Managing getting out and about with 2!

Winnie1 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-06-2008, 11:46 AM

Ok, so I have been having a lovely babymoon. New baby girl is 2 weeks old and for financial reasons I need to get back to looking after DS1 - DH works from home but really needs to get back to work.

So I have been thiking or maybe stressing about how I am going to manage (I know it can be done) going out with DS & DD.

DS has a few activities on during the week - probably 3 mornings out of the 5. Yesterday I set myself the goal of getting DS to daycare (he goes just once the week for a few hours in the morning) and I failed miserably as DD wouldn't settle :(

Ok so it was a first attempt, I am not bashing myself up about it - I was so super organised it just didn't come off in the end.

What do you do/did you do?
SOrry if this doesn't make sense.

alzarex · #2 (**permalink**) 04-06-2008, 12:02 PM

allow an extra half hour per child to get ready
I either start this much earlier or admit to myself ahead of time that we'll be that much later

readjust their wardrobes - just as clothes can sometimes be superb pyjamas, so too can pjs make excellent fashion statements - you can always dress them the other end of the trip (in fact the other day it took 3 car trips and several destinations before DD2 was out of her pjs)

and try not to stress about times.... it seems the more urgently we need to leave the longer it takes to find shoes, drink bottles and the baby really really needs a feed - you know to go with the hour long one she finished ten minutes before!

good luck

Marmee · #3 (**permalink**) 04-06-2008, 12:36 PM

We have 3, one at school, a toddler and baby.

Each night before bed, I make sure bags are packed ready for the next day (food included - well, that that doesn't need refrigerating), and have their clothes out ready for the new day.

One thing has saved me - my sling! Do you have one? Brilliant.

Once you get in to the vogue, you may find, like I do, that getting out to toddler's social appointments

or even just getting out to the park / visiting friends... is actually easier than staying at home, trying to entertain two (plus, the longer you're out and about - the tidier your house stays

)

emd · #4 (**permalink**) 04-06-2008, 03:21 PM

Relieved to know I'm not the only one that sends their kids to childcare/pre-school in last night's sleeping attire!

Slings are a lifesaver for getting out & about. Having a nappy bag in the boot of the car, permanently packed with enough gear for everyone for a 3-4 hour outing. Do as much as possible the night before - packing kids bags, getting clothes ready and outside the bathroom door etc.

Most importantly though, I have lowered my standards. Being the one with the most kids (and especially the most under school age) out of most of my social circle, they have learned to expect that I will arrive late, with random children in various states of dress, and probably still eating my own breakfast. That's life.

Before long, all my kids will be in school and I shall arrive at the cafe on time, having just applied fresh lipstick and looking glamorous in my Alannah Hill dress and kitten heels. When I do go out with my children, they will be impeccably dressed in designer outfits which they will not spill food on or stain in the sandpit. They will have outgrown tantrums in public, and nobody will need their bum wiped when I am trying to enjoy my gourmet salad lunch.

Sorry. Don't know what happened there. A moment of daydreaming while the kids are napping (except the oldest is in her bed singing "Jooooollllsss... time to wake uuuuuupppppp...")

bubly · #5 (**permalink**) 04-06-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emd

Before long, all my kids will be in school and I shall arrive at the cafe on time, having just applied fresh lipstick and looking glamorous in my Alannah Hill dress and kitten heels. When I do go out with my children, they will be impeccably dressed in designer outfits which they will not spill food on or stain in the sandpit. They will have outgrown tantrums in public, and nobody will need their bum wiped when I am trying to enjoy my gourmet salad lunch.

Love it!! What a day that will be

My advice would be walk out the door as soon as your ready - don't think 'ooh, I've got 10 mins, I'll just do xyz' When my 2nd was little I'd sometimes manage to get places 1.2 hour early because I knew if I didn't leave right then I'd never leave!

Its a real juggling act, but you'll get there

**Marguerite** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 12:25 AM

A Qld Ambulance guy gave me a tip that made things very easy when it came to getting in and out of the car. He suggested having the toddler / older child climb through the front door and though to their seat so they are contained in the vehicle and busy while you are buckling the baby in. Mine didn't dilly dally and got straight into her seat, but a friends son used to take his time so they would sing a nursery rhyme with him to try to be in his seat by the end of the song.

He also said to put the babys seat behind the passenger so if you are parked on the street, the baby will be on the kerbside. Because the older child is climbing in the front, none of the children need to be on the road side. We used this method for a very long time.

alzarex · #7 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 02:47 AM

how do you do the belt up on the older child? I assume it's by opening the door and doing it that way? we can't reach over in our car to do it up so we've always had baby behind driver so the kids can get in and out on the passenger side.

Winnie1 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 11:30 AM

Thanks for all the replies, they have all made me laugh

I know I will get there - its mainly the paid for activites that concern me, like swimming. What do you do with the LO while in the pool with the toddler, all will be good and well if she stays asleep in the capsule or at the very least happy in there while the lesson is on, but if not...............?

**Marguerite** · #9 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alzarex

how do you do the belt up on the older child? I assume it's by opening the door and doing it that way? we can't reach over in our car to do it up so we've always had baby behind driver so the kids can get in and out on the passenger side.

We had a magna and if we were on the street I would put her window down from the drivers side and buckle her through the open window.

Again suggested by the Ambulance paramedic.

emd · #10 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 04:03 PM

We don't do swimming lessons, or any other paid activity that requires one parent to go out with multiple kids and pay attention to the one in the paid activity. Sorry that's not really helpful, I just can't see a way to make it work properly. You could get a watersling and take baby into the pool with you if they wake up, but I don't know how do-able that is either.