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17 Tips for Kate and Will on Welcoming Baby #2
1. Before Baby #2 arrives, most discussions will circle around how your first child will handle the change. Should you get them a little present “from the baby”? Who will look after them while you’re at the hospital? And if they stay with your sister, what if she doesn’t cut their sandwich properly? You might even feel the urge to create a detailed guide for their care.
2. Don’t think twice about getting that epidural. The first time, you might have been determined to go natural and told your partner that they had to remind you not to cave. But now? Just get the epidural as soon as possible. Honestly, someone could carry you to delivery.
3. Your hospital conversations will shift from admiring the newborn to ensuring your first child’s feelings are managed throughout this transition. Your friend from college, who has just had her eighth baby, might chuckle at your worries about your older child’s adjustment.
4. You’ll find that labor and delivery—and even nursing—might feel less overwhelming. The experience is less shocking than the first time. While with your first you wanted to stay in the hospital forever, now you’ll feel like you’re stuck in an airport and will want to head home quickly.
5. You’ll realize that those dreaded sleep regressions at four months or seven months are just your baby playing tricks on you.
6. You’ll wash everything in a budget-friendly detergent, because you’re not falling for overpriced baby products again.
7. You’ll already know to queue up your favorite show for nursing sessions, perhaps even revisiting Orange Is the New Black, which somehow became your comfort during those long feedings.
8. You’ll have more than enough baby gear this time around. Maybe you didn’t have a crib for your first because you were adamant about co-sleeping, but after a few sleepless nights, you’ll be well-equipped with all the essentials, including that quirky contraption that holds your newborn in place.
9. You’ve likely prepared meals in advance, and you might even be lucky enough to have friends organize a meal drop. You might even joke about having a third child just for the dinner deliveries, but your partner might remind you about their own limits!
10. Whether it’s teething pain or just a fussy phase, you’ll learn to roll with it.
11. You’ll know how long each stage lasts this time around. The sleepless nights with your first child felt endless, but now you can count down the days until things start to get easier.
12. As you unpack those tiny newborn clothes you haven’t seen in years, you might shed a few tears over the adorable lion sleeper. You’ll find yourself saying, “We have to have a third!” while your partner lies on the floor, sighing.
13. Any hobbies or spare time you had with one child will seemingly vanish. Your partner, who used to enjoy music, might now find solace in humming tunes to themselves after a long evening wrangling both kids to bed.
14. Eventually, you’ll notice Baby #2 and think, “Hey, they’re pretty adorable!” They might be that little one who insists on elbowing their way into your lap for attention.
15. Your time alone with your partner will diminish. When you do manage a quiet moment, you might just end up catching up on much-needed sleep together.
16. You’ll realize that socializing is more important than sticking to a rigid schedule. Lunch with friends is a must, even if it means breaking the routine.
17. As your kids start playing together, it’ll feel like a breath of fresh air, offering you a brief moment of peace. Just enough to tempt you into thinking about a third.
In summary, having a second child is a whirlwind of emotions and experiences. You’ll navigate through challenges and joys with newfound wisdom, balancing the needs of both your children while trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. Embrace the chaos, enjoy the little moments, and remember that each stage, while tough, is also fleeting.