You have had your first child and you have all survived and learning a lot along the way. Having a second child will be so much easier, or is it?
Sorry to those that had a hard time with their first child, but I breezed through the first year of my eldest child’s life. Although 6 weeks prem, her development was spot on, she had good routines and a very placid nature. In fact, I got bored and went back to study.
So, I had no idea that number 2 would be such a game changer! (As many parents of 2 kids are now nodding and chuckling). To put a reality check on those expecting number 2…
One child – you feed them peacefully and pop them into bed.
Two children – you feed one whilst the other one wants milk, wants to play outside, wants to climb all over you, wants to run through the house with mud on their boots all winter, or worse still, is too quiet… and you think “What are they up to???”
One child – you put the baby down and walk away to answer the door, cook dinner, or do what needs to be done.
Two children – you put the baby down, go to walk away then realise the second child wants to cuddle baby, take their dummy, stand on them, throw things at them, sit them up without support, etc…
One child – you have an afternoon nap so you can get through the night feeds.
Two children – nap, what nap, the two kids do not co-ordinate themselves with their sleeps, that’s if the older one still has naps at all! Sleep deprivation is now the new normal.
One child – you can go shopping and visiting with ease, one child is cute and easy to manage.
Two children – you become strategic as to where you go and who you visit. Holding a baby and chasing around after another whilst holding a handbag/nappy bag is not easy
One child – you may get one that is placid, easy to meet their needs, a dream
Two children – no two babies are the same. Some are louder, hungrier, less sleepy, and more demanding. No-one knows what traits number 1, or number 2 will present with.
One child – baby gets all the attention and is quite content
Two children – jealousy can creep in for the older child, they have gone from having all the attention to having to share your time with the new baby, and so their behaviour may change – something else for you to think about in your spare time…
One child – easy to get a babysitter, most grandparents love coping with one child.
Two children not everyone wants 2 kids to care for, yet you are more stressed and need the break even more, but two children to babysit, can be a bit much for many people.
Do not let any of this talk you out of having two or more children though.
Sibling play is gorgeous to watch, they learn great life skills from having siblings, and as they grow into adults there will be great bonds. As a parent, the joy you get with one child, you get it again when number two comes along. I always enjoyed having extra children over to play while their mum had time out, the more the merrier and they entertained themselves in creative ways.
If you need a break or timeout, we have the solution. Our team of babysitters often bring a ‘Goody Bag’ of age appropriate stuff to have fun and engage with your children while you have some time out. Visit Cherished Cherubs website or call 0417 927 525 to book yourself a babysitter NOW!
