[Jennifer H]

Our third baby is due in 7 or 8 weeks.

Our first two were held for every nap, nursed to sleep for the first 15 months of their life and co-slept until around 20-24 months. My five-year-old sleeps well since about two and a half. My two-year-old still needs us to lay with him to fall asleep and wakes several times a night. He needs a nap, but will NOT take them. He was up until Midnight most nights until he was over two years old.

They were both in daycare starting at 4 months and did nap at our DCP's house. Starting at about 12 months they got onto a schedule of eating with the other kids an napping right after lunch. Frankly, they THRIVED once they were on a schedule (what a difference it made)! This baby will not be going to daycare so will not have the advantage of being away from me to nap without nursing.

I prefer co-sleeping in the newborn stage because I can nurse more easily and watch over the baby better and I would NEVER let her CIO, but frankly, with two other kids, having to deal with dropping off my five-year-old at 7:45 am and picking him up at 11:30 am from kindergarten I need for this baby to get into a routine. I won't have the luxury of totally adhering to her schedule.

Maybe I'm just too old for all this! I am just so exhausted. I'm already feeling at the end of my rope with this!! How have you dealt with a newborn and other kids? Have any of you been successful in getting an infant onto a routine gently?

 

[pink star]

I find that wearing dd2 (we use a Bjorn, which she loves, because she never did enjoy the sling) in the early days was a lifesaver. It helped us adapt to each others "schedules".. she got to be close to mama and sleep and nurse at her convience and I got to attend to dd1 and get things done. Now, at 4 months old she is falling into a more predictable routine and I try to fit that into something that works for the family. It's a work in progress but things will fall into place as they will for you too! hang in there, mama!

 

[Piglet68]

That's great advice, Pink Star.

It is what I plan to do with my newborn as well. I'm basically going to try to establish a nice routine with DD (I'm working FT right now and she is home with DH, but as of September I'll be SAHM) and then when baby arrives, just bring him along in the sling.

I never really thought about whether this would put *him* on some sort of schedule (we didn't use schedules for DD and it always worked great to just go with her thing, until she became a toddler) but it could be a "side benefit" for someone in the OP's position.

 

[Jennifer H]

Thanks. It's been a long hard weekend. DH had surgery on Friday and so this tired mama had 100% of the household and childcare responsibilities this weekend. I'm still exhausted, but things look brighter today.

Keeping my fingers crossed that this one will not rebel at the sling or bjorn. My other two screamed everytime I put them either one (I would try several times a day in different positions for the first three months of their lives and they just wouldn't have anything to do with it).

With my second baby I was confined to a chair or holding him standing up 80% of the time until he could sit up on his own. Thankfully, my oldest was content to sit with us and read a LOT of books and he was in daycare part time even while I was on maternity leave.

I've bought two new slings, so she will have four options! I just know that I will have to be out and about more this time and ds#2 will not be going to daycare at all in a month so I will be needing to do some sort of preschool program with him at home. I just don't think sitting in a chair all day is as reasonable as it was with the others.

 

[Piglet68]

That will work in your favour, Jenn.

I don't know many babies who are content to just hang out at home in a sling, but be on the move and wow...they love it! I really recommend getting a nice day of activities scheduled for you and your older kids. Walking and getting out seem to really help babies adjust to slings!