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You are here: Home / Archives for second child

6 Things You Can Do When You Are Child Number Two

January 26, 2015 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

When you are the second child you can get away with doing lots of things that your older sibling would certainly not have been allowed to do. Whether it’s the fact that with experience comes the knowledge that a little dirt won’t hurt or the more likely fact that we just haven’t got eyes in the back of our head.
Also when your big sis is diving off large items of furniture we may sometimes be distracted… And ahem maybe sometimes we just want an easier life.

So Chloe here are a list of things that you can do just because you are child number two:

Take control of the TV remote. The actual one. It doesn’t matter how many toy ones we buy you. You. Only.Want.The.Real.One. And you delight in pressing pause continuously as you realise it makes a noise. To be honest on certain days I may pass it to you for five minutes of quiet and to stop you climbing on and off my lap every ten seconds.

Eat food off the floor – By this I do just mean in our home, typically the lounge carpet. Child one had squeakly clean food, sterilised utensils and we even used bibs. Now I’m just happy if we get some food into your belly. Well..until I used a carpet washer today and saw the colour of the water it sucked up out of the carpet. Maybe not so germ free.

Walk around in your pjs…all day long – by the time we get you up and fed it’s not far off time for your nap so is there any actual point in getting you out of them? Yes with baby 1 we may have delighted in the many hours of look at how cute her outfit is but now I spend most of my days jealous that you can roam around carefree in your onesie and nobody thinks it’s a bad thing. Heck we can even take you to the supermarket in it. You are still a baby after all.. Kinda.

Watch TV for extended periods of time – so when I was pregnant with Izzy I had all these grand ideas about how my child would only ever watch 20 minutes of television a week BUT then I had a second child. And the loss of my pregnant bump disappeared about the same time as my sanity and Iggle Piggle makes you far happier than I do. Typically you are far less interested in the TV than your big sis was but I’m willing to help try to change that 😉

Sleep in our bed – HAHAHAHA. With Izzy I was quite firm in always returning her to her cot and then bed because I didn’t want it to become a habit. With Chloe I would lie on a bed of brambles if it meant she would lie on my chest and just SLEEP. The girl doesn’t sleep. If she would sleep in our bed I would let her sleep there forever. Or anywhere really. In the car. On my head. Anywhere. If you are reading this in years to come Chloe I really hope you mastered sleeping … It’s a good thing you are so cute.

Steal food off our plates – I HATED when Izzy stole food off our plates and always tried to stop her but these days I’m half asleep in my plate anyway and constantly worried that she isn’t eating enough so if she wants to sneak a bit of my chicken I’m just glad she’s eating.

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What about you? Do you find your parenting ways have changed somewhat with the arrival of baby two?

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Filed Under: Family, Parenting/baby · Tagged: baby two, second child

The Second Child

July 12, 2014 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 8 Comments

I remember when Izzy was a baby how we delighted in everything she did. It was all so brand new and exciting. This time around although still delighted by Chloe we are so tired and so busy that it’s hard to spend the one on one time with her that she surely deserves as much as her sister.

Guilt.

By giving to one I’m taking away from the other.

This is our life now.

I would say until they grow up but I know that my mum still feels guilty if she spends more time with one of my siblings than another. Or with one set of grandchildren than another. It’s hard.

Will I feel guilty forever?

Hopefully not but probably so.

The only thing I can do is work around it. When Chloe naps we play games or do things with Izzy. When Izzy naps we focus on Chloe, her development etc. I can’t leave Chloe yet as she only feeds from me so for now I have started having one on one time with her when I travel to blogging events. Like today we are on our way to London. She is my sole focus. Izzy is with my OH and she is his sole focus. They each get that special attention.

When Chloe starts to feed less I plan to do more things one on one with Izzy like going to see a film or popping out for lunch. So she knows she may not be the baby anymore but she’s still just as important.

People say that the second child doesn’t develop as quickly but from my experience so far she’s doing just fine. Maybe we can’t spend hours teaching her to say Dadadadada but the look of pure joy on her face every single time she spots her big sister makes me confident we chose the right age gap.

It’s so hard at the moment but I can already see how close these two are going to be.. And then we better watch out right?

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Filed Under: Family · Tagged: development, guilt, second child

Sisters

December 3, 2013 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

I had no idea how Izzy would react to a new baby arriving in our home. After all she is still very much my baby at 2year old. While I was pregnant she showered my bump with love and kisses but I didn’t think she really understood what it meant. On her first visit to see me and Chloe in hospital I followed advice I’d been given by other second time mums and made sure Chloe was in the cot so she could have a good cuddle with me first.. She didn’t spot the cot initially and after diving onto the bed to cuddle me (Ouch..stitches) I had to point out the baby lying just next to us. Her face was a picture. She exclaimed Oh baby.. And then awwww baby.

Her first cuddle..

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Since we have come home she has shown just how besotted she is with her baby sister. Every 5 minutes she runs over to check on ‘baby Chloe’ and is interested in every aspect of her life from feeding to changing nappies. Every new visitor gets dragged to see the baby as soon as they come in and in the morning her voice comes over the monitor demanding to see ‘baby Chloe’.

I never thought my heart could love as much as it does right now. I know the road ahead will be far from smooth.. I have sisters of my own and of course at some point they will fall out and squabble but I know how amazing the relationship can be and I’m so thrilled that they will have each other.

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Filed Under: Family, Parenting/baby · Tagged: baby, jealousy, love, second child, sisters, toddler

How much love can one heart hold?

November 26, 2013 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

One of the very many things I worried about when pregnant was that I would find it had to love my second child as much as I loved my first..I’m sure I’m not alone here.

I worried it would be different. Added to that an awful pregnancy and traumatic labour and I thought I may find it hard to bond also.

I really needn’t have worried at all. As with Izzy the rush of love for my second daughter was instant. The relief of her being healthy and right next to me so I was able to finally know that she was ok was incredible, I won’t pretend the last week has been easy because it really hasn’t and I’m still feeling anxious and traumatised from the birth but I also feel lucky,blessed and LOVED.

Love is such an incredible emotion. It helps you through most of the difficult times in your life. I feel so loved by my little family and my larger family (parents and siblings) that I know everything will be ok. Maybe I won’t feel amazing and shiny happy for a little while but I know that I have so much love surrounding me like a bubble.

Strangely my love for Izzy seems to have doubled at least in the past week, watching my sweet generous girl fawn over her new baby sister and show so much joy at her arrival has made me melt.

I’m LUCKY.

“A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.”
– Agatha Christie

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Filed Under: Family, Parenting/baby, Pregnancy · Tagged: bonding, love, second child, siblings

It’s all about you…

October 2, 2013 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 1 Comment

I have finished working now for the remainder of my pregnancy and I’m really enjoying the additional time with my daughter. She’s at an age where she is such good fun and the odd tantrum aside she is a joy to spend time with.

I find it hard to remember a time when she wasn’t around and that at one point I didn’t have this one central focus in my life. It really is all about her.

So what happens when baby 2 arrives? How do I split my time? How do I ensure that my wonderfully funny toddler still gets the time and attention she deserves whilst caring for a newborn? I have to admit I’m a little bit worried.

Even now I’m starting to find it hard to do everything she wants and needs from me. She loves having me involved with all of her activities and I’m constantly being told Mam come on…help. She loves me to to sit on the floor to play cars, colour in or just be next to her – with a daily increasing bump this isn’t easy but I do try.

I just look into the future a little and think woah I really hope she doesn’t resent the baby. Realistically I know at some point she will even if just for a short time but I’m hoping she will adore her little sister so much that it will be short lived.

Do any of you parents of two or more have advice for me?

I really REALLY can’t wait for the baby to arrive but do you know what I am really going to miss the time with my girl.

Look at this big girl..where did my baby go?

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Still a mini foodie.. eating Chorizo, chickpea, tomato and paprika stew

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Playtime

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Having supper at Nanna’s house

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Out for a nighttime stroll in her swanky new Jane Trider buggy

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Filed Under: Parenting/baby, Pregnancy · Tagged: baby, Parenting, second child, toddler

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