Hellobee Boards

No advice, but I'm subscribing to see what others say. LO will be 22.5 months when I'm due with LO #2.

I'm particularly curious to hear if people purchased double strollers and if so, which ones.

Subscribing, too! Like @Bluebonnet, my LOs will be 22 months apart come my EDD in May.

I'm stuck between getting a double B-Agile or a B-Ready... we currently have a single B-Agile and LOVE it and have never needed to buy an additional stroller. We also have an Ergo and a Beco, so I don't really know if a double is truly needed...

20 months here- in the beginning help with the older one! (family/paternity leave/daycare) BF takes a lot of hours the first few weeks and it was a lot easier when there were other people around to distract my eldest so he wouldn't be so jealous.

When the baby is sleeping you're going to want to spend time with the older one- so help with the house, freezer meals etc, so that things don't fall into disarray.

Getting the older one to help with stuff- useful for you and makes him feel important.

We bought a swing- lifesaver to help baby nap (with my first I was the human swing), but also a baby carrier(s) so you just take baby along while doing things with the older one.

Double stroller- for us definitely yes! We got the City Mini Double GT. I started using it more after two or three months and now use it every.single.day. But I am also a SAHM (meaning alone with both of them a lot) and live in a walking city.

I don't know if I count as two under two as our needs were a little skewed. I did have a way to get out with all my kids. For awhile it was a double and a carrier then we moved to a triple stroller. I love going for walks with the kids. A little fresh air will do wonders for a tired mama.

I have to second @Mrs. Jacks: time as a couple (date night) is important. When my boys were young it was so hard to work out nursing and leaving but I just had to do it to keep my marriage going.

Does wine count as needed gear? Wine helps sometimes.

@Mrs. Train: LOL wine is the most important parent gear!

@Bluebonnet: how funny-- which one are you leaning towards right now? i'm hoping to get LO#2 into the Ergo earlier than I did LO#1... she doesn't mind it, but she never falls asleep/loves it like other babies on HB seem to.

I think @Mrs. Jacks: and @Mrs. Train: have great advice. We tried to get out of the house every day, even if it was just for a walk. And as quickly as possible we implemented a "nap hour" every day when both kids were sleeping; that was a lifesaver.

I didn't really use the double stroller much, but our carriers were priceless. I used to tie my Moby on in the morning and wear it all day, so I could easily put #2 in/take him out, as needed. We also borrowed a second glider from some friends and put it in the living room/play room. That was a lifesaver, since I could rock #2, while still supervising #1 playing.

The hardest thing for me to figure out at first was the logistics of having 2. So, for example, I would take #2 out of the car first, and put his car seat on the ground next to me while I got #1 out of her seat. I would make #1's meals/snacks and #2's bottles at the same time, so I could feed them at the same time. Most of the time, if I needed to run errands, I would wear #2 in the Ergo so I had my hands free to deal with #1 (I still do this, even though #2 is 18 months, because it is so much easier/faster/less stressful to only have to worry about one at a time!).

@Lindsay05: I think when it comes to splitting duties it is sort of related to personal strengths and each child's. For example. When my first was born I did most of the child care. (I was a SAHM and my husband worked) But he had his nights backwards for a few months so one weekend night my husband would take over the night shift to give me one regular night sleep. He was bottle feed so there was no issue there. When my twins were born my husband took over almost all care for my older son when he was home. He did all night feedings for the older son while I breastfeed the twins.

When our daughter was born I did almost all of her care while my husband took care of the boys. If they woke up at night he took care of it because I was usually already nursing my daughter. Some of that is biological. He can't breastfeed so feedings automatically went to me. He had to take over all other jobs while I was nursing.

Now that they are older (an no one is nursing) we split things a little more evenly. If one of us has had a rough day and just can't take any more the other steps in to take over. It's a tag team. We have some normal routines like he takes over child care when he gets home so I can make dinner. He washes the dishes while I take the kids to play a little before bath. It really is something you will have to figure out along the way. It's a bit of trial and error until you find something that works and keeps each of you sane.

Mine will be just shy of 22 months apart in June when LO #2 is due. This is all great advice! Thank you so much!

Here are some things that I have learned (mine are 23 months apart, and I'm expecting our 3rd which means LO#2 and the new one will be 22 months apart)
~Sometimes someone will have to cry while the others needs are being met ie the newborn will have to cry in the swing while the older one is put down for nap
~ make sure the older one feels involved. I have pictures of DD doing the same thing that I'm doing with DS, but with her baby doll
~ make a big deal out of the roll of the older sibling (you're job is to help Mommy, without you I would be lost, or "you need to protect the new baby, we have to be gentle")
~ babywear. I wore DS for so long. In the grocery store DD would go in the cart and DS in the Ergo. I also wore him around the house to have both hands free
~ take the baby out of the car first, put the big kid in the car first. (DD has almost wandered away while making the car transition)

I think the best thing we did was have a visitor (grandparents that took turns) for the first five weeks of DS's life. That way DD didn't ever feel left out or jealous, because she got all the attention of her grandparents. We are going to do that this time too (especially since she is older this time and will remember a time pre-baby)

And, no matter how intimidating it is in the beginning I think this is a great age difference (enough so that we are doing it again!)

Not gear-related, but if you nursed w/ both LOs, did it hurt like a mofo the 2nd time around? I hope to not experience that oh-so-pleasant 10 second rush of pain when the baby latches on again.

Subscribing....LO #2 on the way and DS will be 20 months! I'm nervous.

I am definitely following this! I am due any day now and my daughter is exactly 14 months old today! We are absolutely part of the 2 under 2 team!

@Mrs. Train: Promise? I went from one and done to I want 2 under 2 (in the last week, LOL), and my DH is having a bit of a heart attack

@Bookish: I promise. It is not easy but you will adjust. There might be moments of panic as well. My husband thought I was nuts when I told him I wanted to try for a fourth and a week before I had my daughter I had a mini panic attack. But once she was here and we were in a groove I couldn't imagine life without her.

this thread is amazing, you guys! so much great advice so far!! when my second comes in January, my 2 will be 16 months apart, and I'm so excited. but so nervous!!

Mine are a little shy of 21 months apart. I had someone at home with me for 2 weeks, then my DH had to travel so I flew solo for 2-4 days a week.

I was still nursing DD at the time so it was really tricky and I had to time everything perfectly. The swing was really helpful. And I couldn't have done it without our TV and Netflix.

Thankfully DS was a GREAT newborn and all he did was eat, pee/poop and sleep. This allowed me to spend a lot of quality time with DD. I pumped a lot during the first month and fed DS bottles during the day because it was quick and got him full. He got boob before bed and in the middle of the night.

Man, those early weeks were rough, but it gets a lot easier and so much fun really fast. You're gonna love it.

Mine will be 23 months apart, love all the ideas!