What are your days like with a 2 yr old and infant twins?

I'm curious to see what other mama's days are like with a toddler around the age of 2 and infant twins. I feel like some days I'm going to go crazy when I have all three with me the whole entire day. ugh! Don't get me wrong I LOVE all three of my beautiful children but it gets a bit looney around the house sometimes when it's just me. I do have a ton of help from family but there are some days when I'm by myself. I feel like in the morning all my ds does is watch elmo or sesame street for 3 hrs straight because I'm cluster feeding my 8 week old twins (b/g.)

What are your days like when your home alone with three kiddos??

thanks!

 

When my girls were your babies' age, we did a lot of tv watching too. I imagine it's even more difficult to get out b/c of the weather. We used to go on lots of walks - babies in our double jogger & 2 y/o walking. Also, we would go to play places like McD's. I would try to pick a nap time. The babies would sleep in the stroller while my older dd would play.
Hang in there! You're doing a great job!

 

bump

 

I do not have an older child, but, remember the crazyness of infants and could not imagine a two year old too. This said, we started daycare at about 28 months and this helped them with energy and vocabulary explosion and starting to play with others. Is there a preschool or moms morning out program close by that you could enroll the 2 y/o in one or two days a week. This would give you one on one time with the babies, the 2 y/o some time where it is not all about the babies (not saying it is intentional but it happens) and where "he" can do crafts and play w/other kids.

then you can find some time for you and the 2 y/o. Maybe family can take the twins for a bit one morning or stay w/the twins while you and the toddler run errnds, go to a play area for a bit or just get out together.

 

Ah - I am glad I am not the only one who feels like I am going crazy when I have all three for the whole day. My little guy turned 2 in October and between the terrible two's and dealing with jealousy over the attention the babies get, sometimes I feel like he is a little devil!! When I was home on maternity leave with the babies I actually kept him in daycare because it was too hard to try and entertain him and feed and care for the babies. I am now back to work but have Friday's off and have all 3 kids on those days and by the end of the day I feel like I just need a vacation. I try to look at it from his point of view. He had almost two full years of being the center of attention and then suddenly there is not only 1, but 2 babies that are keeping his mom from playing with him and getting him what he wants at that second. It is hard to keep that perspective though when he is throwing a temper tantrum or telling me no or hitting me or trying to hurt one of his sisters. Ugh!
My day basically consists of getting up and getting him his cereal and if he's up early enough then turning on Thomas for him to watch. Then I feed the girls and he plays. When I am done feeding them I can get him a proper breakfast and play with him for a little while. Then it's time to feed again so I have to help him entertain himself by suggesting things for him to play with or having him "read" me a book. Then it's time for lunch and after that down for his nap where I get two to three hours of quiet time. When he gets up I get him a snack and then put the babies on the activity mat so that I can play with them and him. Hopefully by the time that has gotten old it's almost time for my husband to get home from work.
God Bless you if you have all three all day - Somedays I am honestly grateful that I have work to go to so I can get a break. I think it will get easier as the babies get older and can entertain themselves more, and as my son gets a little older and loses some of the terrible two-ness. I told my friend the other day that while I think in the long run it will be better to have my babies only two years apart, right now I think it would be easier to have more like 3 or 4 between them.
Good Luck! I do think there is a light at the end of the tunnel and try to remind myself that this is the toughest it will probably ever be with all three.

 

I meant to post this over here, but posted in the 1-4 forum...oops, I guess I can blame it on sleep deprivation, right?? hahah..


I'm curious to see what other mama's days are like with a toddler around the age of 2 and infant twins. I feel like some days I'm going to go crazy when I have all three with me the whole entire day. ugh! Don't get me wrong I LOVE all three of my beautiful children but it gets a bit looney around the house sometimes when it's just me. I do have a ton of help from family but there are some days when I'm by myself. I feel like in the morning all my ds does is watch elmo or sesame street for 3 hrs straight because I'm cluster feeding my 8 week old twins (b/g.)

What are your days like when your home alone with three kiddos??

thanks!

 

I have a 3 year old and crawling twins and it is still crazy...I have little to no help at home. When the twins nap, I spend as much time as possible with DD and that helps. We do arts and crafts and have one on one time...but some days there are a lot of cartoons yes. You will make it!!

 

My days are frustrating. My 2 year old is so used to having all of mommies attention and now he has to share it. He is not taking it well. I am no longer nursing, but bottle feeding is no easier. He knows when I feed them both at the same time that I am helpless, so he really acts up then. I'm having to stop feeding them and discipline him. He really wants to play with them, but of course all they do is basically sleep. I think once they are more interactive with him, it will get easier. When my parents take him for the night, my days with the girls are a piece of cake!

 

I can so relate. When my b/g twins were born I had a 2yr old & 5 yr old home. I honestly felt like I was living in **** somedays!! I love my kids more than anything but I go completely insane at times. I had my mil come over to play with my older ds or have her take him for a couple days. Otherwise, lots of trains. He did watch a lot of tv too. I feel like its gotten harder this year. With the babies in the terrible twos and a 4 yr old who loves to play rough.
I always feel bad for my older ds. I feel like he has been pushed aside so many times and so many things that we cannot do bc its too hard for me with both babies. My ils have been my saving grace with him. I guess I feel like he is in the "forgotten" middle child. As a middle child myself I am especially sensitive to it and try to take him out for outings on his own.

There are times when they play together so nicely that it really makes it all worth it. There are tough days but there are amazing days too!! I tried to remember that my house may not be as clean as I would like it to be but at least my kids are loved! Some day I will get to the house!

 

:crazy: in the beginning! It does get easier once the babies get more predictable. :hug99:

 

QUOTE(jodylea @ Dec 11 2007, 05:23 PM) [snapback]529722[/snapback]
He knows when I feed them both at the same time that I am helpless, so he really acts up then. I'm having to stop feeding them and discipline him.


YES! That was my son in the beginning. I swear I am still amazed he makes it through days alive some times . In the beginning we had mega tantruming (and he never really tantrumed) and chaos. During feeding, I started offering him a snack before I nurse the girls and we keep a basket just for him in my room so when I nurse the girls, he can get that stuff out. It is only used when I am nursing so doesn't lose its' appeal. It is coloring books and crayons. I color with him sometimes(thank you EZ2 Nurse pillow) or read to him.

Some things that I think have worked:

Getting out of the house. The first few months, we went to the park, mall, target all the time. It usually worked out that one of the babies would be crying and AIdan would be some what pleasant but at least I wasn't at home feeling sorry for myself b/c I wanted to nap but couldn't!

When I am doing something for him (Shoes, potty, clothes, whatever) and one of the girls fusses or cries, I stay with him and finish in hopes of showing him he is a priority too. I then will say to the crying baby, "Your brother needs me right now, you will have to wait." It isn't easy b/c my instict is to run to my crying baby, but they have survived!!

Do activities with just him. We have special dates every other week or so and he loves that. My dh does that with him,too. I think these types of things do pay off.

Aidan does watch some tv but presently he is obsessed with crafts so, for example, spent the majority of the day making wrapping paper (HUGE MESS!!!He used glitter glue, stamps, stickers and put it on paper) but it kept him entertained.

Now that they laugh and smile at him, he seems to be much more interested in them though does still ask me to put them to bed on a regular basis and told me tonight that he doesn't like babies.

We really stress how much the girls are crazy about him, don't know if that has made a difference but our days are getting more doable now that he thinks he is important.

The TV won't kill him and eventually there will be other things that will be entertaining.

I am on my own and have been since about 8 weeks. DH travels all the time (minimum 1 week a month max so far nearly 3 weeks) so I am forced to do it on my own and it does get better

 

It's a war zone in my home! LOL, I love my little girl so much (she's going to be 3 in a few weeks) but she has tried my patience let me tell you. That poor child gets yelled at all the time now. She is getting better tho and is somewhat of a helper. But there is nothing worse than hearing both babies crying in one ear and then her in the other ear whining loudly "mommy I want juice" over and over and over again. Oh calgon take me away! Some days I just don't want to do it anymore to be honest but I know I can't do that. So I try my best. It will get better...in time.

 

My oldest was 2 1/2 when the twins were born. Somebody at the hospital suggested the "special" box. A box with "new" toys that would only come out when I needed to feed the twins. Something new, different and special. It didn't always work, but most days it did the trick to buy me those 15-30 minutes that I needed.

And yes, I got help. I got a sitter for the twins so that I could do things with my oldest, besides her going to school. It was a must for me (so easy with only one child) and for her (to have some mommy time).

 

Mine older DD was 26 months when the twins were born and she took it pretty well. I do yell alot more often and it is chaotic. But when the boys were taking a nice morning nap I would do stuff with her and her only. That was our time. I also made a point to take her out with me on the weekends even if it was just to the grocery store and lunch just for some one on one time.

Dont worry about the TV. Kids are very resillient and dont remember this age so just go into survival mode and do what you can!! Good luck. It does get better once the babies arent so needy and feedings get spaced out.

 

My daughter will be 3 in March and she ends up watching TV a lot unfortunately. DH takes her to gymnastics class a couple of days a week, but that's about it. I try to spend time with her but right now I have to do my best to nap when my babies are napping since they keep me up almost all night. I'm sure it will get better as the twins get older and start to sleep through the night...at least that's what I'm hoping!!!

 

Let the oldest child 'help'. I can't begin to explain HOW much that has helped around here.

In the beginning, I found that if I were the least bit busy with Katie the boys were always trying to get into something. So now if I am feeding her, I have them hand me the burp cloth, or have them sit next to me and let them 'feed' her. Zack holds the bottle with me, and Jack gets to wipe her mouth. They have so much fun 'helping' mommy.

When I get in the floor to change her I let them hand me the diapers and wipes and they sit beside me happily... things have definitely gotten MUCH easier!!

ETA: They also get to watch a lot of TV as well.

 

At least I know I'm not alone...THANK GOD!!! It has been pretty crazy over here and very busy. There is really never a dull moment in my house. Thankfully my mother took my 2 yr old to the mall to give me some alone time...yayy!!!! I guess a little tv here and there isnt' going to hurt them. Well, I guess I should say a lot of tv for now...haha.

 

Oh you are most definitely not alone. 3 under 2 or 3 under 3 is really, really hard.

There are days when I think I'm going to lose it, then look at the clock and it's only 9:30 a.m. and I know it's going to be a long day.

For me, it helped to have someone help me out with DD - my SIL would take care of her quite a bit when the twins were infants - and would take care of the twins once a week to give my daughter and I some alone time.

It also helps for me to get out, even if it's just a trip to the park. It helps break up the day. I find that when we are cooped up in the house all day is when I start to get stir crazy.

One thing that helps me feel like I can handle it is to watch "Jon and Kate plus 8" on Discovery Channel. To see her handle 2-6 yr olds and 6 2-yr olds humbles me and makes me feel like if she can handle that, I can handle mine!

 

QUOTE(momlissa @ Dec 12 2007, 03:00 PM) [snapback]531034[/snapback]
One thing that helps me feel like I can handle it is to watch "Jon and Kate plus 8" on Discovery Channel. To see her handle 2-6 yr olds and 6 2-yr olds humbles me and makes me feel like if she can handle that, I can handle mine!


I did this today! My 2 year old and one of the girls are sick and my other girl is teething and dh is out of town until late Saturday so when I started feeling sorry for myself, I clicked that on and repeated, "I can do it " over and over.