1. Activity Box

One of the top tips for making the transition from toddler to toddler-and-baby is to set aside some special toys that are just for when you’re feeding baby.

I’m taking that idea and running with it by stocking a little box for Beansprout that’s centered around activities. I wanted to make sure that anything in the box could be pulled out and set up with minimal effort, but I wanted to keep things engaging too!

Some of my favorite finds were from the dollar section at Target and the Dollar Tree. It doesn’t have to break the bank to keep a three-year-old happy.

2. Independent Snacking

If there was ever a time to invest in a lot of premade toddler snacks – postpartum is it!

To try and avoid getting up to get snacks while nursing the baby I’m stocking up on snacks and drinks that Beansprout can get by himself.

I’m setting aside a drawer in the fridge just for him that I can fill with cheese sticks and juice boxes. As well as shelf-stable snacks like apples, snack bars, goldfish, fruit gummies, and animal crackers.

We don’t usually do a lot of pre-packaged snacks so on top of the convenience of Beansprout being able to get them himself there’s also the novelty of them that will help to keep him busy. (Hopefully!)

3. Don’t Blame the Baby

It’s so easy to fall into the habit of saying ‘I can’t ___ right now because I have to do _____ for the baby’ and it may be true but it also sets you up for a lot of resentment between your toddler and the baby.

One easy way to help mitigate blaming the baby is to occasionally tell the baby ‘I can’t ___ right now because I have to do ____ for older child. The baby isn’t going to mind waiting an extra 5 minutes for a diaper change but letting your toddler know that you’re prioritizing them can make a BIG difference.

4. Mom Friends

Mom friends, or even just friends who are good with kids, are an absolute lifesaver during postpartum. You may not be able to play chase or get down on the ground to play blocks right now but your friends can!

Hopefully, you’re lucky enough that your partner can be home with you to help occupy your older kiddo but in the US that can be a real rarity. Hence the reliance on other moms, relatives, or friends who will play pretend cooking for 20 minutes.

If having people over isn’t an option due to Covid restrictions, lack of support, or any other number of things…

5. Screen Time

Motherhood is not made to be done in a vacuum without support, and yet here in the US it is very much set up that way. It’s all well and good to limit screentime for your other kids when you’re healthy and able but postpartum is a period where those limits can be thrown out the window.

If you are having to rely on screentime to get through the postpartum period don’t let yourself feel guilty about it.

If you are feeling bad, try looking at what kind of screen time your older kids are getting – not all screen time is created equal.

In our house, PBS Kids and PBS Kids Games (both free with no ads) reign supreme. All of the shows on PBS Kids provide a focus on social-emotional skills, nature, math, and science learning. The same goes for the games!

It’s hard to feel too bad about Ryan playing on his tablet all day when the games he’s playing are teaching him about simple machines, sharing, and how the food web works.

We also do Pokemon (because I love it), and some shows on Disney+ and HBO, but when it comes to those apps I curate the content a good bit more.

Our recent favorites are Sesame Street Mecha Builders on HBO which is all about simple machines and problem-solving. Then of course Bluey on Disney, Chili and Bandit are absolute Goals when it comes to parenting role models.

Bonus: Outdoor Spaces + Baths

When your kids are in a bad mood and nothing seems to be helping there are two things that are always worth a try – take them outside or add water.

To take advantage of that we’ve stocked up on fun bath bonuses like color-changing tablets, little boats, and bubbles. As well as putting all the outdoor toys at toddler level on our porch.

We have a large garden outside as we are starting our urban homestead this year so I hope that we can get in the habit of going out to the garden first thing every day.

Making it to the park? That seems a bit ambitious.

Getting out to the yard? Probably doable!

What do you think?

Have you already been through this transition from one-to-two with a toddler? What tips do you have for new moms?

Comment below and let me know!

For more about postpartum check out my posts Postpartum Prep: Mom Edition and What No One Told Me About Postpartum