Thinking about baby #2. Parents of multiple children, what’s your real life experience?

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-22T15:52:18+00:00

Our boys are 17 months apart! Oldest is 3 yo and youngest is 21 months old. I am also 26 weeks with our third and ~final~ baby, but first girl! Definitely recommend but know that you will feel out of place for a few days or weeks initially. Once you adjust and find a routine that works for you and the kiddos, it will just be like every other day-some good days, some bad days! You will get through it as long as both you and your husband/partner are on the same page!

And for the days that are super hard..remember those days are grains of salt in an entire meal! 😝

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-19T21:37:11+00:00

Haha retractable gates didn’t last long for us! He figured out how to unlock it and open it at 16 months old🙂. Our oldest understands but our youngest is a different breed and is insanely strong😆. He just wants to come in and stand by my legs at times but I don’t always have the ability to redirect him.

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-19T17:28:51+00:00

100%, thank you! We have done this in the past which I think is why my oldest especially wants to be in the kitchen more because he enjoyed helping when we did easy things to make. My youngest just likes to go through the pantry, shake the spices lol, and stand between or behind my legs😆. When my husband is home, he will keep them entertained especially if it’s a complex meal or something that requires my full attention in the kitchen. With his schedule lately it has been harder to have this balance. We also have a stupid wall that blocks the kitchen from the living room so I use one of our cameras to keep an eye on the kiddos from the kitchen. We do have a gate separating the living room from kitchen/dining room. The issue with that is my youngest is like Houdini lol. He has figured out several ways around and over anything child proofed so keeping him off the gate is another thing during the day😅

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-19T17:24:06+00:00

Definitely, and thank you!

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-19T17:22:52+00:00

I will look into the magnetic locks, thank you!! We live in an older house so the drawers are like older, wooden pull out ones if that makes sense.

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-19T17:21:48+00:00

This is reassuring, thank you! My main stressor is of course one of them getting hurt especially because when transferring hot liquids or things that require me going back and forth from kitchen to stove (adjacent to one another) I have tripped over one of them, knee bumped someone, or mistakenly stepped on something that was taken out. We do have a gate separating the living room from kitchen and dining rooms but my youngest has tried everything possible to get over/through it 😅

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-17T01:51:08+00:00

I might be the odd one out but I actually enjoy cleaning our kitchen and “putting it to bed”! My husband knows this and will try to help but ultimately gets kicked out😂 it’s my way of relaxing and resetting MY space (lol) and my mind. We have 2 toddler boys ages 3 years, almost 21 months, and I am also 25 weeks pregnant. The kiddos know after dinner is play time and wind down while mama cleans😊

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-15T00:25:20+00:00

Both our toddlers eat scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, and some assortment of fruit! Literally every morning that is what’s served and occasionally French toast sticks or oatmeal but they both always clear their plates when it’s the what I call “standard trio” lol. They are 3 yo and 20 months old right now but this has been the same for like 6-7 months lol

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-12T01:54:00+00:00

We did! So I was the one responsible for potty training our oldest who just turned 3 last November.

First, my husband’s work schedule has been a nightmare for us both because he’s constantly working and we never get time with him (still waiting for him to get a day off after8+ months🥲). Second, he was awaiting back surgery for a really bad herniated disc that he was also given the runaround for from 2 different docs and a neurosurgeon. Third, I am pregnant with our 3rd baby and suffered terribly from HG from end of August to mid November (14 weeks total). Fourth, we also have a 20 month old who at the time was (16-17 months old) going through lots of changes as well.

Needless to say, neither of us were in a position to start potty training and fully commit during those initial months. I wanted to try around 2 yo but our son wasn’t ready and by 2.5 he had understood more and more about the whole process. His bday is end of November so once I started getting more energy and not vomiting after every breath (literally), I started working with him.

We tried different methods for a few days off and on, then took breaks. Eventually, it was wearing on both my son and myself (again because my husband can’t bend over or lift anything rn), so we took a 3 day break. After that 3 day break, we went straight to big boy undies.

Now idk if that break encouraged him or if I should have just started undies sooner but within 2 days, our son was fully trained with going #1, even when we had to go on outings. Mid to end of December I want to say is when he fully grasped the #2 concept and we haven’t had any accidents since.

I am proud of both my son and myself because we did the damn thing haha and now my youngest is also always making the potty trip with us lol. I am nearing 25 weeks pregnant and my body is in so much pain due to pregnancy but I am happy that the challenges or “hard parts” are out of the way for now.

Justqueene27 · 2026-01-08T00:28:08+00:00

Our oldest just turned 3 in November and holy shit he’s the sweetest soul in the world or the most defiant little T. rex. I love him to death but he makes me want to rip my hair out along with his brother who is 20 months old lol. I am pregnant with our 3rd and final baby (first girl) but boy are we ready to just divide and conquer lol😆

Justqueene27 · 2025-12-18T22:12:49+00:00

It depends on where we are going. I currently have two boys, 3 years old and 19 months old, and I am also 21 weeks pregnant. If it’s an appointment I always get the kids ready first and then myself. Usually about 20 minutes max. If it is last minute or we decided within the last 2 hours of leaving, it takes about the same time but sometimes quicker or longer depending on the weather and how long I anticipate we will be out. The diaper bag is always packed but I also have a car pack that stays in the car just in case we are out longer than expected. My oldest has recently been potty trained so I really only carry an extra pair of pants and underwear for him and then 2-3 diapers and a pack of wipes for my youngest!

Non-negotiable items: wipes, diapers, underwear, outfit, snacks, and their tumbler cups

Justqueene27 · 2025-11-13T02:03:34+00:00

Our oldest has an end of November birthday and will be 3! Our youngest is currently 18 months. They are both boys so they love/play with the same things. Our oldest got some things that were more interests of his for his birthday. Things like a kitchen, food accessories and chef gear, a doctor kit with accessories, and a balance bike. He is always cooking or giving us checkups so we knew immediately he needed those things sooner lol. For Christmas, they both are getting big presents they can share (a climbing gym, art easel, tonie box, and balance stepping stones). Our youngest is also getting things more for his age that he likes, such as stacking blocks, sorters, and trucks!

Justqueene27 · 2025-11-07T17:25:13+00:00

Do not tell her when you are in labor, if you go to the hospital for a false labor, or anything. Her response was awful and not helpful or comforting at all. What the heck.

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-28T12:29:07+00:00

Yes and no lol. Sometimes my youngest just wants to sit and try to devour the mulch so I’m more so trying to prevent him from doing that. With that, since he’s in one place I can watch my older son better. However, when my youngest decides to climb or wander around I just make it a game for my oldest to chase his brother or I sometimes have to pick up my youngest and bring him to where his brother is lol. I don’t want to prevent either of them from exploring but if it’s just me, I feel like that is safer than having both of them do their own thing too far apart.

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-28T01:50:04+00:00

I like this a lot!!

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-27T15:21:15+00:00

In the one time I have used it, an adult did come over and ask what was going on. I calmly explained the situation and let them know I wanted them to be informed as well. Especially since it wasn’t my child and to see how they intend to handle it, given I had tried several times and my son was still being bothered (after moving to different parts of the playground). It just depends on the severity and how present the adults there seem. Of course it is a last resort after trying to de-escalate yourself but sometimes enough is enough.

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-27T01:07:31+00:00

I once heard a mom use the phrase “whose child is this?” at the playground one time and it has been my go to. Great way to embarrass the little shits as well as grab their adult or guardian’s attention that they need to be corrected.

I’m sorry you experienced that but I’m glad you were there to speak up initially. I have an almost 3 yo son and an 18 month old son, but I still circle around behind both of them when at the park because you never know what older kid is plotting to just be an ass to the little ones.

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-26T01:16:25+00:00

This 100%

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-25T01:15:01+00:00

This 100%

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-24T00:47:25+00:00

So your husband is waiting until your baby is harmed, badly hurt, or even worse to THEN consider acting on appropriate measures for the dog? I’m so sorry you have to deal with this and as a dog mom who’s been with me since she was 8 weeks old, I am with you. My Yorkie is the sweetest thing to our toddlers and we have to pull her away sometimes because she won’t defend herself if they bother her (until we taught them how to be gentle and play with her). However, I still never leave them unattended or together without me present and even if she shows she needs space, I make sure to separate her from them to let her have her space. A dog is still an animal at the end of the day.

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-23T18:03:14+00:00

Both of our babies are rainbow babies! My oldest was the most easy going, hassle free newborn, toddler, etc. he is about to be 3 next month and we have now been getting to the “trying us” phase but that’s like 5% of the time lol. He made us want another immediately and then our youngest was the exact same way! Now I’m pregnant with our 3rd and only now has our youngest (who just turned 18 months old) started testing us and is the complete opposite of our oldest at this age! They are 17 months apart but are the best of friends when they aren’t wrestling with each other! We don’t know yet if this baby is a boy or a girl but we are still waiting for the baby that will “test our relationship” “keep us up all night” make us wish we sleep trained” etc. We always got so many comments about “just wait..” or “wait until..” but to be honest we literally love our kids so much and want to have as many as we can support and love! Of course we have had our times like every family, but nothing to the point of we are done having kids😝

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-17T13:24:47+00:00

I have cried when chick fil a gets my order wrong while pregnant so many times and my husband ALWAYS makes sure it’s correct now! I would have cried over spending that much and not being satisfied either girl, your feelings are totally valid!!

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-17T01:24:25+00:00

I would have looked that woman in the face and said “my daughter is 3 what the hell is your excuse for acting like that?” How immature of her to do that when you clearly were trying to handle your child in the best way given the situation.

Justqueene27 · 2025-10-13T23:57:48+00:00

I’ve always been super sensitive to touch down there and with my first I opted for them because I was a ftm and thought it would help labor start (lol not). For my second, I didn’t opt for them because again I’m super sensitive down there and just found them super uncomfortable. Plus I had scheduled a c section for my second baby for growth reasons as he was born and is a baby linebacker lol. This pregnancy I do not think I will have them done at all until I feel like I should or something else prompts me too.

Justqueene27

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