Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

The 2.5 week old crying thread had me wondering.

Will I get as much cuddle time with #2 as I did with Jack? I remember laying with him for hours and hours. I can't see that happening with Jack running around all over the place? Do you just multitask and make it work? Cuddle with the older one is napping or sleeping or at school?

I hope I don't deprive this kid of cuddles because of my little crazy two year old!

How do you make it all work?

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

I'm going to try for group cuddle time

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

I definitely do not get to cuddle with F as much as I did with T. Paul will take T out for a bike ride or to the store and I will get some time alone with F to just hang out. F has fallen asleep on me only a handful of times - I used to take a nap with T almost everyday (ahh naps!! ).
Tell James to get a bike seat for Jack!!

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

To be honest there was not 1/2 the much of cuddle and alone time as I had with Chris

You just cant do it with a 2 year old running around. My first few months were

7 am - 7 pm Chris
7pm - 7 am Carlo

And i had no sleep. It does get easier though and I would put Jack in a school a few hrs a week.

Now that Carlo is a bit older I can do things together but I really dont think it will get much easier until Carlo is walking

It works....somehow lol

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

DS will be in day care starting this fall/winter and i am fairly sure that we are going to keep him there when i am home with #2 just so we don't lose his spot. so i hope i get lots of cuddle time with #2 just like i did with Luca!

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

We are going to keep DD in daycare part time so I'll try to get in snuggle time on those days.

Other than that, I like the group cuddle idea, I just don't know if DD will go for it. It makes me sad for this baby (and for me, I loved cuddling with DD).

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

Jack will be in school two days a week for two hours so hopefully that will be some good bonding time for us.

The thought of having two is scary!

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

Im going to have my DH take my DD to my ILs 2 or 3 times a week when I'm on maternity leave so I can still have some alone time with DC#2 (the only way I stayed sane was to nap when Kaydyn napped so on those days I will get to do that)

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

I'm worried about this too.

I remember Lance not leaving my arms for at least the first 6 months of his life. He would even nap on me. I can't imagine being able to do this with #2.

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

Erik is a total mush ball/mama's boy who loves to cuddle. He has always gotten plenty of cuddle time. He BF for a lot longer than Ella did, so we always had that time together. Also he was a rather poor sleeper for the majority of his first year so we had a lot of mid-night cuddle action as well.

I really don't feel like he was deprived in that area at all.

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

I have to sadly admit that NO my second DC did not get the same cuddles or attention that my DD got the first 18 months of her life. You just can't do it. Did he get some? Of course, but sometimes he was left to cry while I attended to DD (DC#1).

He seems totally happy though...although he does display attention seeking behavior that my DD doesn't Like getting up at 6am to cuddle with mommy at 14 months old. So I guess he gets it, just differently!!

Message edited 8/18/2009 10:17:06 PM.

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

I wing it. Still.

The quick answer is no one will get as much individual cuddle time as the first. But the family snuggle makes my heart melt.

The beginning is always the hardest.

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

My 2nd one lived on my for about 9 months (colic-y that seemed like it was never going to end)....so we had plenty of cuddle time...poor #1 - I felt so bad for him...I jsut tried to make the most of my time with him when #2 would nap.

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

Well DD#2 has colic and reflux and DD#1 is a highly spirited toddler so it depends on the day. No she doesn't get the same TYPE of cuddling that DD#1 got but b.c of the reflux and colic and she won't go in a carrier she prefers my shoulder so I simply walk around and play with DD#1 with DD#2 on my shoulder. DD#2 can't take a bottle so I get more cuddle time during feedings. I take full advantage of snuggle time with DD#2 when DD#1 is napping. Also my mom comes over most days after work - and either I will take DD#1 to the playground or she will take DD#1 to the playground so I can spend time with DD#2. It isn't perfect but it seems to work here most days.

Message edited 8/19/2009 8:41:07 AM.

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

I didn't get any cuddle time with DS . DD was 20 months at the time so it was impossible for me. I wish I had the same special time as I did with DD when she would nap right on our chest. Those are some of my fondest memories.

But on a positive note...the lack of cuddling didn't make him hate me, he is a complete mama's boy climbing up my day all day long.

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

We got a lot of cuddle time in the beg. Now that she is 6 1/2 months old she is all over the place and rather crawl backwards or grab things then cuddle

DS is very independent and while DD and I would cuddle on the couch, he would play with his toys or watch TV. And then I would have DS and I time Him being older helped.

Now we have all together time because they like to play together. SO cute!!!!!!

Re: Spinoff sort of - Moms of 2+

I don't expect as much day time cuddling with DD#2, but I'm hoping for nighttime cuddles. DD#1 should be asleep by 8:30/9, and any wake ups during the night with DD#2 I will actually look forward to for the cuddling :)