Comments on: Second Babies are Easier

By: Varda

Varda — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:53:34 +0000

@Jen – I initially worried about “taking away” from baby #1 until it dawned on me that I wouldn’t be “taking away,” I’d be adding. Kids need a family as much as they need one-on-one time with their parents. I think about how much I appreciate my brother’s perspective on things and how much he’s added to my understanding and experience of life, and it makes me happy to provide my baby the same thing.

By: Meeting the Needs of Multiple Children | Attachment Parenting International Blog

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:03:06 +0000

[...] good news is that second babies are almost always easier. At least it was that way for me. When baby Jacob arrived I had more perspective, and more [...]

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:09:36 +0000

When I had my son, if you asked me how I was doing or what kind of baby he was I would have said ‘great!’ and ‘doubly great’! I loved my time with him, he was sweet and funny – though really, he was high maintenance about sleep, needed a pretty strict schedule etc. But that didn’t seem to be too much of a problem.

Now that I’ve had my daughter – a very relaxed, easy sleeper, cuddly, mellow, go-with-the-flow kinda kid, she is a breeze and looking back he was not nearly as easy – ha!

I agree with others though, I am more relaxed this time around but I did things in very similar ways with both – just goes to show there is something to be said about nurture vs nature – nature still plays a part
.-= Rebecca´s last post ..School Registration is coming – Avoid the School Supply Stress =-.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:42:15 +0000

Oh gosh, my second is so much more difficult than #1. She is SO needy/whiney/barfy!! My first was so laid back, never cried, and savored every oz. I fed him (hence his 97% percentile for ages!).

I was super laid back with #1 and never stressed really so I can’t say I’m less stressed this time around…especially when getting ready to go anywhere. They are only 18 months apart and it’s a total hassle/workout to get ready and go anywhere. Makes me want to hibernate especially since it’s winter. ugh!!

I AM babywearing her as an infant, which I didn’t do with #1 and am loving it.

By: A Crafty Mom

A Crafty Mom — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:21:33 +0000

So darn true!!! I can totally relate, and it is even more pronounced with the third baby, lol. Never thought I could manage three kids, but somehow I do it every single day (and usually don’t do too bad of a job, if I do say so!).

By: Francesca

Francesca — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:23:00 +0000

Totally agree. The second, or third child might be more difficult in terms of temperament, health etc, but we as parents are not just paralyzed by 'first-ness'. .-= Francesca´s last post ..Under my tree: edibles =-.

By: Christine LaRocque

Christine LaRocque — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:28:48 +0000

The hardest part of the second baby for me has been the inability to find ANY free time. At least when there was only one you could pass him off to the other parent and get yourself a much needed break. Now the first and second demand our attention and their needs are very different so we find it much harder to spell each other off. Like you I stress less, my guy had ice cream for the first time at 9 months (okay just a smidgen, but ice cream nonetheless). Perhaps we also worry less the second time because there is less time to worry. I don't have any time to navel gaze because I'm being called to the next task or by a 3yo who also demands my attention. Great post as always! .-= Christine LaRocque´s last post ..Revelations for a new decade =-.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:38:07 +0000

What perfect timing… we are actually having our 2nd baby TOMORROW! (Scheduled C-section) and how to handle 2 is of course one of my big worries since I will be home alone with them.

Another fear/worry I have that other moms seem not to talk about (is it just me?) is “What am I taking away from #1 by having #2 ?) I’m an only child, so all during the last 9 months everytime I did something with my daughter (who is 2 and half) I would think “We won’t be able to have this time, or do this together once the baby is here” Even as I am getting ready to go to the hospital tomorrow, my biggest concern is how my #1 will adapt to being away from me and her daddy for so long. (Current hospital rules will not allow her to visit due to cold/flu season…no one under 18) We’ve never been apart for more than 24 hours and I just worry that she will be unhappy and then when I do arrive home with #2 that she will equate “missing mommy” with “new brother”…let the resentment begin.

Why don’t they come with handbooks?
.-= Jen´s last post ..Thu, Dec 17, 2009 =-.

By: Lady M

Lady M — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:51:21 +0000

I’m with ya.

The first diaper I ever changed was on a newborn Q-ster, minutes after paramedics took my husband in an ambulance to the hospital, leaving me home alone with the baby. Talk about stress. (SwingDaddy had caught a virus while we were at the hospital and passed out after caring for the rest of us all day/night when we got back – I was still recovering from preeclampsia. Hmmm. I need to write that story up sometime.)

Everything about Baby One was new and scary. The second time? Like you say, I know the ropes, and I know that the tough parts will pass.
.-= Lady M´s last post ..Where’d the Time Go? =-.

By: harrietglynn

harrietglynn — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:24:53 +0000

We will likely only have one child and we are trying very hard to treat him like a “second” child. Of course, the very act of “trying hard” is so first child isn’t it?

heehee
.-= harrietglynn´s last post ..Upcoming WordCamps =-.