15 months apart iyh

mummiedearest

Fri, Apr 08 2011, 1:48 pm

mine are 14 months apart. I had some part time help for three weeks.

my tips are the same as for any sahm.

get out every day

socialize with a friend in person at least once a week

play lots of music for the kids

take care of your health (make sure to squeeze in your own doctor's appts.)

let some housework go. you'll survive.

create a schedule and stick to it.

make sure your home is securely baby proof.

my kids are older now, and they're really close. I love this age difference. btw, it will probably take you four months to get into a steady routine with them. that's normal.

Rodent

Sat, Apr 09 2011, 9:36 pm

I'm actually not one to get out every day, we can't park close and it's a big hassle. If that aspect was easy maybe. But do try at least 2-3 times a week including once socialising with someone (I should listen to my own advice on socialising!)

I definitely agree with having a child-safe zone though. It doesn't have to be the whole house but the play area (ours is our loungeroom) is blocked off. It's so much easier to have them in there safely and playing without having to worry when you're busy feeding the baby etc. It depends on the layout of your house how you can manage this. (I didn't do this until after #2 was born, it was when he came along and I was struggling that I did and it was the best thing I did in those early days).

Try and manage an overlap of naps at some point through the day. It will do wonders for your sanity and if you get a chance to nap too well good for you!

I'm actually not a strict routine sort of person, more just go with the flow and roll the waves.

Housework, well the place is always in some sort of disarray but there were moments when it was just the first two when it wasn't (crazier now with 4). Make your husband help. Seriously. You say you can hire help so maybe this won't be an issue for you. I had my mother for about 3 days and then no family or hired help. You can bet that I expected that my husband would take some of the slack.

Some have a breeze transition from 1 to 2. I did not. #1 was easy and fell into my lifestyle fine. Juggling multiple kids was not a natural transition for me but my first two were closer together (less than 13 months) and the eldest was huge, not walking and we lived in an upstairs apartment with no elevator so it was a hassle and a half to do anything. The first 6 weeks were hard, I won't lie, but it got easier and it was just a matter of taking it a day at a time until the grey lifted.

golden judgement

Sat, Apr 09 2011, 11:54 pm

My first two were also 15 months apart. They are very close and get along amazingly now. As babies, a piece of good advice I got was: "There will be times when they are both crying. And that's okay." This was something I really needed to hear, being that when my oldest was an only child, I NEVER let her cry. Then, when I had two babies, and things were much more hectic and out of my control, I really felt reassured by that advice. Good luck and enjoy them!

LondonIma

Sun, Apr 10 2011, 11:13 am

Mine are 12 months and 1 week apart-

Best advice I can give is to remember that your 15mnth old is still a baby too- make time to treat her like one (not to baby her, but you know what I mean) for me that meant being sure DS was in his bouncer or swing so I could give DD some dedicated time to play with mummy (I suppose this is important with any older sibling)

Having said that, I made sure to try and get them on similar routines as soon as possible- bath, nap, supper and bed all at the same time (obvioulsy this wasnt until 7 or 8 mnths) but now with a 3 yr old and 2 yr old (and 10 weeks until baby #3) it means I know come 7:00 I'll have some me time.

You are fortunate to have help for the first 3 weeks and maybe more after- take all the help you can get, but master for yourself coping with two on your own as soon as possible- so you know you can do it, and wont be nervous when the help finally does leave.

Enjoy it, my two are great friends!