Today's Q/A comes from Beth on our Facebook page.
Q: My husband and I are adopting three boys, a 3-year old and two 18-month old twins. We are currently childless so this is a HUGE new adventure for us. Any suggestions on what you've done that works well? I would also appreciate knowing what doesn't work. I would also be interested in knowing what type of baby gear works best in a small house with lots of kids.
A: First of all, WOW and congrats! Nothing we can tell you is going to prepare you for how much your world will be rocked - and how much you will absolutely love it! The blog and the Facebook pages are chock-full of do's and don'ts from seasoned Bunchers, so it's worth taking the time to scroll back through the years and load up on information.
To skip ahead to part 3 of your question, you're actually in luck. Seven years and multiple children into parenting in *very* small houses (Cara holds the record currently, with three children and 1,400 square feet), we can both say that we know quite a bit about parenting in limited space. The good news is that with your youngest boys being 18-months old, you can bypass some of the stuff we are tempted to get with newborns and infants (swings, Jumperoos, high chairs, etc.).
In lieu of highchairs, get booster seats strapped onto regular old dining room chairs. There are any number of hard plastic boosters with trays and straps that are portable and travel to restaurants, Grandma's, etc. easily (your wee ones are probably old enough to even do away with the the tray and pull right up to the table). For bigger kids, we love soft boosters. This will allow your oldest to climb up and down independently without you having to strap in/out while your hands are full with the little ones.
For a bunch of kids this size, a "nice to have" if you have a little corner is a children's table and chairs - both for eating as well as for arts and crafts. My all-time FAVORITE is Ikea's Mammut line. Hideously colorful? Yes. But oh, so convenient. Lightweight and easy to move/pack/store away when grown ups come for dinner. Waterproof so you can hose it down in the backyard. Compact so you can throw it in the back of your van and take it to a friend's house when extra seating for children is needed. These must be the reasons that everyone we know has this set.
As a fellow mom of all boys, I can tell you that our train table gets major mileage. But for other families it might be a workbench or a play kitchen. Depending on your space/configuration, consider limiting them to one "big" toy (or if they MUST have several, buy them secondhand so you don't care if they get weatherized and toss them in the backyard so the kids can play there).
The most important piece of big equipment you need, HANDS DOWN, is a stroller. With this many small boys running in different directions, you need a way to keep them tethered down on occasion, for their own safety. We're thinking your best bet is the Joovy Big Caboose (a Sit-and-Stand with double seats and a standing board). We *think* that this may be superior to the Double Graco Sit-N-Stand, which we're not sure can accommodate two kids sitting AND one standing. Readers, please chime in if you know. Biggest cons to these strollers are they're bulky (need a good-sized trunk) and can be heavy/unwieldy at times, but it is SO WORTH IT to know that you can have everyone strapped down at once, should the occasion/need arise.
And, of course, the cribs. You are right on the borderline of being able to bypass cribs if you don't have them already. A fully baby-proofed room with regular beds and a gate across the door that keeps them from wandering the house could possibly do the trick. However, if they are used to sleeping in cribs, you may want to keep them in cribs since they are already making a big transition to a new home - I would feel that out with the current caregiver. Skip the changing table altogether (18 months is right around the age where you have to start wrestling them to the ground to change diapers, anyway).
What have we missed, readers?
We have a kids table and chairs and our 18 month old loves it (I'm guessing when the LO is big enough he will love it too). What we did since we have limited space was to get rid of the eat in kitchen table and chairs (if you have another room to eat in like a dining room) and turn that eat in area into the play room. We put all his downstairs toys out there in a big tub, an easel with chalk, etc. A play mat under the table and chairs, and viola I have a play room right off the kitchen so I can watch him play while I cook :) Another thing that our 18 month old has and loves is a zaney zoo by B toys, his tricycle, we didn't get a train table, but we did get tracks and some chuggington trains, and we add to his collection every now and again. I am about to go and buy an outdoor play set with a swing and a slide because I see how much he LOVES to play outside. A water table, kiddie pool, etc. for outside. OH if they are not already potty trained you will probably be starting with them in the next few months so 2 potties, and a to-go fold up potty seat for those disgusting public toilets. OH! I can't forget the Little People. Our 18 month old LOVES his Little People animals and farmers, etc. Loveys for the cribs or beds (I highly recommend "my pal Scout"). YAY! Congratulations to you AND the babies!
Posted by: Denise | May 12, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Oh my gosh I forgot the most important things... haha BALLS (soccer balls, basket balls, etc etc etc. ours loves his little kiddie hockey sticks and golf clubs too) BLOCKS (different kinds, nesting blocks, shape sorter, things like that).
Posted by: Denise | May 12, 2011 at 10:52 AM
I tried to sell her on the Joovy Big Caboose because it is the most awesome stroller ever.
Posted by: Faith | May 13, 2011 at 01:53 AM
Still can't live without my video baby monitor with 2 cameras, especially as mine are in beds not cribs. I prefer toilet reducer seats to potties but potties are good for car emergencies. And the mini kick scooters are amazing for 18/24months till about 5 or 6Years, so you will need 3, but fits in a trunk better than 3 trikes. And you will need slim car seats if you have a regular car. Rotate toys often so you only need a few out. And washable markers crayons paints etc.
Posted by: Miranda | May 15, 2011 at 09:17 PM
Congratulations! That is so exciting! I have a 3 year old (just turned last week) and a 17 month old, both boys and I second the train table, blocks, balls and outside toys like a sand and water table and a swingset when you get around to it. My boys would play outside all day if I would let them.
Also, we are at the point where a wagon is awesome. Little likes to ride and Big likes to pull satisfying his want to walk, but slowing him down from getting too far ahead.
And I also second the WASHABLE markers, paint and crayons, as well as playdough, bubbles and sidewalk chalk.
Three boys will keep you busy, but you'll love every minute of it!
Posted by: Brandi | May 16, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Thanks friends! We are so excited! I'm just excited to find a website like this. I'm going to need all the help I can get. I bought a small child's table from Ikea this weekend. It has adjustable legs so it will be able to grow with them. I didn't even think about that. I got a HUGE train table from my shower so I just need to find a place to put it now. I don't have a lot of balls yet but those are fairly cheap so I'll find a few at walmart. Thanks again for all the great advice!!
Posted by: Beth | May 23, 2011 at 07:03 PM
ohhh thank you i'm searching cheapest stroller for my baby today.
Posted by: buystroller | Jul 19, 2011 at 08:22 AM
I think you have really good knowledge regarding the kids choice. I love my kids a lot.I am thinking to gift them mini kick scooter.
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