Going for short walks daily will give you a boost and make you feel amazing and stress-free.

2. When You’re Pregnant

Make preparations well in advance. You can cook and freeze food when you’re pregnant so that you have a good amount of nutritious food during the initial days after birth. Stock and store ready-to-eat meals, and dry foods. Also,

• Let your toddler explore things and play on their own, so it’s easier when a new sibling is here, he will be used to being by himself for a while.
• Teach your older child to wait and have patience, do not give him/her things right away when asked for them, let him wait and cry a little, eventually he will learn to wait. Do not forget to give him a reward for being patient inform of hugs and kisses.
• Make sure he is not completely dependent on you; if his/her routine is based on you only try to change it slowly well before the birth.

 3. When Baby Is Here

Make him understand he is the big brother/sister. Tell what older kids can do like riding bikes, swimming, playing football, building Lego, reading books, painting, etc., can’t be done by a baby.

• Tell them what babies can’t do or what they can’t eat like pizza, or burgers like he does which will make him feel superior.
• Do not make changes in your older child’s routine. Avoid transitions.
• Try to find opportunities for your older child to interact with a new sibling.

4. While Nursing

While you are nursing, activities you can do with your older child

• Read books together, if you are holding the newborn ask your toddler to hold the book and turn the pages while you do the reading. I’m a Big Brother and I’m a Big Sister by Joanna Cole is a good book to read out to them.
• Stock lots of activity books with puzzles in them, drawing, coloring, build legos or blocks with tots will keep them closer to you and your baby and therefore will not feel neglected.
• Watching movies or playing games on a laptop together.
• Playdough, water play, or painting can keep toddlers busy for a longer time. You can take some rest or a power nap during this time.

It is possible that your older child might ask you to nurse at a certain point when he watches you feeding the baby. If you are comfortable you can give the opportunity mostly toddlers will just touch or kiss and laugh out and continue playing. Some mothers might not prefer to offer and would distract the child from some other activity.

This sure is a difficult time, but with time, it will get better. As kids grow older, both children will play with each other and that would be a wonderful experience in itself.