Two Under Two

Going Anywhere

"Before I leave the house, I have to nurse Kip, change him, and get him in the car seat -- and if I'm too slow my toddler grabs my keys and runs wild. Then comes the hard part: carrying everything and everyone to the car!" --Lisa Farrell; Chicago, Illinois

How to deal: First, leave extra time to get where you're going. Second, stop lugging a diaper bag and keep your car stocked with anything you might need, from diapers to snacks. Third, think about how you?ll get from the car to your destination: Are you happiest with your infant in a BabyBj?rn while you hold your older child's hand? Is a double stroller more your style? Just put safety first -- if your toddler can't be trusted to not dart into traffic, strap her in.

Also consider where you're going, says Jennifer Bingham Hull, author of Beyond One: Growing a Family and Getting a Life. "With a toddler spilling orange juice while you try to nurse the baby, that coffee shop you used to frequent with just one may not be a good fit," she says. So seek out places that are meant for young kids and the noise and mess that goes with them, from storytime at the library to the local park. And don't feel ashamed if you suddenly become a homebody: There's nothing wrong with staying in your backyard and having another mom and her kids over when you need to socialize.