2 Kids Under 2 - Some Advice and a Guest Post by Emily from Have a Laugh on Me

I am lucky enough today to share with you a guest post from one of my favourite bloggers, the wonderful Emily from the blog Have a Laugh on Me. I asked Emily if she would be kind enough to write a guest post for me to have scheduled once new bubs arrived and we settled on the theme "Advice for having 2 kids under 2". This is definitely advice that I am going to follow, and to be honest, it's good advice for ALL Mums of newborns.

Looking back I'm embarrassed to admit I used to moan about my life as a mother of one.

Don't get me wrong, parenting isn't all shits and giggles to start with, but when you start adding more babies to the mix it starts to become FUGGING HARD WORK!

And if you have two under two years of old, like I did (and later 3 under 3.5), then it really can be a little bit overwhelming, especially if you're breastfeeding and are home by yourself from 5am to 5pm.

My second born arrived 10 days late (after an induction) on December 17 - yes that's right a week before Christmas.




My Baby Boy, one day old!

I can't remember much about Christmas that year, but thankfully I have an amazing hubby and family who took over ALL household duties for me.

Looking back I wish I had taken things a bit easier and realised that trying to be a supermum didn't help anyone, ESPECIALLY me.

When I look back at photos from years ago I wish I could transport myself back and tell myself to 'just be' - with my kids, with my husband and my life.

So here is my advice to help you cope with having 2 kids under 2!

1. INSTINCT
Remember that you've done it before and did a fantastic job, so don't second guess what you are doing and honestly THROW ALL YOUR BABY BOOKS OUT!

2. DO NOTHING
Spend more time doing absolutely nothing with your baby and the toddler who won't leave your side. Go outside, have tummy time, turn off the computer, phone and watch them smile, laugh and get accustomed to the world.



And then there were two!


3. SAY NO
Make sure friends and family visit when it suits you. If you aren't up to it say no, if they are true friends they will understand, if not then it's their loss.

4. TEAM WORK
Ask your hubby/partner to take out No.1 for a special trip to the park/playground so they get one-on-one time and still feel important. This also means you can just sit with your newborn and soak up their gorgeousness.

5.  SAY YES
NEVER, EVER, EVER say no to an offer of help, suck up your pride and realise that you will be a better parent if you have a break, even if it's just 15 minutes to have a shower (and a quick game of Candy Crush Saga) and not be needed.

A bonus tip!

6. DITCH THE GUILT
Sleep deprivation starts to take up residence about four weeks after No.2 is born and you will become overwhelmed at everything you 'should' be doing.
Please don't do this to yourself - leave the mess, the dishes, and when you feel like you're about to have a nervous breakdown, go outside and look at the clouds, the birds and get some perspective.

Thank you so much for guest posting for me Emily, I really appreciate it! You can check out Emily's blog Have a Laugh on Me by clicking here, and you can also catch her on facebook here, and twitter here.


Stay tuned next Tuesday when I bring you Part One of Baby Zee's birth story. Part Two will be published the following Friday. And yes I had to split it in to two parts because it took so damn long! And next Friday will also happen to coincide with Zee's one month birthday, so it's perfect timing!


Linking up as always this fine Tuesday with Essentially Jess for IBOT

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Comments

Kylie Purtell said…
I laughed when I read the first line. I used to moan about how tough it was with one and then when I had a second, making it two under two years and three months, I realised just how easy it was! My hubby had just started a new job, so I was on my own from 7am to 7pm. I don't know how I made it through. I think ensuring our toddler had one on one time with either me or her daddy really helped. As did doing nothing else. Great tips!
Kylie Purtell said…
Yep, good advice for all mums. If I could go back to when Nick was born I'd heed ALL this advice. If I ever have another one, I certainly will, too. x
Kylie Purtell said…
So true - but I would argue it is harder being parent to one, than more. You over invest, so to speak. That's why the 2nd kid goes with the flow (generally speaking) because they get the parent that's 'managing' (in the sense of being a manager, not coping)
Kylie Purtell said…
Having two was certainly easier than having one, for us. After you've read the books, and stressed over feeding and sleeping and pooing with the first child ... you realise for the second child that there was no need to stress afterall. Great tips Emily. Cheers, Alison #IBOT
Kylie Purtell said…
A resounding YES to all six tips! Though I wish it didn't take me until baby number four to learn them. Great post Emily.
Kylie Purtell said…
Great advice! A must read for all new mums, as well as those on their 2nd and 3rd!
Kylie Purtell said…
Wonderful tips! Support whole-heartedly the advice on just "saying no". Don't force yourself to do things you'd rather not do.. like resting or just spending time with the kids, to please other people. If you truly care, they would understand the need to just leave you alone sometimes.

Ai @
Sakura Haruka
Kylie Purtell said…
Oh two under two! *feints*
Kylie Purtell said…
Saying no to visitors and yes to help I agree with 100%!! Also just the sitting and being together time, priceless.
Kylie Purtell said…
Oh I love it. I'm petrified of becoming a mum to 2 of 'almost' under 2 in February. But at the same time I feel at ease knowing what I'm in for (at least kind of) this time around. All great words of advice Em!
Kylie Purtell said…
I love this list! Great advice! I had 2 under 2.5! It's CRAZY, but really fun at times, as well. I'm still struggling to turn off the computer and just "be" but that definitely is one piece of advice every mother should listen to. As usual, a fantastic post!
Kylie Purtell said…
My mum had 4 in 5 years. I seriously don't know how she did it.
Kylie Purtell said…
Saaaame! Love it!
I'm about to have 4 under 3.5 (expecting twins), so these tips are definitely something I'll need to remember :-)
Kylie Purtell said…
I wish I had said yes more often with Mr 4. Thanks for sharing with your story with us!
Kylie Purtell said…
Yes hindsight is a wonderful thing! NOT x
Kylie Purtell said…
Neither do I - must have had a great family support maybe?
Kylie Purtell said…
Thanks for nice words, I even now struggle to just be with them, especially when they cranky but working on it! x
Kylie Purtell said…
Oh you will be able to do it with your eyes closed, and once you get through the first 6 weeks you'll be sweet! x
Kylie Purtell said…
Visitors are only great if they bring their mops and brooms!
Kylie Purtell said…
Ha ha, not for the faint hearted that's for sure x
Kylie Purtell said…
Yes you are right Ai, saying no is sometimes so liberating when you're a mum! Thanks for comment x
Kylie Purtell said…
My husband has a tip too - once you've had two kids, make him get the snip so you don't have three!!! Funny man - thanks for comment :)
Kylie Purtell said…
See what have I got to moan about really Ana? You legend you x
Kylie Purtell said…
Yes stressing over the small things certainly changes once you have more than one. And when you have three you barely have time to blink an eyelid at them climbing on to the roof! xx
Kylie Purtell said…
That is a great point, almost like they have to fend for themselves, not always such a bad thing I suppose! :)
Kylie Purtell said…
At least you can give this advice to your sisters! x
Kylie Purtell said…
It's quite comical now thinking how I used to moan, but it must have grated lots of people, if only I knew now what I knew then! x
Kylie Purtell said…
Lauren, you will DEF have to take on board these tips, and also read all those blogs from mums of twins, Sit Down Mummy did a post a few months ago about twins, it was full of great advice! Em x
Kylie Purtell said…
Nodding in agreement and laughing just a little, but also soooo glad that those days are behind me! I had 3 under 2, it was insanity! But take heart, if I can survive it anyone can! #IBOT
Kylie Purtell said…
It's amazing how the birth of that second baby makes you realise you really don't know all that much about having kids at all. Until you remember that actually you do.
Love this post Em
Kylie Purtell said…
Great tips Em! Hindsight is a beautiful thing, isn't it? lol
All of this bubby goodness.... sigh...
Kylie Purtell said…
Em you are right on the money with this post. The second baby makes the ball game different when you're a parent.
Kylie Purtell said…
Great tips Em! I totally agree with number 3 - say no. I find that well meaning (and sometimes not so well meaning) people sometimes expect a lot. Expecting you to be able to go out to restaurants etc. (Not that you can't go out, but if you want to go out it should be on your terms). I found that often these people didn't give you the same breaks that they give a first time mum, as if you should be used to it by now. Umm hello! Now I have two, and one is teeny tiny!
Kylie Purtell said…
Fabulous tips Em, I don't know how you awesome girls do it! x
Kylie, you're doing a wonderful job! x
Kylie Purtell said…
We take leaf out of Dory's book - just keep swimming, just keep swimming! xx
Kylie Purtell said…
Yes yes - it's like we should be hanging to get out of the house, yet in fact we just want to chillax at home and BE with our kids x
Kylie Purtell said…
When there are more than two you just can't do the things you used to and they aren't as fun anymore. More fun is found at home! x
Kylie Purtell said…
Ha ha - I just aw Ky's newest baby pic and went cluck cluck - but thankfully hubby had the snip snip! xx
Kylie Purtell said…
Thanks gorgeous clever mumma of 4! You will certainly know all of this and MORE :) xx
Kylie Purtell said…
Yes to get through it ain't easy but when you do - the feeling is amazing! xx
Kylie Purtell said…
Some advice that I read with a pen and paper by my side! Thanks Em! X
Kylie Purtell said…
Aww thanks Bec, have a happy day :)
Kylie Purtell said…
Seems so very long ago. But I do remember hubster took several weeks off when each of our babies was born, which was wonderful! xxx
Kylie Purtell said…
This post was what I needed 33 weeks pregnant with number 2 thinking "why am I doing this" after a long hard day with number 1. We woman are all the same glad to see I'm not alone in this journey

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