Mom Blog and Baby Blog | Baby Bunching

baby bunching Q/A: 3 across

Q: So, I just found out I'm pregnant with number 3 (completely unexpected) and my due date will be near my daughter's 3rd birthday and son will be 20 months. How in the world am I going to fit three car seats in my car!? I have a Saturn Vue. I saw people suggesting the Radian. We currently have 2 safety first air protects, would a third fit okay, or should we go ahead and get the Radians?

A: Fitting three car seats across can be tricky in any vehicle. The upside to having a van/SUV with a third row just means less struggle with this configuration since you have the third row option, but it's still a struggle. Since you're looking at probably two-forward facing and one rear facing, you might be OK. Usually it's the third forward-facing car seat that pushes over the end. The rear-facing car seats tend to fit nicely as if you're completing the puzzle, but it depends on your car so test it out before baby #3 arrives.

Here are a few thoughts:

1) You might look into a different rear-facing car seat. The new guidelines suggest stay rear-facing until age 2 so you could get one of the newfangled car seats that supports this and make your life easier by having that seat rear-facing longer. With two other kids in the back to entertain him or her, you'll probably be able to keep him/her facing backwards longer and avoid the dreaded three-car seat shuffle with all front-facing seats.

2) Do a test run with all your current car seats you plan to use within the next year. Make sure they all fit well and the infant seat is easy to get in and out without too much fuss. If for any reason it's not, I would look into changing something--whether it's the rear-facing seat (mentioned above) or giving the Radian a try. You could always buy the other seats and return them if they don't help out.

3) If you're planning to keep your car for a while, try the configuration with the booster thrown in there as well. You would think those are narrower, but often they are just as wide and can make the three-across difficult.  This just gives you an idea of how your family will grow in your car.

With all that said, we're optimistic you can make it work, and we're excited to hear the news of your new baby.

baby bunching Q/A: resetting for the morning

Q: Can you provide some tips on routines or what I should be doing the night before to make for smoother next day for two-under-two?

A: For the first 18 months or so of the smallest member of your Bunch’s life, your least favorite times of day will probably be early morning and bedtime.  While we know nighttime is crazy with getting everyone cleaned up and to bed, it never seems near as hectic as the morning. To make the morning easier, we always recommend prepping--even a little bit--the night before to help you mentally prepare for the chaos in the morning. (We know this means more work after they go to bed, but we promise it's worth it!)

Before we suggest some routines, we want to remind you that things need a place. It has taken us many years of practice to discover this, but you have to channel your inner preschool teacher and designated places (even better if that place can be a bin or basket) for every thing. Buy big bins (for all floors) or containers and shove your toys in them.  Organizing toys for babies and toddlers is an exercise in futility – spare yourself.  You can go through once a quarter or every six months and pare down/organize, but day-to-day just shove/hide it in a container. 

Now here is our unofficial (and always editable) list of night time reset routines:

• Pick up toys (aka throw in bins)
• Clean the kitchen each night and enlist hubby’s help. We're talking wipe down the counters and put stuff away. Not really clean the kitchen. It is a sanity saver to start the next day with a clean slate!
• Only sweep your floors once a day (but wipe up sticky spills as soon as they happen).  Nighttime seems the best solution for this since it will actually stay clean for 8 full hours!
• Restock dressing/diaper changing areas on all floors. Since it is a pain in the neck to travel back and forth from areas as a unit, try to bring everything you need to get everyone dressed into the kitchen/dining area when you bring the children in for breakfast.  This means diapers, clothes, shoes/socks, toothbrushes (you should already have these at your kitchen sink, per our earlier recommendations).  Don’t forget any combs or hair stuff you might need. 
• Pick out clothes for the next day. Actually, we suggest this so you ensure you have clean clothes. Ironically the person that's likely out of clean clothes is you. Especially if you work, make sure you have all things for dressing everyone in the morning.
• Ensure all papers are signed and bags are packed for daycare/preschool.
• Set your coffee pot to 'go' so you don't have to manage this. Even better if there's a timer that has it waiting for you when you wake up.

We assure you that this lesson in resetting won't be wasted! Because right now that our own kids are school-age, we are spending each evening making lunches, signing papers and restocking back packs for the school rush.

baby bunching Q/A: a bunch and twins on the way

Q: I recently found out I will be having twin boys before my oldest son's 3rd birthday. My youngest son will be 19 months when the twins are born.  I was wondering if you had any advice?  I was ready for my current Bunch. I love having the kids so close in age since my first two are great friends already, but this feels like a super bunch at this point and I would love to hear any advice you have to offer.

A: You are one of our blessed "advanced Baby Bunchers" who will be mom to 4 under 3. Congrats to your growing family of men! We wish we could bestow some super powers onto you for this fabulous adventure, but know that we are sending you prayers and emotional strength your way. We have many friends and readers with three under three who all admit that things were crazy during the early days, as I'm sure they already are.

Not being experts in the land of multiples, we'll offer up a few suggestions and then strongly lean on our fabulous readers for some of their tips. The good news is you've already done this Baby Bunching one time, so while it's not exactly the same, realize that practice makes....well, better. You have a few more months to get ready for the twins so here are some thoughts:

-- Get organized now. You remember what it was like to have baby and toddler so get people on schedules and start shopping around for gear to keep everyone contained.

--Your three-year will become your invaluable helper. He may not want to, but hey, that's the joy of siblings. Your older boys will probably become great friends as a result and you might possibly groom your middle child into a great helper early on.

--Enlist help now. Pay it forward now with friends and neighbors if you can and cash in on assistance after the twins are born to help you out.

--Remember to let it go and be flexible. You will cry and have hard days. Babies are not all the same. What worked for one may not work for the other. Survival is key and do whatever it takes to make it through the day.

If you're a mom to 4 under 3, multiples or 3 under 3, please help out our newest advanced Baby Buncher with a few suggestions and tips.

Q/A: baby gear essentials: avoiding big gear in a small house

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?  

baby bunching Q/A: exhausting your toddler

This question arrived just in time for our weekly Q&A.

Q: I have an 18 month old & 2 month old. My question is how do exercise your older child when you're alone with both? Before my daughter was born I'd take my son to the playground & he did a class at The Little Gym. Now he isn't getting the physical activity he once got & it seems to be affecting his ability to sleep. All feedback is greatly appreciated!

A: Oh, we never want anything to interfere with anyone's sleep so let's get on this question. First off, unless you're going to get a sitter, skip places like Little Gym with your toddler for a long while (until you can get both kids into the same class). I have a very vivid memory of a Little Gym class with my 18-month old son and my daughter who was about the same age as yours in the Baby Bjorn screaming her head off. I never went back.

You have a few options here of places to visit with toddler and baby to exhaust your older one:

1) Playgrounds. Remember that not all playgrounds are created equal so find a very toddler-friendly one and do what you can in the great outdoors with baby in the stroller, sling or carrier. They may be shorter trips than you're used to, but meet up with some friends so you have some helps spotting your toddler. He'll be tired when he's done.

2) The pool. It's summer now and while your wee one may not be ready for fun in the sun your toddler would probably love the play in the baby pool. Get some fun toys for the pool, have the baby again in a carrier or stroller and go until someone gets fussy.

3) Nature centers, farms or gardens. Bring the stroller along and let your toddler just go hog wild by running. You may have to run to keep up with him, but he'll be exhausted.

4) Backyard playdate. Even if you don't have a backyard, you probably have a friend who does. I always found yards, with friends of course, to be the best exercise for me. That meant baby could hang out, be changed and fed in privacy without too much sprinting and we might even be able to enjoy a cup of coffee while they played.

 If you can't get out to exercise, have him help you fill the laundry basket with several trips back and forth or have your own at-home dance party. Remember that this phase is short and your toddler will exhaust from normal everyday stimulation. Before you know it you'll be chasing after him down the street as he takes off on his scooter with little one right behind. Then you'll be getting the exercise.

 

baby bunching Q/A: getting out of the house with baby + toddler

Q: Any advice on how to get out of the house successfully with a 14 month old and newborn?

A: Planning. Planning. Planning. Getting out of the house with your kids is a learned skill. Some days you will get it totally right. Some days you will need to give up and go home. But most days will be a combo of the two. Planning your trip will be the best way to get you out and back in one piece without any tears. 

We are reposting some of our tips because we all need to be reminded, especially me on the food issue as I pushed my Bunch (7 and almost 6) too far last week on no food and had to pay the piper in the end with two crying kids. Always come prepared. 

Definition of a Successful Outing: An excursion outside the realm of one’s abode—whether a walk down the street or a trip across town on the subway—where no child is in tears, hurt, hungry, left behind or locked in car; where mom is not in tears, hurt or needing a drink; where at least one of the outing’s goals is “accomplished;” and at least two of members of the family come home smiling. 

This may seem like a tall order to fill. Or you may be thinking that you don’t know what the hell is wrong with our disorganized asses, but all of YOUR outings will be successful.  Either way, we promise that you need the advice we are about to provide.

The three most important skills for planning and executing successful outings are: 

1) Developing your plan. A few questions to consider:
•     Transportation.  Are you walking, driving, or taking public transportation?  This will determine what kind of stroller you should take. With kids this young, you need something to carry everyone in--sling, carrier, stroller. Always.
•     Ease of navigation.  Will it be crowded?  Will there be ramps for your stroller?  Will you have to walk a long distance across a busy parking lot?  Again, all factors that determine what kind of “wheels”, slings, or baby carriers you should bring.
•     Proximity to food.  Can you buy age-appropriate (bonus points for nutritious) food for all parties if someone starts to break down or do you need to bring your own?  And never, EVER assume that you will be able to complete an outing without food.  Always, always, always have a healthy, yummy snack for all children on hand – you never know when you will have to buy time with a handful of animal crackers (yeah, yeah – we all said we never do it – get over it.)  If your outing will encompass a meal time, be sure you have plenty of food on hand, plus one extra snack beyond what you think you will need.  Don’t forget sippy cups/bottles for all! Did we mention lots of snacks?
•     Quality of destination’s baby-proofedness.  Whether you are going over to a childless friend’s house for dinner or to the mall, think realistically about what you will need to keep your little ones not only entertained, but safe.  We recommend always having some way to either strap all parties into a chair/seat of some sort or wear them on your body, in case you get desperate.

2) Having a Backup Plan. Now that you’ve packed your 63-piece luggage set with everything you need to make a “quick” trip to the drugstore, be sure you have a backup plan.  What will you do if you get there and it’s too crowded and your kids wig out or you can’t keep track of them?  Or if somebody woke up too early that morning and are so tired by the middle of the outing that they are acting like hellacious beasts?  You gotta be prepared for all these scenarios because you will encounter one or more of them at some point.  You need to be flexible in case things don’t go according to plan (and they frequently don’t).  This may mean accepting a substitute – product, outing location, whatever.  Or it may mean scoping out the nearest exit.  Which brings us to….

3) Recognizing When to Cut Your Losses. Sometimes it’s just not worth it.  If your kid(s) is so tired/hungry/bored that he is a fussy nightmare and no one is having any fun or getting anything accomplished, do yourself a favor and go home.  Who cares if you drove across town to treat your kids to the children’s museum – if they’re not having any fun, it’s not worth it anyway.  If you’re at Target and you’re only three items into your list, get only the most critical things you need (i.e. the diapers and the laundry detergent) and come back for the rest another time.  Which reminds us – with any outing, always, always do the most important thing that you came for very first, so that if things go awry and you have to bail, you at least got the most important thing accomplished.

 Enjoy your outing as much as you can. Take pleasure knowing that each time you get it right and each time you get it wrong, you get wiser and more experienced. And try, please try, to do all necessary errands if possible on the weekend when you have extra hands or even get the chance to go alone. This way the weekday trips are just trips to venture out into the world with your Bunch, for fun, shall we say.

 

baby bunching Q/A: potty training toddler w/ baby

Q: Can you give me advice on potty training my very ready 22 month old girl while, juggling my five month old? We tried and she likes it, but the baby is always needing something when she wants to go, or she wants to sit forever and the baby starts to cry. Help!

A: This is one of the first of many Baby Bunching lessons you will have to master. Everyone always suddently needs something when you're dealing with the other. Always. Our kids, collectively, have gone through many 'windows' of being potty ready, and I think you have to take one of those and go with it. So if it's 22 months and you want to brave it, we applaud you! My kids never showed the typical signs like being dry all night long. But there was a point when they were dry for long periods of time. But generally I knew they were ready when they started talking about it more and more.

But if you do the math, most of us are doing the potty training when our oldest kids are 2 ½ to 3 years old. Where does that put your little one? Crawling and/or walking around in the lovely he’s-into-everything-phase. So while you’re trying to cajole one to pee pee on the potty, the other one is probably emptying the trash, taking the TP off the roll or in the kitchen eating from something in the pantry.

You can’t be in two places at once at any point in this process. So whether it's now when your baby is 5 months old, it will be equally (if not more) difficult when baby is 14 months old.

When I potty trained my son, he was just about two-and-a-half. My daughter was 15 months and hated to be left alone for longer than half a second. I was trying to spend all my time in the bathroom with him and she was crying because I couldn’t spend the time with her. If he hadn’t been ready for the potty, I probably would have just waited 6 months, and trained them both at the same time. Although I imagine that’s not easy either.

Here are some general thoughts to consider before/during potty training your first born:

Be realistic. If you’ve just had a new baby and your toddler show signs of wanting to use the potty, know that this probably is not the best time to tackle this. I tried this with Alex at 18 months. (Anna was 2 months old) Yeah, it didn’t work. I missed that window of opportunity. [Hint to you who haven’t gone this route: There will be another one.] Each of my kids had about 3-4 ‘windows’ where they showed interest in it. As a new mom, the first time we hit one, I went out and bought the potty and tried to go forth. Little did I know potty training is about both child AND mom being ready. Do it when you’re in the right mental state to do it. Cuz it ain't easy. They don’t call it training for nothing!

Do it fast. Don’t drag out the training process. It’s better to dedicate a weekend or a weekend plus a few days to just doing this and being done. You have another little one who needs you too. If it’s not working after a few days. Back off and try again another time.

This will change up your outing routine. Nothing says nightmarish fun like having a great time on the playground with your kids, and your oldest--who you’re potty training--decides he has to pee RIGHT NOW! That means you have to go right now, too. Even if you just spread out lunch on the blanket. Even if you just sat down at McDonalds to eat. You have to go right now. I have fond memories of us loading our Happy Meal into the stroller so Alex could pee….Anna still chowing down on the hamburger in the bathroom. Gross, huh? (See, at 5 months, your baby is still happy to just hang out!)

The good news is your little one is little and doesn’t mind a sprint or change of venue to dash to the bathroom. The tables will be turned—in probably a year or so—when you’re doing this dash for your younger one. Your older child will be the disappointed one at that point.

Potty Training is a full-time job. Potty training is an all-day affair. Call in reinforcements when you do it. Have your spouse around to take the younger child off your hands or to give you a break from cleaning up pee. Grandma? Great. Have her come in and befriend the wee one. No one should do it alone.

The bottom line is everyone in the house needs to be in this together. And once you decide it’s the right time, just go for it. Rip it off like a Bandaid. It will go much faster and in the end a weekend of madness is worth it if you’re done.

baby bunching Q/A: going out with three under 2 1/2

We found this question buried in our archives. Our apologies for it taking this long to surface, but this always seems to be a popular question.

Q: I need ideas on going out with my boys, I have 4 kids but 3 are bunched--ages 4, 3 and 1. I had an umbrella stroller double, but it is to hard to maneuver and I still have a child that may or may not cooperate. Any ideas from you or your readers would be greatly appreciated.

A: Getting out is always going to be a challenge and will always take some planning and strategy. Always! You're at the point where purchasing another double stroller is probably moot since your 4-year old isn't riding much and your 3-year old probably won't be for too much longer. Where you go will probably also determine what you need when you're out and about. With this configuration, places with carts may be the easiest, but it often depends on your kids and their ability to stay with you or sit down in the cart.

There are a few possibilities you could explore, but it might mean getting a few accessories.

1) Find a used Sit n' Stand and give this try. You might be able to even get your two Bigs to sit on the seat together now and then.  This stroller will probably still only last you another year, but it does give you some good options to keep everyone together.

2) Ditch the double and revert back to your previous single. (We're just assuming you have one of these.) and use a product like a tag*a*long.These after market accessories can be added to strollers or even carts. Yes, you could make your own with a rope or something similar, but it wouldn't look this cute. Keep these on hand and use with your single or double stroller.

3) Buggy Board. Note: these are not for little kids! You probably couldn't attach this to your current double umbrella if it's already too hard to push with two kids, but this on the back of your single might be a nice option for either your 4 or 3-year old to jump on and off while you're out and about.

You mentioned an older sibling who isn't Bunched. You might enlist him/her to be on sibling duty with one of the older two of the Bunch. Perhaps he/she takes the 4-year old's hand and you have the 3 year old ride on the Buggy Board. Whatever you decide to do, will depend a lot on your kids' personalities and stroller temperament. When my son turned 3, he was completely done with the stroller. But I know kids who are nearing 5 who are still up for a ride.

All in all, it's a lesson for every child in learning to stay with you. When they are 2-3 this is a bit harder to teach since they tend to roam, but by age 4 this is something worth investing some time in teaching, especially since you have younger kids you will have to continue to rein in for some time.

We'd love to hear some suggestions from our readers.

baby bunching Q/A: getting back on track; staying on top of it all

Q:  As a Buncher of an 8-month old and a 21-month old, the level of control and organization needed in our household to survive each day is comparable to that of the military. But what do you do when you feel it all falling apart? I feel like I'm behind with everything in the house so don't know where to start, the youngest is teething and the oldest is showing signs of needing to potty train. How do you take stock of it all and get yourself back on track - any advice?

A:  As we all know, Baby Bunching at its best is a finely oiled machine (even thought it may appear to the average outsider as sheer chaos).  This requires a Buncher to bring her A-game every day and there is ZERO margin for error.  In order for my household to run smoothly, each day must include children napping on schedule, at least one (sometimes two) loads of laundry, at least one dishwasher cycle, and a clean sweep of the kitchen and toys in the living room.  At a minimum!  And that's before I even factor in the job I get paid to do.

Heaven forbid you should deicide to spend one naptime hour simply watching General Hospital instead of folding the day's laundry while doing so - you will feel the tidal wave of housework begin to creep up on you.  If, by chance, a child gets sick, there is an out-of-town house guest that generates an extra load of sheets and towels or requires a home-cooked meal, or the family decides to go on vacation (usually defined for mom and dad as taking some time off work so that they can Baby Bunch in a different location), all bets are off and you will find yourself consumed by mess.  Or even worse case scenario - if you yourself get sick, forget it.  You may as well lay there and die because by the time you come back to reality your house will be unrecognizable.

The only thing you can plan on for sure is that one of these things WILL happen to you.  The good news is that you can also pretty much assure that eventually, you will get your footing back.  Here's a few suggestions for how to get started regaining control:

• Settle the kiddos.  If everything's gone to hell in a hand-basket, cut yourself some slack and give yourself permission to do whatever you need to do to get the kids settled long enough to think for a few minutes. Don't be afraid to pull out the big guns:  Elmo DVD's, fruit snacks, maybe even a juick box or a cookie, or even a new toy you've been saving for the next birthday.  Find something that will keep both kids occupied for a bit.
• Clear a spot.  The next thing you need to do is get control over ONE (don't get carried away and start doing multiple rooms) room or even area in your house.  Start with a clean kitchen/counter or a tidied dining room/table, or even a straightened living room/desk.  Find one area where you can clear the physical clutter enough to feel like you can clear your mind.
• Brain dump.  I am a huge pen-and-paper list maker.  For those of you techno junkies, there are also apps that you can use.  I like to make categories - mine are usually: House (chores, fix-it projects, yard stuff, etc.), Home To Do (things like bill paying, Goodwill drop-offs, make Dr. appointments, put away hand-me-downs, etc, and Work To Do (I work part-time in theory, and frequently from home, so my to-do lists are always getting intermingled).  The point here is to make a list of every item you can think of that is hanging over your head that needs to be done.  This way you have a master working to-do list.  Keep in mind that if it took you a week to get behind, it may take you a week to catch up - that's ok.
• Outsource.  Quickly (italicized because it is the operative word in this sentence) go through the list and see if there is anything you can get someone else to do - your husband, a friend, a babysitter/house cleaner, etc.  Zip the person an email right then, if possible, and ask them if they can do it.  Then it's (at least temporarily) on their to do list.
• Prioritize. Get a weekly calendar.  Pick the top FIVE (no more than five, b/c you know even that's ambitious) things that need to be tackled THAT DAY ONLY.  This way, you know in the morning what your daily goals are.  As soon as the kids go down to nap or bed, you can tackle those items instead of running around like a chicken with your head cut off feeling that there is so much to do you don't even know where to start.
• Call in reinforcements.  This is a biggie.  Have the hubs, a grandparent, a neighbor, a babysitter - anyone who will say yes - take the kids for just two hours so that you can run around and make as much progress on that to-do list as possible.  If it's your husband, we recommend that you push for four hours/a half day.  After all, the predicament you're in is half his fault.  You will be amazed at how much progress you can make without your little assistants in tow!
• Check off.  When you complete an item, don't forget to check it off.  We all derive satisfaction from that little positive reinforcement of progress.  It'll keep you motivated. 

I try to use this system on a weekly basis and try to make Sunday night as my "take stock" night to prioritize and get geared up for the week.  My mother-in-law even got me a nifty personalized notepad where I jot my daily priority items for the week, but a plain old calendar will do too.  No, it doesn't always happen every Sunday, but it always happens post-crisis and gets me back on track every time.  

baby bunching Q/A: shared toys

Q: Do you have any toy suggestions for the baby and toddler in my life? I have 2 girls, 8 months and 26 months, and they're just starting to really interact. Any good toys to foster that relationship early on? I think we're going to hold off another year for the big doll house stuff.

A: It's so fun when your Bunch begins to interact and eventually begins to play together. You're probably still a ways away from hours of play (where you can sit and read a magazine), but that time will come soon enough. For right now, your main thing will be teaching your kids how to play as nicely as possible. In another few months when your baby becomes a toddler the dynamics will change, dramatically. This is when sharing and taking turns kicks into high gear. Or should we say, takes you for a rollercoaster ride.

One of the perks to Baby Bunching is you needing to buy less stuff and that includes toys. Even if your kids are different genders, you do not need doubles of everything and toys in a million different age stages. When buying toys, buy gifts that both children will use/enjoy.  That's not to say that we don't indulge in special requests from our (very different) children, but we try to focus on constructive stuff for them to do.  Even better if they require interaction between the two of them and even better if said interaction can occur without my assistance --Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, art supplies, puzzles, games, etc.

But at this age when your kids are still small, I don't think a specific toy really matters. Even a book is great especially if your two-year old can "read" to your baby. If your oldest enjoys art, legos, trains, dolls or even a ball go with that. Your baby will follow suit because she just wants to be like the big kids. It was until our kids were about 3 that we really started to see preferance for actual toys and even then sometimes our younger ones just want to play with the older ones. (This is still the case.)

Our suggestion is if you want to buy toys, find things that can grow with your kids through different stages, like Fisher Price Little People sets or even some ride-on toys, and then focus more on the interaction and teaching your children the sharing concept once your youngest hits about a year.