Are you pregnant with your second baby? Are you trying to figure out how to balance it all?

How are you going to manage going out with 2 kids?

Everything stresses a mom out especially during a pregnancy. The thoughts of how to manage a household, the kids, being a wife, getting back in shape and how to handle 2 kids. There are a couple of things that can help out, and even when you think they are small they can make a HUGE difference.

-ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, accept (and ASK for) help! From family, from friends, even from the stranger mom at Target. You might think that your friends can’t help you, but even when they come to visit to see the baby, you can let them babysit and go take a shower, or have them feed the baby if they are willing. If it’s a family member don’t be afraid to accept whatever they are asking to do, the dishes, sweeping the floor or watching the baby. And if you are feeling overwhelmed, ask them to do the dishes, or make a quick dinner (if they some sort of culinary skills) and let them in.

-Paper PLATES, CUPS & SILVERWARE. Yes, this is BIG! It will eliminate your dish duty (except for pots, of course).

-Drop off laundry is not a luxury everyone can enjoy, but a lot of laundromats, have really cheap rates for wash and fold. Take advantage! Not every day, not all the time, but if it’s one of those weeks drop it off. It could cost you $20 for 20 lbs of laundry but it will be way more valuable than that to be able to rest or spend time with your baby.

-Forget about cleaning the floor! Not to make your house a pig sty, but seriously don’t worry about cleaning! That should be the least of your worries. It will make you feel better about skipping a day of moping.

-Give your toddler individual attention. It will be hard, but not impossible. We always think that the newborn/infant needs us 200% of the attention and most of the time we forget, or put aside a bit, the needs of that other child. Carve out special time for just the 2 of you. Even if at bedtime you read a book just for him/her. This will help eliminate jealousy.

 -Don’t stress yourself about getting back in shape. It will happen. Give it time.

-Ergo, Beco, Sling Ring, Moby: Make baby wearing your new go to! It will make everything so much easier. From going to the park to the grocery store. You carry your baby in the carrier and put your tot in the shopping cart or walk next to you, or even use just a single stroller. (When you decide to get a carrier go with the known names and try them on! Get used to clipping, wrapping and putting your baby in, before baby comes)

-Don’t have expectations. What I mean is, with a tot and a newborn nothing can be planned! You really don’t know how things are going to flow, so don’t think that you’re going to keep your routine or that your newborn will sleep like your first baby. Follow that saying hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

-Remember to RELAX. It will be hard to transition, as it is a new person in your life. Take it one day at a time. There will be good days and there will be bad days, but when you get a steady rhythm you’ll be able to focus on other things. Self-care is important!

Enjoy going from 1 to 2 kids. Before you know it your two little babies will be playing and running together! If you think time went fast with your first born, get ready because the second one goes twice as fast! So savor the moments, take lots of pictures and breath. The floor will get cleaned- eventually… 🙂