Since this is baby #3 for me and ds was only 15months old when I had dd I think I have a thing or two useful to share.
The biggest life saver in the whole world was/is my sling. I can sling to go potty, I can sling when out and about, I can sling baby and then get toddler out of car seat and reduce risk of running toddler in parking lot. For showers I showered a lot at night and eventually baby got big enough for an exersaucer which I would pull in the bathroom with me (the all around tray was a bit of toddler bubble protection).
Not sure about Target but some places now have a toddler seat in the big handicapped stall (with shoulder straps) and also the changing table inthere. So you can strap you toddler into the 'cool' seat, go potty yourself, and change babies diaper all with the stall door closed and no toddlers touching everything or trying to crawl out under the doors (shudder, yuck).
Sarah
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Mommy to Elias (6/5/00), Hannah (9/23/01), and Barnabeas (4/21/05)
happy wife to Eddie
Location: In the Land of Golden Warmth, Surrounded by Majestic Mountains, Inspired by Desert and Ocean, Cocooned in Love
Posts: 2,727
Congratulations Julie!
Mine were 14 months apart. We didn't really go anywhere alone for the first couple of months.
I usually bathed when DH was home, either before he went to work or when he came home for lunch. I just couldn't think of anyway to keep them both safe, although a couple of times I resorted to putting DS#2 into a bouncy seat in the bathroom and taking a bath with DS#1.
I liked the sling/umbrella stroller combo better than the double stroller, but I did use the double stroller at times. In restrooms definitely use the biggest handicapped stall you can find, and don't feel badly about it. Some stores now have family restrooms; our new Target does.
For grocery shopping I put DS#2 in the sling and DS#1 in the cart. For quick trips I used my regular single stroller for DS#1, with DS#2 in the sling. I just put our groceries in the bottom basket. For big trips I usually got help unloading my basket and taking my groceries to the car; I obviously had my "hands full". Find the store that will help you the most; I switched grocery stores because one was a lot more helpful.
I'll admit to having had to use a harness/leash combo places like the mall. I would have DS#2 in the sling or Baby Bjorn, and DS#1 had the harness on so he could walk free but not take off on me. Malls are busy places and I wasn't about to let him get away from me for even a minute. It was less tiring for him than having to hold my hand the whole time. We did the same thing at Disneyland and the zoo.
You need to have things with you for Savannah to play with if you have to stop and nurse. Keep a couple of special toys and books in the diaper bag just for these times. I also used to buy natural lollipops from the HFS and give out one of those to DS#1 if DS#2 needed to feed. A lollipop entertains a toddler for a long time.
You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly!
Kimberly
DS#1 6YO
DS#2 5YO
Last edited by KimberMama : 04-30-2005 at 03:38 PM.
I liked the sling/umbrella stroller combo better than the double stroller, but I did use the double stroller at times.
Oh yes! I totally forgot about this is it is sooooo true. I really thought we 'needed' a double stroller but the best option was definitely the sling with our 'deluxe' umbrealla stroller. Now I remember that thats how I kept Elias stationary in hard situations like your Target scenerio. When we bought our stroller we were at Babys R Us and they had the regular $20 ones and then some nicer $50 ones, we got the more expensive one and I'm so glad. Its about 4yrs old now has rolled more miles in my more countries and accross more airports than most people have in their lives. it has great wheels for cobblestone streets and spain and it lightweight and small enough to grab one handed with baby in sling out of the back of the minivan.
start small. The first month or so, I never did a trip that was more than an hour. So no diapers, etc. Truman in the stroller and Cole by the hand. Truman usually was asleep in the carseat, so I just moved the carseat from the car to the stroller. Cole needed to get out and stretch his legs, KWIM?
But go every day. I found Cole was a lot easier to manage if we got up every morning and went somewhere. Even if it was just running to the store for dinner supplies.
I took showers when Cole slept and truman was in the bouncy in the bathroom with me.
Ok...I'd like to hear your creative tricks for getting things done and protecting your newborn from a 2 year old who loves to give hugs and kisses!
Ie...going to the bathroom, showering, going out with the two kids...
any little tricks of the trade...things that work.
Who do you get out of the car first? What if it is raining...
Going to the bathroom in a public place? How do you do that? What do you do with your 2 year old if you need to change a diaper and you are at Target?
Ha ha...i'm sitting here just thinking how things are different. Just looking for some neat ideas from you other mamas.
(and yes i know...i only have 2....i'm not EVEN ready to think about what you guys with 3,4,5...15 kids do when you are going out!!!)
LOL
I try to not be out w/ these 2 alone... but sometimes you have to...
baby in sling all the time...to keep her away from dd. "her love me"
car- at home-baby first, i run her onto the front stoop, then get dd...out in town, unbuckle dd- then grab her and get baby out. seriously thinking of getting a leash...lmbo
i have my older kids that help tho...but i remember when i was in your shoes, dd and ds were 20mos apart it was harder than it is now. dd was very gentle...but you just can't turn your head for a minute.
Although...I'm no sage.... mary grace put an Altoid in Faith's mouth yesterday.
I SO did not want to be the mom with a kid on a leash. BUT- when I had to take them both out in the rain in a busy parking lot (too windy and rainy to transfer L to sling), I bought a backpack harness/leash. It has a little stuffed doggie on it and Grace (21 mos) loves it!!! I pretty much only use it in the parking lot (the leash part unlatches) then unlatch it when at our destination. Grace is just so fast- I'd rather be the mom with the kid on a leash than the mom with a dead/injured little Grace. I bought it at Target (the leash, not the kid) for $10.
I also (BAD MOMMY) have a DVD player in the car. I have Landon in his carseat inside, run outside to buckle Grace in, put on DVD. Then go back inside to get Landon and place him in seat and go! I get Grace out first, put on doggie backpack (see above) and get Landon out. When I didn't have backpack, I got Landon out, then Grace OR I parked as close to the cart corral as possible so I could put Grace in the cart then Landon (Or Landon in sling then Grace in cart).
Geesh, I'll stop now, before this becomes a book.....especially since I'm JUST learning too!
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Gina, mama to Grace (8/1/03) and Landon (4/7/05) 31 Gifts
It was the magic of Disney for me to be able to Ergo-sling Landon in 100 degree weather!
getting to car: take both, let cole climb in, go to other side & buckle journey in & lean over her to buckle cole in (his seat is in the middle)
getting out somewhere: unbuclke cole & have him wait for me to open his door after i put journey in the sling.
grocery shopping with them (without jeff) NEARLY NEVER DO IT! i either have him pick up what we need on his way home or i will take them by myself if i don't need much. otherwise i go late at night after cole is down & jeff can take care of journey. once i took cole & left jeff home with journey but then that meant a later bedtime for cole
the worst is taking cole to potty in public, wearing journey & making sure cole doesnt touch the potty or pee everywhere...all without waking a usually sleeping babe!
Location: somewhere between complete exhaustion and utter euphoria
Posts: 5,858
Ok, it has been a LOONG time it seems since I had a toddler and a newborn. DH does little (he can't tolerate stores) so I did everything alone. Sling, sling sling. Teach older one to undo belts when car is off ONLY, to stand by carseat of baby and wait for you. I took a bath with both of them at once or with Samantha in the sling. We had a drive into town so when we got somewhere, I changed diapers BEFORE going in. I had a Suburban, it was easier and cleaner. Beth was pottying on her own already so her dipe was not a concern. But, if you have the little one in a sling on your back, changing an older sibs diaper should be easy. Learning to sling a baby on my back was the best thing I ever did. I cooked with them back there, carried the other one with one on my back in a sling. Until you get the hang of everything, avoid rainy days and busy days (like paydays, etc.) unless you have to go out. I never took a diaper bag in. I had my check book/debit card, driver's license and a diaper in the sling or pocket. Now, that worked limitedly. When you use cloth, you do not want to be carrying the wet/poopy diaper in the sling after it is used. See my note about changing before going in. I also dislike shopping so we were never anywhere long.
Lists. Shopping list, diaper bag list, snack list, etc. Got me through for a while. Drives me nuts to leave something at home, especially when home is a 30 to 45 minute drive back.
HTH!
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Michelle
-- Mom to Beth, 11 and Sam, 8
i learned a trick today...i swaddled jackson...then put him in the sling...when he fell asleep i laid him down carrier and all...he stayed asleep b/c he was all swaddled and mommy got to play with savannah!
Ok...grocery store is fun..I get Sophie out first, put her in a sling, then get Eli out. I carry him into the store and throw him in a cart (not literally LOL) then I shop. It does work out. People see me and think I'm bonkers and do things for me
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Meg
Mama to Alexis, 21; Jacob, 18; and Elijah 11/20/02 and Sophia Jane, 11/20/04
Allison took this picture of my lovely girl:
and Sam, 8 
oh no!!!
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