Hellobee

Being a SAHM to two little kids is challenging at best, especially when one is a toddler and the other is a helpless little baby. Their wants and needs are so vastly different that some days just keeping them fed is my only goal. (I used to add “and clothed” to that list of goals, but lately my two year old very much enjoys “pants and shirt optional days” in the backyard while playing with her water tower. Be free, little one, be free.)

Having and using the following has made surviving the past three months a tad bit easier—and I’m all about taking shortcuts and making things easier on myself these days!

1) A Carrier: Best. Thing. Ever. Who knew that a long piece of fabric could be such a handy device? I use a Solly Baby wrap (similar to the popular Moby wrap, just made out of a lighter, more breathable material), but my husband prefers the Ergo. There are also fancier carriers out there, but I prefer a wrap for when they’re little. I get a lot done while I’m wearing her, especially if we’re out and about, because the toddler goes in the cart (the seat portion) and I wear the baby, leaving room to actually shop. I also wear her at home quite a bit, too; if she’s fussy I can pop her in there and she’ll almost instantly calm down and usually fall asleep. She’s actually asleep on me write now as I type!

2) Snacks for Everyone: Nursing makes me hangry some days, especially if I’m running around, tending to everyone and forgetting about myself. I try to always have the house stocked with really easy snacks for me and for Bunny: cheese sticks, hard boiled eggs, bananas, applesauce pouches, Garden Veggie Straws, Kind Bars for me, etc. These are usually easy enough for me to eat quickly and still filling to hold me until I can make some real food.

3) A Bouncer: I didn’t think I’d need one of these since I had a rocker/swing and a carrier, but when I found one in excellent condition at a yard sale for $5, I couldn’t resist (this one is similar to what we have). This thing travels with me from room to room during the day. Some days I’m just not in the mood to wear the baby, or some days I actually want to take a shower, so I pop her in the bouncer and I can do things! When I was solo parenting I had no idea how I’d bathe Bunny, but then I remembered the bouncer! BunBun was perfectly content (picture above) while I gave her sister a bath! Lately, I have the bouncer in the kitchen so I can talk to her while I work on dinner (not all meals come out of the freezer). She loves playing with the toys hanging down, so it’s a win/win for both of us.

4) A Play Mat: Sometimes you just want to put the baby down and let her stretch out, plus there’s that whole “tummy-time thing” they have to get used to. I have to be strategic when I put BunBun on the floor (on her mat or on a blanket), because her sister always wants to be down on the ground with her, only Bunny has no knowledge of personal space, because she practically wants to be right on top of her. Still, a play mat is great to have since babies need to learn to use their little muscles and get a sense for their surroundings, plus, as they get older they’ll have fun reaching for the links and toys that dangle down. We particularly like this one, because it grows with them, so it’ll get used a lot around here.

5) Apple TV/DVR:
Now that my oldest has a mind of her own, she wants to watch what she wants, and when she wants it. Yeah, I could put my foot down and scratch screen time forever, but sometimes (like when I’m nursing, trying to get the baby to sleep, or just need a few minutes to myself), letting her pick what she wants is a lifesaver. Apple TV is great because we can basically get any show she wants to watch, but I also have a few of her favorites recorded on DVR just in case something is going on with our Internet and I can’t get to Apple TV. I know a lot of moms hand over their iPads and smartphones, but I keep mine close to me as much as possible. I’ve already dropped my phone in the ocean once; I don’t need it in the hands of my toddler.

6) A Swing:
I know this is pretty much a staple in most homes with a baby, but I don’t know what I’d do without our rockaRoo! I know babies can be picky about the movement they like, so I’m thankful she likes this one since it’s where she takes most of her naps. I think my favorite feature is how easy it is to clean (it unzips and you can just pop the whole thing in the washer), and I also like its small footprint and the fact that it hardly makes a peep!

7) Learning Tower:
Despite the look on her face in the first picture, she actually adores her tower! Bunny sees me holding the baby often, so when my arms are free, she desperately wants me to pick her up. For some reason, this often happens when I’m in the kitchen, probably because she wants to see what I’m making. Enter the learning tower! We pull it up to the counter and I give her some Bunny-sized pots, pans, and spoons, and let her “cook” with me. BunBun’s typically hanging out in the bouncer or I’m wearing her, and Bunny is whipping up something delicious (I usually fill her pot with dried mixed beans and/or dried pasta). I love knowing that she’s right there with me, and she’s having fun! Mister Rabbit made ours with this plan, but you can buy one here.

8) Books for Little Hands and Toys:
Sometimes it looks like a tornado hit our house with the way books and toys are splattered around our living room, but that means the toddler had a good day. I like doing projects with her, but sometimes I can’t handle complicated (i.e. messy) projects, so I have her read me a book, especially while I’m nursing the baby. She’s totally digging this “I’m a Big Sister” book lately—we seriously read it multiple times a day.

There are tons of ideas on Pinterest for different independent-play activities for toddlers, and I’ve tried some of them, but they usually only grab her attention for about five minutes, whereas books can entertain her for at least 10. Books win! If she does play with toys, Play-Doh and Melissa and Doug Puzzles usually keep her busy for a little while.

9) Infant Car Seat: I know some people buy a bigger convertible car seat right when their baby is born, but goodness gracious am I happy we have an infant seat (we have the Chicco Keyfit 30). I love it for one reason: sleep. If she falls asleep in the car when we get home, I can pop her seat out and take it (and her sleeping in it) inside the house to let her continue napping. Sometimes, just by doing that, I can have a few one-on-one minutes with my oldest until the little one wakes up.

10) Freezer Meals: I don’t know where I’d be without freezer meals during these first few months with a newborn. We stocked our freezer with meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I still believe it’s one of the best things we ever could’ve done. Being able to pop a already homemade meal into the oven and have it ready by the time my husband comes home is so helpful, plus there’s little to no clean up! We’re almost out of our stash, so we’re going to take a weekend and restock it!

What’s in your bag of tricks for surviving both a newborn and a toddler?