https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:31:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1850325 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 08:42:51 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1850325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't speak to the WOH, but I did do a lot of solo parenting and it was a little intense. Basically we did dinner (always something easy) while baby was in the swing or sometimes I nursed him at the dining table even. Then go do the baby's bath and my older one would "help". Once baby was dressed and ready for bed, I would turn on a DVD for my older one. I actually set up the baby monitor in the living room so I could watching him while I nursed/rocked baby and got him to sleep. When baby was in bed I did a quick bath and bedtime routine with the older one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1850323 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 08:40:50 +0000 mrs. wagon 1850323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I actually just did this for the first time on Wednesday night!! Wagon Sr. just started a class so he doesn't get home til almost 10pm on Wednesdays this semester. Here was my schedule.</p> <p>4pm: leave work<br /> 5:15pm: arrive at daycare for pickup<br /> 5:40pm: arrive at home, start cooking dinner while kids play (luckily their aunt came over to distract them while I cooked... pan fried frozen dumplings and got rice out of the rice cooker)<br /> 6:00pm: dinner. While the kids ate, I unpacked their daycare bags and packed their lunches for the next day<br /> 6:20pm: run upstairs to run LMW's bath, lay out their clothes, prep their rooms for bedtime<br /> 6:30pm: LMW upstairs for bath and bedtime. WJ stayed downstairs and played, but I suppose I could have bathed them together and had him play in his room while I put LMW down<br /> 6:45pm: WJ upstairs for shower and bedtime. This was the toughest step-- he has been making excuses lately like "I don't know how to fall asleep"... haha<br /> 7:15pm: clean up the kitchen, grab a bite to eat</p> <p>Done!!</p> <p>It was EXHAUSTING! After putting LMW down I had to lie down for a second!</p> <p>ETA: I was able to actually prepare dinner because my kids are older (4.5 and 2) and I had help to distract them so they weren't bugging me while cooking! Otherwise I would have left work a little earlier to pick something up, or heated up leftovers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1850312 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 08:35:49 +0000 Mamasig 1850312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: This describes me! Luckily my mom usually stays over the nights DH is at work. Your plan sounds similar to what I do. But basically time wise I sometimes have to wing it depending upon what is going on with the baby. If he is still napping big brother may get a bath first, etc. Everything gets done but maybe in different orders than it used to. I think flexibility is key! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1850235 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 07:42:38 +0000 sungirl 1850235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't solo parent on a regular basis but occasionally I do and your plans are on target with what I do. I feel bad but the baby spends more time in bouncy seat or swing then DS ever did. We do back to back baths with older DS playing with toys while baby is in bath and then baby in bouncy seat in bathroom while older DS is in bath (can't wait until they take a bath together) then baby chills in bouncy seat in DS's room while we do bedtime routine and then I nurse baby and put him down. It's definitely tough and I'm glad I don't do it all the time but once you get into a routine I'm sure it will go smooth :)</p> <p>ETA older DS just turned 2 and baby is 3 mos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1850229 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 07:35:44 +0000 mkp17 1850229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Am about to have to figure this out in the next week or so...I'll keep everyone posted. For now thinking I'll get them home from daycare, hopefully the baby (will be 12 weeks) has just had his bottle and I can get something quick for DD to eat for dinner (shes 17 months) while he is either sleeping or in the bouncy seat.<br /> DD goes to bed really early (try to be in crib by 6:15 at the latest) so then we'll do bath, bedtime routine for her (hopefully he's still doing ok) and then bath, bedtime routine and bottle for DS.<br /> This seems riduculous when I'm writing it b/c I know this is the absolute best case scenario and will go straight out the window when one of them is screaming/hungry/tired :)<br /> What is saving my sanity is #1) the fact that this will only be about 1 1/2 hours total from when I pick them up to when I have DD in bed and #2) WINE<br /> Will be sure to update after a week or so to let you know any tricks of the trade :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1850152 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 06:23:14 +0000 Pumuckl 1850152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: It totally helps that your plan sounds a lot like mine! I guess the new baby will not be center of the universe as much as the older was (and we're not FTM anymore!) - so maybe that will lead to more structure. I guess that we'll revisit this thread in 6-9 months though and laugh at us for how naive we were ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1850116 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 04:47:02 +0000 regberadaisy 1850116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumuckl: LOL exactly! I just remember the infant days from my eldest! Most nights with DH's help we didn't eat dinner till 8 after she went to bed. That won't fly with a toddler! Right now my eldest eats dinner at 6, bath time at 7 and in bed by 8.<br /> My plan is probably to give my toddler a snack when we get home while I nurse the baby. Then after that she'll have to sit in bouncer/swing/carrier while I fix dinner. Then bathe both of them and hopefully I will be able to put my older down to bed first then my younger. </p> <p>We'll see how well that works out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1850109 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 03:26:20 +0000 Pumuckl 1850109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I can't really tell you yet since #2 is only due in Jan but I'll be solo parenting 2 Mo-Th.<br /> Here my plan though: I imagine that I'll do quick meals just like we are doing now (LO gets a full warm lunch at daycare) and while #2 is small she'll be in the bouncer a lot while I tend to her big brother. Once she'll be somewhat on a bedtime routine as well I'll just prep them one after the other and then get them to bed after each other while combining somethings like bedtime stories.<br /> But you know how they say: The best laid plans go to waste, so... we'll see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1849845 Thu, 04 Sep 2014 20:31:47 +0000 cmomma17 1849845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worry about this a lot so I will be following your journey! I'm guessing you learn to be super organized and plan ahead, while also remaining flexible! Hope some experienced ladies have awesome tips to share! Congrats on baby 2 again! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1849772 Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:59:14 +0000 avivoca 1849772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only have one, but what saved me was a set routine and quick meals. We got up at the same time, walked the dog at the same time, and when we got home we had our routine as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-woh-ft-with-2#post-1849756 Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:50:59 +0000 regberadaisy 1849756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's a mouthful, huh? </p> <p>Curious for the full time, work out of home parents with 2 or more kids who solo parent. How did your schedule change / adjust for the evening routine? </p> <p>DH works nights 2-3x a week and I'm wondering how I'm going to get both bathed, fed and in bed without a overtired infant and toddler on my hands! </p> <p>I'd imagine lots of freezer meals! Or make a big meal the night before and reheat leftovers. </p> <p>Wondering what your after work routine is like! </p>