[LauraWV]

We're having our second baby in July, and I'm wondering how I manage getting them both down for nap times. I can imagine bedtime, because my husband can put the 2 year old to bed, and I can take care of the newborn, but how do I do it by myself during the day? (and likewise, how does Nana do it by herself during the weekday while I'm working?)

We have always laid down with our son to get him to sleep, so how does this work with a newborn? Can the 3 of us lay down together?

 

[beccalou79]

I'm in the throes of that right now-- I have a toddler and a newborn, and like you, I was nervous about how the whole sleep situation was going to pan out-- but honestly, it's not that bad. (At least not at this stage-- it may be more tricky when the baby's older and more active.) Right now, though, I curl up in bed with both kids-- Maddie (the toddler) drinks her bottle while Bryce (the baby) breastfeeds, and I lay between them. Sometimes Maddie falls asleep while slurping her milk down, and when that's the case, I hop up with Bryce and go back downstairs-- the best scenario, since that's the only part of the day I can get some "me" time! When she doesn't fall asleep right away, though, I resign myself to staying there till she does-- but I don't really interact with her (i.e. rocking, singing or anything that, at this stage, tends to stimulate more than calm her), and she ends up falling asleep on her own after about 30 minutes. I just always lay next to her, and keep feeding or holding Bryce while Maddie curls up behind me and gradually winds down. Sometimes I fall asleep, too, LOL! So take heart-- it's really not as impossible a situation as it seems.

 

[emice]

My son is 4 months and my daughter is 2.
Ever since he was born I just nursed him while I read books and rub my daughter's back until she falls asleep.
They go to sleep at the same time almost every single night.
We all co-sleep. I spread them far apart on a king size bed and put a pillow between them, close to her and farther from him. I check on them frequently (my computer is right outside the bedroom door) and when i go to bed I move the pillow and slip in between them.
They do not really sleep at the same time during the day, but I try to just enjoy the individual time I get with them.
Dear Daughter has apparently given up her nap (cry!) but now she goes to bed early (8:00-8:30). She has always been a crappy sleeper, so ironically I have more time to myself now than I have ever had since she was born!
Honestly, it has worked out better than I had ever hoped.
Like I said, since day one, I tried putting them down at the same time every night. We did some tandem nursing for awhile, but I think we are pretty much done with that.
Good luck,
Elizabeth