I am 40 weeks pregnant as I write this…I have made it almost to the end! Pregnancy with a toddler was a little bit more draining than the first time around. Here is how I survived my second pregnancy with a toddler.
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Simple Ways to Survive Your Second Pregnancy With a Toddler
Healthy Eating to Boost Energy
During my first pregnancy I put on 50lbs…eek! This time around I managed to keep it at 25 which is allowed me to remain agile enough to keep up with my busy toddler boy.
It can be so tempting to give into junk food and cravings during pregnancy but it ends up making things worse. By eating a healthy and balanced diet (most of the time) my energy levels stayed up. This is also a great way to make sure your bun in the oven is getting everything they need as well (I followed this plan to help me stay on track.)
Plan healthy meals that can be made in the crockpot or batch cook on the weekends to be prepared when things get crazy. This helps end the temptation to grab fast food or that frozen pizza in your freezer. Smoothies are another easy option to pack in some nutrients.
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Lower Expectations
My house has not stayed spotless. Laundry tends to get out of hand. If my toddler takes a nap I will rest as well. Conserve your energy for when you really need it and that most likely is during your toddler’s waking hours. If your toddler is asleep…you should either be asleep or relaxing in some form. Everything else can wait!
Have Some Quiet Activities
I found that having some activities that were engaging and easy to set up was essential for saving my sanity. It can be very tempting to turn on the TV and count on screen time to survive. There are times that you will do this…and that is ok! Try not to rely on it all the time though.
One of my toddler’s Christmas presents was a subscription to Green Kid’s Crafts and boy did it come in handy! When my toddler was bored or cranky I could pull out something from the box which changed both our moods.
The activities were simple and engaging…the best part was that everything I needed was in the box and it was ready to go. You can check out Green Kid’s Crafts HERE. If you want to read my full review of Green Kids Crafts you can check it out here.
Hands on as We Grow also supplied me with activities that I could pull out in a moments notice. There is a monthly subscription service or activity books that you can download to be prepared at anytime.
I am so glad I found these as I will be using them when the new baby is born to keep my toddler quiet and busy. They encourage skills in all areas of development and are EASY to set up. You can check them out HERE.
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Ask for Help
Taking care of your toddler when you are pregnant can be EXHAUSTING. Have your husband help with chores. Ask friends and family to pitch in if they are available. Asking for help is not something I am always great at…but when I do I am much more effective when I need to be. Take care of yourself and you will be a much better mom.
Tackle Your Toddler’s Sleep Issues Early On
Pretty much the moment I got pregnant my toddler stopped sleeping through the night. Two year sleep regression hit our house hard and I wish I would have tried harder to solve this issue earlier on. Pregnancy already makes you very tired…having a toddler that is having sleep issues makes it all that more exhausting!
After some research, I ended up implementing the Sleep Sense Program and had some great success. We went from screaming and tantrums at bedtime to a routine that was calm and enjoyable for all involved. He started to sleep better at night which meant I got my much needed rest as well.
One of the best things about this program is it is designed for children from birth to age 5. We will definitely be using the techniques with our newborn so that we can start healthy sleep habits from the beginning. Click here to read about my experience with the Sleep Sense Ebook Download.
Stay Active
There really needs to be a balance between resting and staying active as well. There were times when I felt so tired but decided to take my little guy outside (even in the cold) which ended with the happy surprise of me getting a small energy boost!
Take your toddler out for a walk or do a pregnancy DVD (this one is only 10 minutes) to get your blood flowing. Prenatal yoga is also a great way get moving (you can try a free video here). It will make you feel better and if your toddler can do it with you they will burn off some of their energy as well.
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Kayla O’Neill has a master’s degree in education as well as a bachelor’s degree in special education with an emphasis in early childhood education. She has been working as a developmental therapist with babies and toddlers in early intervention since 2012. She is also a mom with two young children.