Countdown to kid #2 | Toddling Through the Silicon Valley | Cheryl Bac | Palo Alto Online |

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Toddling Through the Silicon Valley

By Cheryl Bac

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About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons incl...  (More)

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Countdown to kid #2

Uploaded: May 31, 2014
What should we do before baby #2 arrives? We have most of the logistics figured out (childcare, hospital, doctor, etc). Now, my family is brainstorming fun activities that are easiest with only a toddler in tow.

Last week we went to see the US National Soccer Team play in San Francisco. My husband carried our son on the hike from our car to the stadium. And we were thrilled to be able to enjoy the game as our son watched the blimp overhead, energetic crowd, running players, and bright lights.

We are also planning a casual park potluck with our friends. Over 15 moms in the group are pregnant (or with newborns). And that sounded like the perfect excuse to celebrate.

And finally, I am taking advantage of our son's naps. Rather than clean the house or make dinner, I spend the majority of his naps off my feet (taking a nap myself, reading a magazine, etc). I've heard it is possible for two kids to nap at the same time, but not an easy feat to accomplish.

What do you think we should we do before baby #2 arrives?
Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Mother of 4, a resident of Palo Verde School,
on May 31, 2014 at 2:56 pm

Best thing to think of is how to prepare your toddler for the new arrival.

Make sure that you balance talk of the new baby and preparations with plenty of talk about your son's activities.

Have a gift for your child from the baby to give him the day the baby comes home. Make sure to give your child plenty of solo time doing the normal things as well as the special things and don't use the baby as an excuse for not being able to help him brush his teeth or get dressed as he might start resenting the baby. It is alright to let the baby cry for a minute or two (as long as you know the baby is ok of course) while you finish the story book or get him a snack rather than appear to make the baby's needs the more important one.

I experienced a friend having all sorts of problems with her toddler after the arrival of the new baby because she always had the baby in her arms and the toddler noticed it. I also had another friend whose toddler seemed to revert backwards and wanted to be treated the same as the baby because she felt left out. It is a fine balancing act to meet their separate needs but it is wise to prepare for it.


Posted by Cheryl Bac, a Palo Alto Online blogger,
on May 31, 2014 at 3:13 pm

Cheryl Bac is a registered user.

Mother of 4 - Thank you for the tips. When my son was younger we used to go to a coffee shop to meet with a wonderful group of doulas. When one of the doulas knocked on a second time mom's door, the older child answered it. And in an annoyed voice said, "The baby is STILL here!" I can only imagine the child's shock when she learned that the baby would not be returned to the hospital.


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