Arrival of a new baby can be a whole new level of overwhelm. I agreed with it until I had my second baby and then I had a toddler and newborn to take care of with little help.(partner working full time)
Not going to lie, I have spent days thinking how I am gonna make it. Following is the things I did to crack the code. They really did help. My bubs are happy and thriving and this momma is happy as happy can be.
Tips for juggling toddler and newborn
- Get the priorities straight.
Your kids need your attention and all the other things in the house need to wait. A messy house, pile of laundry can be the result of it. But that’s ok.
- To-do-list everytime you put your newborn to sleep.
- Quality one-on-time with your toddler.
- Something for yourself ( snack, exercise, resting )
- Something to do with toddler’s help (ex: Cleaning up)
- Outsource- It’s ok to get help if required.
- Meal delivery services
- Cleaning
- Stock everything you need to keep the toddler occupied- Painting, playdough, NEW story books and NEW toys to come out everyday one by one.
If you are not keen on spending a lot on toys, you can rely on hand-me-downs from friends and family. - Try to take the kids out everyday atleast for a walk – Change of air, change of scene can do a lot of good for all of you.
- Shower together. Yes you heard it right, all three of you can shower together.
- Keep healthy snacks at hand for you to grab from one hand for you to eat while holding the baby or breastfeeding. ex: fruits, nut bars, protein bars, cheese, crackers
- Spoil your toddler- why?? because why not? Arrival of a new baby can be a huge Change in your toddler’s life and usually it’s a stressful time for them.
New toys, new books, cloths or even lollies may help them feel special and that will help you in the long run. - Bulk cook. Freeze. Relax! This can save your time and sanity. If you can, buy a separate freezer for this purpose. I had a chest freezer full of homecooked meals when I went into labour and that food lasted for couple of months.
- Try to put both kids to sleep together. Getting into a sleep routine is the most challenging thing when you are dealing with more than one kid.
- Selfcare during down time. When both kids are asleep, do something that makes you happier and takes some stress off.
- Read a good book.
- Talk to family/friends.
- Exercise
- Warm bath
- Manicure/pedicure
- Plan your weekends ahead. I did it because my partner stayed at home during weekends.
Other than must-do tasks like bulk cooking, cleaning we had some time allocated for family time where we just didn’t do anything. Just chillaxing. Or just being silly with the kids. Anything that makes you happy, works here. - Newborns can be extremely clingy at times. Those days I wore him in a baby carrier in order to keep my hands free, to help with my toddler. Give it a try!
- Online shopping – for groceries, kids cloths , online shopping can save you heaps of time.
- Invest in things that makes your life easier. If you don’t have things like dishwasher, robot
vacuum, dryer, slow cooker. consider buying them. They all can save heaps of time. - Frozen produce and canned food -you may not be able plan grocery list everyday.
Life happens kids get sick, you may get sick and all of a sudden you’ll realise there’s nothing in the fridge, If you keep frozen produce and canned food , you can use them up on such days. - Finally, take a deep breath. You can’t be perfect but you are doing your best. Kids will grow up real quick. So cherish the beautiful moments.
These tips helped our family survive during this testing time. Yes, toddler and newborn is a really challenging combo but the good news is after nearly two years, we can both look back at those days as happy parents. Happy, thankful and truly blessed.
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