10 Things To Know Before Having Two Kids
Ten things that I wish someone told me before having two kids.
1. Your firstborn immediately looks older and bigger. As soon as your second child is born, your first child somehow transforms from a baby to a kid. What makes matters worse is that they seem to continue growing.
Having a second child does something to time that makes you realize it is moving too fast. So, enjoy every moment and stage to the best of your ability.
2. The second time you have a baby, it is easier to know why they cry. You are less likely to assume it is because you’re doing something wrong.
As a leveled-up parent, you know babies under six months either need food, sleep, or poop and pee.
You understand the different stages in their development because you’ve been here before and done it before.
3. Although raising another baby gets easy, you are now raising another baby with a toddler. In other words, you are not raising a newborn baby again but simultaneously trying to figure out how to raise a toddler. Parenting children at two stages is a difference that no one can prepare you for.
Sleeping while the baby sleeps is no longer the same because when your baby sleeps, your toddler is still awake and ready for attention.
Having a hardcore naptime and routine, as well as help to get breaks, is essential.
4. Establishing a naptime for your toddler while staying consistent with your current naptime with a baby can prove challenging. Keep that noon nap time so that you can have some peace.
You can find alone time with your toddler throughout the day; you still need your time to yourself, and your toddler will behave more if they have a nap.
5. Providing attention to both of your kids can be simple. Your newborn will be fascinated with their sibling and will be okay with just seeing them.
Knowing they can watch their sibling and be happy means you can pour your undivided attention into your toddler.
They usually want nothing to do with each other when the baby is fussy, and either needs a nap or to eat.
The ins and outs of having two kids
6. The trick to staying stress-free with two kids at different ages is understanding the cycles.
What part of the cycle is your baby in, and what cycle is your toddler in?
The baby usually goes from hunger, diaper change, sleep, and then, if they are older, curiosity.
These stages are accessible for the most part until the cycle is getting ready to repeat, in which case sometimes the baby doesn’t want to sleep right away, so they are curious and sleepy.
The trick here is to put them in the baby carrier while you are doing chores, and they will fall asleep while trying to explore their curiosity.
The toddlers’ cycles are similar. Add curiosity and play time as a more significant chunk and fewer nap times. Planning out activities can be helpful for your toddler’s curiosity and desire to play/learn.
Knowing the stage of the cycle they are in based on the time of day or pattern will help you adjust or have answers to their needs quicker.
7. Finding a babysitter becomes more difficult with two kids. There is a big difference between asking someone to watch one child versus asking someone to watch two.
If your child wasn’t in daycare or didn’t have a babysitter before now, you are probably looking.
Some people are blessed to have retired grandparents who can babysit while their parents work.
However, if you are not so blessed, this can be the biggest struggle of transitioning to two. At this point, you have to make some tough decisions.
You can make working from home work if it is a real work-from-home job where you never or rarely have to go into the office.
You or your spouse might need to stay at home with the kids full-time, or it might be time to pay for a babysitter.
8. Your secondborn might pretend to be a baby. Your child might pretend to be a baby because they see the baby is getting your attention, which used to be solely for them and is now shared.
From attempting baby talk, wanting to use a pacifier, wanting milk, etc, it is just a phase and will pass.
Remember to give them attention as much as possible!
They have a greater chance of remembering these moments rather than the baby.
9. The lesson of sharing starts immediately! Surprise! Your child is interested in baby toys, blankets, and pacifiers.
Whatever the baby has, they want it as well. This will be a retaught lesson as they age, so have fun!
10. The love instantly created between your firstborn and secondborn is unmatched. It will always be beautiful to watch them interact, learn boundaries, and get frustrated but still want to be right in each other’s face. You’ll never want to trade those moments.
No matter what part of your journey with your two kids is, know it gets better. I’m the most tired I have ever been in my entire life now that I have two kids. However, it gets better daily, weekly, and each month. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Keep these ten things to know about having two kids fot the future!
