My littlest isn’t so little anymore. She’s now three months, and likely a whopping 14 pounds. She doesn’t fit into newborn cloth diapers anymore, and we’ve finally sold the stash of newborn aio cloth diapers. Sometimes, depending on the bulk of my flat diaper, I opened the rise snap of the OS covers to the middle rise during the flats and hand washing challenge. I’m quickly reminded how fleeting newborn hood is.
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Somehow, I’ve survived the first three months with 2 under 2.
My biggest isn’t so little anymore. He’s almost 2, and a whopping 32+ pounds. He’s pushing the limits on his one-size cloth diapers, and I’m only buying bigger diapers for him (I would love suggestions for diapers that might work for him). For the most, he’s on an open rise setting. Next year, if he’s still in diapers, I’m not sure what will fit him. Toddlerhood feels even more fleeting. He’s growing up each day.
Somehow, I’m still around to tell you How to Survive 2 under 2.
2 Under 2 Survival
The last three months of my life with 2 under 2 has been a constant stream of diaper changes, feeding small children, and convincing them to go to sleep.

Every day I’m diaper changing… line up and start changing. Reminds me always of this viral video when I change diapers.
Changing Diapers isn’t so bad, most of the time. But the laundry piles up quickly, and the diapers are still in the dryer when the next load comes in. I change diapers every two hours, if not sooner for poops. My kids like to poop. Its why they are 85% + percentile kids (I think). Its not unusual to use 15 diapers a day between the two. I wash diapers every second day. When I use disposables, I take out the trash way too often.
Diapers aren’t even the bulk of my luandry. Small children make messes. Feeding toddlers is a constant game of guessing and playing with our food. Sleeves covered in spaghetti sauce, and pants caked in yogurt, the food battle doesn’t help the laundry situation. Maybe we need a super duper bib…
But its not just the toddler, newborns are messy too. She might not be able to sit on her own, but she can spit up. Little Man didn’t ever spit up like she does. If I’m not careful, I’m wishing I had brought a second shirt when we go out. We all go thru more changes of clothes than I care to wash. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have caught the post about my pile of laundry that’s still sitting on the living room chair one week later. #wehavetoomanyclothes
Sleep is and will always be my nightmare. I hate convincing small children to sleep. It brings me so much stress and anxiety. Sleep triggers my post partum aggression and makes me a mom I don’t want to be. I’m blessed and grateful Little Miss is an AMAZING sleeper. She sleeps longer and better than her brother ever has. It’s just who she is. But the toddler, he’s working on his two year molars, and any sleep habits we had formed are out the window. My babies will never cry it out, so this mama just has to keep cuddling. He falls asleep eventually, and he just needs his mama. It’s just who he is.
Oh, did I mention I’m tandem nursing. My toddler didn’t wean during my pregnancy. So it’s two nursing babies. More on that another time.
How to Survive 2 under 2.
3 months later, here are my top pieces of wisdom on how to survive 2 under 2.
- Ask for Help – I’m so not good at this. I’m sure you aren’t either. But asking for help will be the best thing you do. I need to ask for help more often.Especially when… doctors appointments, vaccinations, mental health appointments, bed time routine, grocery shopping, finding time to blog, the list goes on.
- Meal Plan & Prep – I hate meal prepping even more than I hate asking for help. But its awesome. I had a wise friend tell me she makes or preps dinner in the morning when everyone is happy. Do it. I meal plan for the week, and while the toddler is happy in the morning, and the baby is having her morning nap, I’ll chop and prep dinner. Then when 4 o’clock cranky hour hits, its not a massive struggle to get dinner ready.
- Give in to the Cuddles – I don’t really need to do this or that; sometimes, everyone just needs a cuddle on the couch, in the bed, or wherever. Sometimes, everyone just needs to have a rest together.
- Paw Patrol, Moana, and Sing – I’m no saint, and the past three months my toddler has watched more television than I care to admit. But, when the goings get rough, you just got to do what you can to stay sane. The TV mostly comes on when Little Miss is nursing and nursing and nursing. If Little Man is cranky pants tired, bored or whatever, that’s when I use the Paw Patrol Zombie to my advantage.
- Get OUT of the HOUSE – This might just apply to me. I suffer from cabin fever syndrome hard (yes, I just made that up). My toddler thrives on social interaction and nature, just like me. As soon as my 6 weeks of self-care and baby-attention were up, we got back into the groove and hit up our mom groups, hike it baby groups and just anywhere.Even just the deck – I bought him a water table so we can be outside. He likes watching people, and driving his truck thru the dirt. I like having a break from noise, climbing, and whatever toddlers do in the house.
- CONTAINMENT IS KEY – How do you get out of the house with 2 under 2? You contain them. Strollers and baby wearing gizmos and you are good to go. DON’T EVER THINK TO LET YOUR TODDLER WALK ON HIS OWN… HE WILL RUN INTO TRAFFIC. #lessonlearnt #morethanonce
Only let him run in safe spaces, otherwise, strap that kid to your back or into the stroller. This is why you need a double stroller, and this baby wearing minimal baby gear mama will talk you into one.
Did you survive 2 under 2? What’s your most helpful advice?
Honestly, don’t do it. Why would you put yourself thru chasing a rambunctious toddler while caring for a needy newborn? Sure, they’ll be BFF’s later in life, but its physically exhausting. Don’t ever go to anyone’s house that isn’t toddler proofed. Don’t ever expect to sleep. And purchase a lifetime supply of coffee. You can find some here on Well. ca. (I don’t drink that, but they don’t sell what I drink and I used to like that brand) or better yet subscribe to Amazon Subscribe & Save to have it delivered monthly! (Amazon doesn’t sell my coffee either)
I am so amazed you are nursing two kiddos at the same time! I can’t wrap my head around it but I certainly give you kudos! I wish breastfeeding had worked out for us 🙁 great post!
Yes! Those are great tips. I don’t have two under two but I do have a 3 year old and a 2 month old and it certainly all still feels that way. Even if my 3 year old is potty trained.
I have loved meal prepping. It is a lot to do at once but even just doing a couple lasagnas and freezing them in individual portions has been a life saver for me. It’s a quick lunch or dinner when I just dont have it in me to make something. Asking for help if you have people to help is a great one too. I’ve done that a lot more this time and while we don’t have many people to help the one or two that do occasionally has been so wonderful!
Congratulations on your newest little!
I will definitely be keeping this away for later, I’m not at the 2 under 2 threshold yet haha 🙂
Sounds like you’re doing an amazing job managing 2 under 2. I really like your tips. I also like to take my little kids out of the house even though sometimes it’s a struggle! You have too get them into the stroller or baby carrier so they don’t get away. If it’s too cold outside the mall is a good place to just walk around. My kids really like watching moana and trolls right now. Keeps them distracted and happy. We love to sing too!
Oh its a deal handling 2 under 2! I just can’t imagine handling one 2 year kid of mine, can really understand the physical & mental exhaustion you would be going! Be strong n keep going mama!
Thank you so much for your post, I am 3 weeks postpartum with a 21 month old as well. I am also tandem nursing, because Little Miss did not wean while I was pregnant either. Currently I am struggling with the stuck in the house Blues. I know that everything is going to take an adjustment but I totally agree with you bedtime is my nemesis my husband works 2nd shift so I’m flying solo Monday through Friday with the bedtime routine. Thank you again for providing a light at the end of the tunnel 🙂 best to you and yours!
I love this post becauser it specifically addresses the first three months, which must be the hardest right? I’m one month into raising 2under2. My oldest is 18 months. Just curious about some of the things you struggled with and how you fixed them. My family has been struggling with bed time for sure, me and Lil one sleep on the couch for now, i know shame on me. And big one sleeps with his daddy in what used to be our bed. I’m a no tears kinda parent and a loose schedule kinda parent. Watching the clock kicks in major anxiety, and trying to find a system that works for us has been so hard. . . I’m scouring the internet for any tidbits of info that may help, but i keep finding the same content. No one has been very specific. So for now I’m totally winging it,hour by hour.