So its not exactly like multiples but I figured you all would be the best people to ask. We are taking a 10.5 month old for the next 5 days and I will be solo parenting for the majority of it! What was I thinking?? So we have T, 7.5 months and W, 10.5 months. I'm still not sure how mobile W is. I'd love to hear any tricks, advice, ways to handle the two babies. I'm mostly concerned with bedtime and logistics of handling two semi mobile babies. T is really easy, and loves his exersaucer so that will help. He also loves rolling around in his bedroom, but he's so fast I can't leave him for more than a few seconds because he likes to roll under the twin bed! Please, Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks!
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I don't have multiples, but mine are exactly two years apart. I think setting up a baby safe space is super critical, because you are definitely going to have to be able to put one down while you take care of the other. Since this is short term, maybe you could use a pack and play as a playpen with some toys?
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You are going to do fine! Just think of a daycare, where each teacher has 4-6 infants at once. You'll have some moments where one baby needs you and is crying, but you are changing the others' diaper or something, but it is what it is--just do the best you can and try to keep a sense of humor about it.
As much as possible, try to do things together. Like, if you have two high chairs or a High chair and a bumbo with a tray, you can feed them both at the same time. You can give both a bottle at the same time, try to push their naps a bit so you get at least 1 nap a day at the same time, etc.
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Like @Anagram: said - syncing up their schedules as much as possible will help a lot (especially nap schedules so you can get a bit of rest, eat, etc.). And having a safe spot to put one baby while you change the other's diaper is important too - even just a pack n play with toys. For bedtime, DH and I always did baths together since I wanted us each to keep a hand on a kid. They started taking baths together in the big tub around 8 months. Not sure if they'll be ready for that? When they still took separate baths in baby tubs, we did an assembly line of undressing, into the tub where DH washed, handed baby A to me, I handed him undressed baby B for the tub, and took the freshly washed baby into their room to get Jammies. We have large recliners in their room so I can hold them both for bedtime milk, stories, and nursing. If you don't, you may want to set up boppies where you can sit between them and give them bedtime bottles or snuggles on the floor.
Do you have a way to baby wear? That's a great way to manage things too, especially if you want to leave the house or one is fussy.
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@Mrs. Lion: Yes, definitely setting up the playpen before W arrives. He will also sleep there, but I was planning on having it be a baby jail during the day!
@Anagram: Thanks! I know, I've even worked in a daycare infant/toddler room before. It seems less scary though because there are other adults around, even if the ratio is lower.
@twodoghouse: Thanks! I was hoping you'd reply! T isn't ready for a big tub yet, and we don't have one so that won't be an option anyway. I figure on the nights I'm doing bedtime alone they just won't get baths, or will just get wiped down. I'm sure they'll live. We don't have large recliners, but do have a nice cozy area with a memory foam pad and pillows in the corner so that should work for bottles/snuggles/bedtime. I do have an ergo 360 and a boba wrap, both of which T likes a lot. So I'm definitely keeping those handy!
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@Mrs. Turtle: most dayccares I see put a bouncy seat at the foot of a rocking chair. Do you can feed one baby but still bounce and look at the other baby.
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