Mummy's Little Monkey published this post on 18 July, 2011...
A survey pinged into email box a few weeks ago. To be honest, I don't usually pay much attention to them, as they can be a bit... how can I put this... mind-numbingly boring.
But this one grabbed my attention, because it was so darn true!
It was carried out by Munchkin, and talked about how Mums tend to do things much differently with their second child.
As I read it through, I smiled, nodded, and even cringed a little. Let's see if you spot anything familiar...
Basically, 3000 Mums were surveyed, and 75 percent of them said they were much more relaxed second time around.
It revealed that younger siblings often moved on to solid foods sooner, with just over quarter of mums admitting they didn't make special baby meals with their second, preferring to integrate what the rest of the family is eating into baby portions.
In my case Lil Sis was exclusively breastfed for the first six months, just like Big Sis. But while I came over all Annabel Karmel with Big Sis, and hand made my own vegetable purees, Lil Sis gets jars. Organix ones, mind, but jars all the same.
With my writing work, a household to run, and two kids to rein in, I simply don't have time to be boiling broccoli, and mixing up batches of sweet potato mash every few days.
And, in my defence, I simultaneously introduced her to Baby-Led Weaning, so she started eating things like roast chicken, veggies, fruit toast, and veggie sausages a lot earlier than Big Sis and has a varied, and healthy appetite as a result.
First time round I baulked at the idea of second-hand clothes, insisting that everything be brand-spanking new, and even turning my nose up at gently-worn offerings from friends.
Now that I know how quickly kids grow out of stuff (or trash it with aforementioned sweet potato mash) I realise that's it's not just ridiculous snobbery, but a complete and utter waste of money too. So Lil Sis has a pile of hand-me-downs, mixed with some new stuff of her very own.
I don't buy her as many toys either, and certainly not the ridiculously priced ones that cost almost as much as a week's grocery shopping.
That's not me being tight (honest) I've just learned that kids don't need every new product under the sun to be happy - after all, they can only play with one thing at a time, and usually it's the cheapest, ugliest thing in the toybox. Big Sis once spent hours playing with a Tesco mop bucket and a pile of plastic nappy bags. Seriously.
I've also set down some ground rules with the assorted grandparents - no toys consisting of little bits that can be strewn from one end of the lounge to the other. No musical toys that don't include a volume control, and an off switch, and a total ban on anything that repeatedly sings the same song over and over, in a tinny American accent. Or a British one for that matter.
I'm much more chilled out about Lil Sis getting dirty, or taking a tumble as she starts to explore the world. It's not that I care less about her possibly hurting herself, it's just that I know instantly from the tone of her cry whether to rush to her side, or let her settle herself.
So while Big Sis had a lot more attention, Lil Sis has a more relaxed, confident Mum, AND a big sister to keep her entertained.
I reckon that pretty much evens things out...
• This is NOT a sponsored post, but if you want to check out the Munchkin range, you can find them here: go to applewww.munchkin.co.uk
Sign up to Mummy's Little Monkey's RSS feed to keep up to date with her posts.
See moreBack to All Best Blogs articles
