This post is sponsored by Joovy. All content is my own.
Preparing to bring a new baby into your home when you still have a little one under 3 years old can be scary.
I’m sure you’ve had thoughts of how you are going to juggle two little ones, give enough attention to both, potty train one while you are breastfeeding the other, and being there to put them both to bed.
We are currently expecting baby number 3 and will have 2 babies under age 3, which I’m sure will bring many challenges. All of the thoughts I mentioned above have definitely crossed my mind.
Excited as we are about bringing a new baby home I can’t help but have just a little bit of anxiety about how we I am going to keep my new baby and 2 year old mama’s girl happy.
Our upcoming addition got me brainstorming ways I could prep for raising 2 kids under 3. It would be great to be able to do things before the baby comes to make this as smooth a transition as possible.
Right?
We’ve already conquered a 7 year age gap with our 2nd baby, so this is going to be a whole new ballpark.
Here’s how we are prepping for baby #3 and life with 2 kids under age 3!
How to Easily Prep for Motherhood of 2 Under 3
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Become Even More Patient
Fact: Moms have to be patient.
But, I’m pretty sure with 2 kids under 3 that patience needs to grow exponentially. Before the new baby comes practice being even more patient with your toddler, do some breathing exercises, learn how to meditate. Take time for yourself when things get too stressful.
When the new baby comes you will be prepared with enough patience for everyone.
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Discuss Routine Changes With Spouse
One of the scariest things for me is the change in routines. The biggest change in routine I can think of when the new baby comes is bedtime.
Talk about these routine changes with your spouse. Discuss ways they may need to help out more with the baby or your toddler during meals and bedtime.
Prepare for putting more flexibility into your routine. Chances are it’s going to be a bit crazy for a while until everyone adjusts to life with 2 under 3.
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Begin or Complete Potty Training Before New Baby Comes
Potty training is something we haven’t conquered yet with our 2 year old daughter. However I am bound and determined to have her potty trained before the baby gets here.
If you can get most of the potty training done before your newborn comes, it will mean less work for a tired new momma. Not to mention the savings you will get from having one out of diapers!
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Read/Talk/Play (Introduce Your Toddler to Newborns)
Introduce your baby to the concept of newborns before your baby comes. Luckily, my sister has a newborn baby so we can practice there on interaction.
Don’t worry if you don’t have access to a newborn. You can just as easily read books about babies with your toddler. We also love to play with baby dolls. While playing talk to your toddler about the baby and how to be gentle with it.
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A Double Stroller That Works for Your Toddler and Newborn
Is your toddler still too little to walk around all day at the zoo, farmers market, or amusement park?
That was the situation I was in when I started thinking about how we were going to accommodate our toddler and newborn in one stroller.
Most of the double strollers I found were too expensive, too bulky to fit in my car, and extremely heavy.
So, when I found the Joovy Caboose Ultralight I new I had to have it. This stroller is one of the lightest double strollers in the world. Juliana, our toddler, can easily sit or stand in the back. Which is great because she is very active!
This stroller also gives her full shade. When our newborn gets here they will both have full shade in the front and back.It was nice out last weekend so we took a stroll at the park and were really impressed with how easily it fit in our tiny trunk. The storage at the bottom was great and our toddler had a blast riding in the back. The pockets in the front are so convenient for putting snacks or your phones in. I love that we can use any brand of car seat in the front too. We already have a newborn car seat in storage from Juliana and it is compatible with this stroller, which will definitely save us money. Then, when the baby is older there is a cute tray that fits in the front.
Find out more about the Joovy Caboose Ultralight and why it’s great for 2 under 3 here!
Watch my video below to see why we love this stroller for 2 kids under 3 years old!
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Don’t Stress Little Things – Take Them One Day at a Time
Chances are you can never fully prepare for a new journey like having 2 kids under 3 for the first time.
I’m sure there are little things stressing you about this new adventure that you don’t have any control over or won’t be able to prepare for until the time comes.
Take these things one day at a time. Prepare for what you can and leave the rest for another day.
Don’t forget to enjoy this time that you are pregnant. Take time to celebrate and be excited for your new baby!
How are you preparing for life with 2 under age 3? Have you been there before? What tips do you have for preparing? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
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