Surviving Transitions — Going from One Child to Two (or more!)

Inside: We break down each transition when growing a family — going from one child to two, to three, or more! Everything you need to know to prepare during pregnancy that will make each addition go smoothly for the whole family. Sponsored by Luvs at Sam’s Club.

We break down each transition when growing a family — going from one child to two, to three, or more! What you need to know to make new additions a breeze.

Surviving Transitions — Going from One Child to Two (or more!)

There’s always the element of unknown when you’re expecting a new addition. Things will change, from your everyday routine to the family budget. However, it’s not necessarily as difficult as you might expect when you bring a new child into the fold. I interviewed some of my favorite family and parenting bloggers to get their take on transitions — which was the most challenging, which was surprisingly simple, and how to make things smoother for everyone. PS- Keep reading for a limited-time offer from Luvs at Sam’s Club that you don’t want to miss!

Going from zero children to one child

Going from no kids to having a child changes your whole life in an instant.

says Susie at Busy Toddler, and I think a lot of parents can relate! Beth at Days with Grey concurs:

Your first is your hardest because it is like, what […] just happened?!

No matter what you think life will be like with a new baby, there are always some surprises. However, once you get the hang of things, it will be hard to even imagine what life was like pre-kids, and you might just find that you wouldn’t want to imagine it either. Despite the inconveniences, my life feels so much fuller as a parent. And it is definitely always entertaining! Getting into the groove takes time, so don’t be too hard on yourself if it feels a little awkward at first. I love the advice Meghan at Playground Parkbench offers:

There will be a new normal, and you can’t find it until your husband goes back to work and your mom goes home, and it’s just you with the kid(s). Give yourself time, grace and you will find it.

Going from zero children to two children

Laura at Sunny Day Family jokes:

“I say just have 2 at once and be done!”

Mom of 4 Katelyn from What’s Up Fagans keeps it real:

Going from zero to two overnight was the hardest transition for me!

Katelyn’s tips to manage when your family suddenly doubles in size:

Get them on the same schedule ASAP — naps, eating, playing, bed time, etc. It is too much to have multiple schedules to manage. This was definitely true for twins, but also for the ones after.

Going from one child to two children

Menucha at Moms & Crafters perfectly puts into words what often happens when transitioning from being parents of one to parents of multiples:

The most challenging part […] was NEVER having downtime. When one is out, the other is crying, when one is sleeping, the other is bored.

Menucha’s number one survival tip?

ASK for help. People don’t always think to offer or know what to offer, but there’s no shame in turning to a parent, friend, etc for help. You’ll be there for them when they need it!

In our own family, Grandma, Grammy, and Grandpa were such a blessing to us in those early days as a two-child household. Friends and family are often happy to help if you let them know what you need. Katie from Pick Any Two also reminds us not to forget about how the transition will affect child number one. Read more of her tips for helping an older child adjust to their new sibling here. We break down each transition when growing a family — going from one child to two, to three, or more! What you need to know to make new additions a breeze.

Going from two children to three children

When chatting with my mom friends, I noticed an interesting consensus: after two kids, the transitions seem to get easier. Susie at Busy Toddler explains:

Going from 2 to 3 was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. You worry less because you don’t have time to worry anymore. You already know the answer to a lot of the questions. You have a history and background knowledge to rely on. I actually think each transition after the first one gets easier and easier.

Rachel at Wunder-Mom agrees:

It’s a little tricky just because you no longer have one parent per child but you also have several years and children under your belt at that time so you’re a lot more experienced.

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Going from three children to four (or more) children

If you’ve ever dreamed of a big family, I’ve got good news! It might not be as much of a challenge as you’d think. In fact, many of the bloggers I spoke with say that as their families grew, everyone stepped into their own roles and life was easier for everyone. As Rachel at Wunder-Mom says:

[With] #4 (or more), [they] just kind of fall into place with the rest of the family!

Perhaps part of what makes later additions less stressful that the first child is that we parents have more realistic expectations. With our first, we want everything to be just right, and we have nothing to compare our experience to but what we read in books and see from other moms on social media. It’s tough not to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to what you see around you! Tove at Mama in the Now offers these wise words:

Adjust your sense of “perfect.” Going from 1-2 was hardest for us, but then adding kids thereafter was a breeze. We were already outnumbered, so what’s one more?! What I considered perfect when we had one kid is way different than what we think is perfect today! [It] saves my sanity daily!

Now that is awesome advice for parents of any size family!

How to make transitioning the size of your family easier

I’ve shared a lot of advice from my friends and colleagues — now here are my top three tips for managing a growing family:

1. Stock up on essentials to save money and time

When preparing for a new addition to the family, making sure that you’re stocked up on essentials like diapers and wipes is a must. That way you can spend more time enjoying those precious first few weeks with your new baby instead of scrambling for supplies. A diaper subscription service is also a lifesaver! You never have to worry about running out or running to the store (which can be tricky when you’ve got multiple kids to round up). That’s why I love Sams Club’s free to-your-doorstep delivery service!Luvs diapers at Sam's Club subscription When you set up a Luvs diaper subscription through SamsClub.com, you save both time and money. Especially when you can catch special offers like the limited-time $3 off offer on Luv’s Ginormous boxes at SamsClub.com (not available in-club)! That works out to 11 cents per diaper — I’ve bought a lot of diapers and that price is tough to beat!

PS- Shipping is free!We break down each transition when growing a family — going from one child to two, to three, or more! What you need to know to make new additions a breeze. Luvs are soft and stretchy, with a LeakGuard core and Leak Barrier leg gathers to keep babies comfy and dry, even overnight! All at a fraction of the cost of many premium brands. In fact, you can save hundreds of dollars a year by purchasing Luvs over premium brands, and stocking up when they’re on sale. CLICK HERE to take advantage of this limited-time offer for $3 off Luv’s Ginormous boxes! 

2. Don’t forget to sleep!

Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but you really can’t skimp on sleep! Whether it’s a full night’s rest (or the occasional power nap), sleep is crucial to keeping up with a growing family. Katelyn at What’s Up Fagans puts it best:

If Momma doesn’t get sleep everyone suffers!

The transition from one child (who was an amazing sleeper) to two (and a baby that didn’t sleep for long stretches) was a tough one. My husband and I found a compromise to make sure each of us got enough rest. Late-night nursings completely wore me out, so my husband kindly took the morning shift with the kids. In turn, I tried to let him sleep as much as possible during the middle of the night, since I was the one that had to do the feeding anyway. It worked for us, and we all made it through until our youngest finally started sleeping through the night. Related: The One Thing that Kept our Toddler from Sleeping through the Night (and we had NO idea!)

3. Do what works for you

Every family is different, so sometimes you might find yourself going against advice you’ve been given. The most important thing to remember is that this is your family, and you’ve got to do what works! Don’t worry about comparing yourself to parenting “experts” or other moms on Facebook. In your family you are the best mom! Related: You are the perfect mom! This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PG. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Stacey aka the Soccer Mom
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