How To Manage Having a Young Child and a Newborn
Adding to your family when you already have a young child or children can sometimes feel overwhelming for even the best mom. Learning to juggle kids as you add to your family doesn’t have to be difficult if you’re willing to plan ahead, reach out for help, and know your limits. For a few ways, you can make your life easier as you adjust to a larger size family and welcome another little one into your world, read on.
Planning Ahead
One of the best ways to be sure to maximize your ability to multitask and manage that balance is by planning ahead. This can be as simple as choosing the right products for your family and making daily habits of planning for the next day the night before. For example, maybe you have a little one in school and another at home nursing. One way to juggle your children’s feeding needs is to pick up a product like a paper bag lunch box like the vegan-friendly ones at Out of the Woods. These bags will work for two purposes. First, you can store your milk supply with discretion after pumping, but you could also use the bags to send your school-age child to class with a hand-packed lunch.
The truth is that your children will have different feeding needs. By planning how to get two things done at once with the right products, many new moms find they’re less overwhelmed. If you’re a new parent having trouble balancing how to get your older one ready in the mornings for school while trying to manage milk production with an old electric pump, changing up your routine and preparing the night ahead might help.
Products for Convenience
The most experienced mom will tell you that using an old pump could be making things harder. While a traditional electric breast pump can get the job done, opting for a hands-free breast pump could be another way to free up your hands—literally. Using a hands-free option will give you the ability to read to your older child or do their hair in the morning while your infant sleeps.
If you aren’t sure how to access a free pump, consider calling your health insurance company and asking about what they may cover. Some companies have options for busy moms available to rent or at reduced rates. By getting a new pump with a solid suction level, you can cut your milk supply production process down, too.
Creating Support Networks
Having a strong support system is likely the best thing you can do as a mom balancing a newborn with an older child. Where possible, consider reaching out to friends and family for help. While it’s great that your focus is on feeding your little ones, you need to be taking care of yourself, too.
Online support systems can also be helpful. If you don’t live near friends and family or people who can help you take breaks, try a Google search for parenting groups near you. You might be surprised to find out how much you have in common with other new parents going through the same experiences you are. In these groups, you’ll be able to find tips and tricks for getting it all done while getting a great night’s sleep yourself.
At the end of the day, no parent is perfect. Do what you can to be kind to yourself as you manage the juggle of moving from one child to two or more. In the end, what matters most is the love and happiness you give to your children, self, family, and partner. You can do this with a little planning and help. Congratulations on your new arrival!