How to take care of 2 babies (15 months age gap)at the same time?

Question

I am a stay at home mom.I have a 10 month old baby girl and on November 2006 my second baby girl will be due..by then,my first born will be 15 months. I am just worried if i could take care of them at the same time. Any suggestions or tips? I would greatly appreciate your answers. Thanks..

Answer 1

My boys were 9 3/4 months apart. You just do it!! You're busy, and worn out. Then they become teens, and you want the babies back.

You can do it.

Answer 2

Hi! First rule of thumb .. do not panic. Next .. start enlisting help NOW!!! Family, friends etc .... know now who will be there then. Get organized ... organization is the key to it all. Know that yes you will be stressed and tired and all that "good stuff". The important thing is to breath and take it one day at a time. Make sure that the older child does not feel abandoned, set aside special one on one time with them each day (a good time is when the baby is napping but the older child is still up). When you get frustrated (and you will). STOP .. take a deep breath. If you have to ... put the baby in the crib and the 15 month old in a play pen where they will be safe and step outside for a minute or two. Don't worry .. you will be fine .. it just seems scary now. YOu are probably wondering how I know this.... I am the proud Mom of now ten year old triplets. I survived and so will you. Congrats on the family and good luck!!!

Answer 3

Oh, wow! Congratulations!
I'm sure you'll do fine! Just take it moment by moment and ask for help when you need it.
My aunt had 7 children between 1959 and 1966, plus she had a set of twins when her first was only 11 months old! Imagine having 3 babies under a year old to take care of! Sounds insane!!!
But she did have a lot of help from her family and friends and she survived it.
I think the key to her success is that she stuck to a pretty strict schedule. Since you don't have THAT many kids, that may not be the way you want to go, plus my aunt is just that kind of person that needs things to have order and control, so...
My baby is 5 1/2 months and we're going to start trying again in December. Yes, I'm still exhausted taking care of this little bundle but my oldest is 11 yrs old and has basically been growing up as an only child, so that's why we'd like to have another baby soon.

God bless!

Answer 4

You absolutely can do this. I have four kids.. my first two were 17mo apart.. not too much older.. it was EXHAUSTING, but honestly my second child was so much easier than my first. They were both in diapers, so I just would change one then the other, one nursed while the other ate so they were both happy at the same time that way. Just make sure you include your 15mo old. Don't try and get her to be quiet around the baby, the baby has been listening to her all along. Read to her while you nurse.. or cuddle on the other arm. Let her help you as much or as little as she likes. By 15mo she can help carry the diaper to the change table.. bring the baby toys if she wants to... etc. Give your 15mo old the extra cuddles for security she will need while the baby is sleeping. My son LOVED his baby when she was born.. was kissing her and wanting to touch her hair. He was a rough little guy, so I had to teach him at first, but now at 13 he is still very loving with his brother and sisters. You will do fine, just remember that they are both babies and don't expect TOO much from the older child. She may regress a bit, but not to worry, once she realizes all is well.. she will have a playmate for life... oh but they do fight more later on when they are close together.. ENJOY and Congrats!!!

Answer 5

Yikes...been there, done that. The best thing you can do is try to get a schedule. Remember that newborns sleep a lot of the time, so if you devote nap time to your 15 month old, then when you must attend to the baby, older sister will be well enough taken care of. I found that feedings times were the hardest..I would sit down with baby, and my son would tear the house apart. Invest in child gates, so that if you are feeding you don't have to worry about what big sis is up to. If you have a specific area where you are going to feed the baby, keep a sippy cup (or bottle) snacks, diapers etc nearby so you don't have to get up constantly when big sis needs something. Get a swing..if you don't have one get one..So that if baby needs to be rocked or at least comforted, while 15 month old needs a diaper change, feeding, etc..you don't have to magically grow another set of arms. Good luck..and congratulations..

Answer 6

You should spend some time with your parents while your babies are still very small and need your attention all day.

You can do it, I know you can. I have a friend who's got two babies; One 6 month old, and one 20 month old, and she's doing great all alone!

You can try spending most of your time with them individually. For example, Feed one while the other is sleeping. Change one's diapers while the other is in their playpen playing. etc, etc. There are many things you can do while the other is sleeping or while the older one is in his or her playpen alone (he or she will be old enough to be alone for a few minutes by then). But you should also spend some time with them together.
Try spending the end of your day with both of them when you've got everything done.

You will have trouble because two babies close in age need the same kind of attention, and help.

Don't worry though...Being a mother is a very beautiful and natural thing. It all comes to you, you'll know how to handle it, i assure you!

You'll be able to do it alone, but you should have your parents a bit involved too when they are available.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Hey, have fun with it and take it easy. My babies are 15 1/2 months apart and it's a hoot. I love babies that age. My only problem is that I'm a single parent and having a 3yr old and a 1 1/2 year old is tough when you don't get any help. I would say that it can be done and to let your family help when they can, but don't let them make your decisions for you. You may be accepting their help, but you don't have to accept their lifestyle, if it differs from your own.

Answer 8

if ever you get discourged or feel overwhelmed, remeber the generation of our grandparents when having 4 children or more was normal and they did not have many of the convienences we have today (like disposable diapers and jarred baby food). how they did it beats me, but they found a way. that aside, i would recommend that at least for the 1st 2 or 3 months of you 2nd babies life (when babies tend to cry the most), try to get someone to babysit your 2nd as much as possible. also, the absolute most important thing to do that will make you life easier, is stick to a routine as much as humanly possible, particularly for your 15 month old. have a set time for meals, naps and bedtime. that way you can work around her schedule. also, if she's not already, ween her completely off the bottle. congratulations and good luck

Answer 9

Mom's have been doing it for years. You take it one day at a time and call in the troops (family/friends) to give you a break as needed. Perhaps a local high school student can come over to play with the older child for a few hours a week so you can take a shower, nap, etc.

My mom had 3 children in a row, with less than a year between each of them. They used to refer to children that close as Irish Twins.

Answer 10

it ought to correctly be worse, even if! perchance your mum is lower than pressure over your concern. a minimum of she's providing you both with a house. it is incorrect of her to shout at the same time as your toddler cries. Why do not you contact Social amenities and ask what your concepts are? Or, once you're worried about doing that, attempt talking to a Connexions adviser. Be solid, even once you need to attend until eventually you turn 16, you'd be planning and getting ideas in readiness.

Answer 11

WOW know how you feel, I have a 7,6 and a 4yr old. jsut keep your mind focused on your goals, make time for you. even if it only a hot bath when the babies go to bed. TRY not to over whelm yourself. I do. If I can attend an online school, raise 3 kids, work 3rd shift, and attend school during the day, cook, clean then you can do it to. Good Luck to you and best wishes. for the record I'm only 25 also.