Busy Girls Guide to Baby No 2

"Dear Busy Girls. I'm pregnant with baby number two and am having a bit of a panic. I really want another but I am so busy with my day to day routine I worry I may not cope too well. Plus I don't want to leave my toddler, Jake, out. Can you give me some advice?" G. Wheeler, Manchester

Dear Busy Mum...

You've done it before - you're a pro! So why does it seem so scary again?

You're a Busy Girl, you've already got one, but nature's calling or time's telling & you know this is the right time. You'll have to make some big adjustments for the next one, so here's our top tips...

Get prepared

You're worried about your first child's lack of attention?

Don't worry, sharing your attention between two does get easier - we'd say around 3 months is the settling time as your hormones balance out & your baby settles into sleep patterns.

Sibling Rivalry

Where possible, ask your partner to focus on your first child when you're changing nappies or feeding your new baby. As baby gets older, ask someone else give them the odd bottle of milk so that you can have some special time with your first child.

If old enough, include baby no. 1 as much as possible with nappy changing, feeding & dressing - they'll love helping, will feel less excluded & will start to bond with their new brother or sister.

Don't worry if it's not going to plan

As long as you respect your baby's needs, they should happily adapt to suit you. If you've a toddler who sleeps at 7.30pm, either try & settle your baby before this time, or include them in the older one's bedtime routine, then settle them afterwards.

Share the routine

Try different combinations of child & adult, so it's not just Daddy who takes them to bed, or Mummy who does the feed.

Oh, yes, try to enjoy yourself!

All this juggling can leave you breathless but don't forget why you had them in the first place. There are times when you'll have to throw your hands in the air & give in to the chaos.

If necessary, ignore the less important things in life, like housework, in favour of rest & play with your kids - they grow so quickly you'll miss this precious time if you blink!

Have Fun Busy Mums... love from The Busy Girls Guide x

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