Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, and you’re totally in sync with your first kid’s needs and schedule… BAM! Along comes baby numero dos and the sweet comforts of familiarity fly out the window faster than you can say dirty diaper. Here’s 4 tips I’m sharing to help you prepare for the transition from family of three to party of four. Brace yourselves! It’s about to get messy…
Forget everything you learned about baby number 1
This should be relatively easy, given that most Mamas naturally forget the traumas of the dreaded sleep regressions, the never ending diaper blow-outs, etc. (seriously… I forgot how much poop there is every. single. day.) But the real point here is that there’s a 99.9% chance baby number 2 is going to be completely different from baby number 1, so all the tricks that worked during your first go-around might not end up being the same approach you wanna take with the newbie. On the bright side, you figured it all out and survived before, so there’s a solid chance you’ll be more confident this time.
Stock up on a Costco-sized supply of coffee
You’ll need it. Mornings are hard, man. The hardest part of the day. You’re exhausted from getting up throughout the night with the baby, and then your other child wakes up wanting breakfast and playtime like yesterday. Chances are your sweet little newborn will also want to eat at the same time, and you’re gonna feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions (cause, well, you are…) Even though you’ll probably end up drinking that coffee cold after heating and repeating all damn day, you’ll still want the comforts of knowing you have a larger-than-life supply of caffeine at your fingertips.
Meet your new best friend: The TV
I’ll be honest, I didn’t let my first born anywhere near the TV for a huge chunk of the first year of her life. (Laughing at myself for this one given how much she watches today, but we’ll get to that point in a sec…) We slowly started letting her watch morning cartoons, and it’s kind of a slippery slope once they get that taste for TV. Who can blame them? I love a lazy afternoon binge watching my favorite shows (…said the 20 year old me. That doesn’t happen anymore because #kids). Fast forward to pregnancy number two and I was so. freaking. exhausted. It’s a lot of work to create life and care for a toddler, and that TV was a heaven sent when I just needed some time to rest. I still have it on more than I’d like to admit these days, but it’s way less about me needing some R&R and a lot more about finding a quick and easy distraction when you need it most (i.e. the baby’s crying again, they pooped through their diaper again, they spit up all over you again… ya feel me?)
Be easy on yourself
You’re gonna lose your shit. A lot. Just know that’s totally normal, and cut yourself some slack. Adding a second baby to the mix is a hell of a lot more work than having one. It’s exhausting and can be really frustrating at times, but it’s also really freaking amazing when you see your little ones together and you realize how much love your heart is capable of holding. And when it’s less than amazing, let yourself have a good cry… but make sure you do it over a margarita glass so your tears salt the rim. You’ll probably need that drink!
