BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

I know they say "sleep when they sleep" but how do you do that when you have a newborn and a very active 2 year old...im wondering how I balance the night time feeding and a 2 year old that only takes 1 nap a day...I only have DH home for 3 days after I get home from the hospital...

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

I went to bed super early, like 8 or 9, right after my toddler went down. My DH always did the last feeding w/ the baby. I did the 2/3am feeding and went right back to sleep until 6/7 when they both usually got up.

Luckily DD slept through the night at around 10 weeks.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

To be honest, it's really tough and I was so so so tired..if I was lucky enough to get them to nap at the same time, I could rest, but that did not happen often in the beginning. Sometimes when I was really exhausted, I would let DS watch TV while i took a little snooze. He stayed right next to me..i hated doing it, but there times I could barely stay awake and the 20 min power nap helped. It does get easier, and luckily DD STTN early on, but the first few weeks are pretty tough. Now the both take a long afternoon nap so we all get to sleep lol.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

You don't. LOL. In all honesty, I had very very little sleep for nearly two years. On a good night maybe six hours with one or two wake ups. When my infant was a newborn maybe 3 hours. And no naps because they never napped together.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

I'm a week PP and I can tell you in the beginning you don't...Thankfully DD1 goes to bed super early so I can somewhat relax in between feedings!!

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

Ehhhh I didnt find t to be too bad. There were only handful of BAD bad nights and the next day I threw in movies and tried to relax on the couch.

She is 2.5 months and sleeps at least 8 hours overnight so I am lucky, but the first few weeks I was definitely exhausted.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

Every once in a while, their naps would be at the same time, but for the most part, I didn't sleep during the day. I would go to bed as early as I could, but with BFing, I was pretty much tired all the time. Lots of coffee in our house.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

Um, I don't...
4 months in and baby still wakes up every 3 hours. I work when the other two go to sleep until 12-1am so, really I get maybe 3-4 hours of sleep a night.

Message edited 7/10/2011 1:53:07 PM.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

For me it worked out well...I am a strict schedule mom and my kids adjusted to it. DS took nap from 1:30-3:30 so I made sure to nurse right before this time and put baby down and DS, baby would wake earlier than son, but I could get at least an 1 nap.

DS went to bed at 8:15ish, then I would nurse baby, put her down and go to bed.

Once she was about 12 weeks she was in bed at 9 (son in bed, nursed her at 8:30), and would sleep till about 5/6, eat then back to bed till 9 like DS. They both would nap at 1:30-3:30ish, baby taking 2 additional naps.

Now she is 16mths, son is 3..they both nap together still and bed at 8:30 together.

I can't complain..I have been STTN since about 4mths....I am a big believer in scheduling..

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

I will not sugar cost if because it is extremely tough especially when your a SAHM & DH works a lot of hours. I was fortunate to have my mom staying with us for the first month Nicholas came home so she would do one of the later feedings. JJ was still taking 2 naps when Nicholas was born but now they are on similar schedules.

Nicholas just started to STTN at 10.5 months making my days extremely long. Both boys are up by 5-530sm but fortunately are in bed by 730. I an in bed at 930 the latest.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

I used to go to bed around 9/10pm and DH would usually do a feeding around 10ish and then she would be up again around 1am. So I would get about 4 hours sleep.

Also if it worked that both slept at the same time during the day (which almost never worked for me) then I would take a nap.

Luckily DD#2 started STTN at 3 weeks from 10pm-6am. I was soooooo lucky.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

I kept my DD in daycare while I was on maternity leave. I swear that saved my mind. She wasn't bored at home with me and I was able to "rest" (AKA laundry, dishes, etc) when DS took naps.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

My mom came to help me 4x per week and she still does. For the first 6 weeks, I was deliriously tired. I was beyond tired and very cranky. At 2 months, it got better. I was still tired but it wasn't too bad. Now DS is 3m old and sleeps through the night most nights. I try to sleep early and DH lets me sleep in on the weekends.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

I just went through this but I am not a SAHM so my son who is 3 1/2 continued to go to preschool/daycare while I was on maternity leave. This was good for me and good for him to keep him on his schedule. I am also very fortunate that DD is an excellent sleeper and was sleeping for 8 hours at a time at 3 weeks old. Definitely get your rest when you can and go to bed early when both kids are in bed.

Re: BTDT Moms: Newborn and a toddler---how do you get rest/sleep?

You don't!

Like KerriSteve - I went to bed early - like 8:30-9pm after DD#1 went to bed. DH had the 8:30pm-1am shift and then I took over again when the baby woke up.

Message edited 7/10/2011 11:20:07 PM.