If you have 2+ kids, please come in...

maiziegirl

When the 2nd, 3rd, etc. was born, how did you find time to get sleep?  By the time we have (if we're that lucky) another child, our first will be 3+ years old and probably not napping much.  With the first, I thought I was exhausted and I was still able to nap when the baby napped, so I don't know how you do it when you're not able to nap when the baby naps.  I'm really nervous about this because I have a sleep disorder that technically requires that I sleep 10+ hours a night or else I'm really tired.  Any suggestions would be great.  Thanks!

ecoppins

Butting in...

A couple of my friends at the office have just had their second/third child. I too was worried about this. They said that they were more tired with the first, that somehow you just aren't as tired with the second + child. I am really afraid of this too, but thus is life. You may want to arrange and activity for #1 during the time that your #2 naps so you can nap. Or try getting a babysitter for an hour or something like that.?

TheBrowns

DS still takes naps so I can usually get them both down in the afternoon for some period of time. He also goes to preschool 2 days a week, so if I want to nap with the baby in the morning I can. I would just keep trying to keep your DC napping as long as possible...I hope my kids nap until they go to school!

adri77

Wow, throwing the sleep disorder into the mix is rough.....hhmmmmm......well, I have always worked very hard at making sure my 2 napped at the same time.  But you think your little one won't be napping.  I would try my hardest to make sure that he is still napping.  I think a 3 year old still needs a nap, or at least an hour of down time.  Maybe you could put a movie in or something and rest on the couch while he does something?  And when your DH comes home, I would go right to bed.  And pray that your baby is a good sleeper at night!!!

GettinNervous

It was hell for me. My DH worked overnight, so he was NO help. #2 didn't STTN until she was 16 months old, and #1 was still waking up once when #2 was born.

A typical night:  #1 would go to bed at a decent time. #2 was still up. #2 would finally fall asleep but only for 2-3 hours max. By the time I got #2 back to sleep, #1 was awake. By the time I got #1 back to sleep, #2 was crying again. By the time #2 got back to sleep, #1 was up FOR THE DAY.

When DH got home, I would try to sleep but with all of the noise and daylight I couldn't really sleep more than an hour or two. I have no idea how I functioned.

SpartanGirl

DS was a terrible sleeper up until about a month ago.  DD does not nap.  On days that I was really exhausted, I would catch a catnap when DH got home from work.  DH also got up with DS sometimes during the night so that I could sleep a bit longer.  On weekends I would try to squeeze in naps or sleep in a bit later than usual. 

I was (actually still am) exhausted.  Since DS didn't start sttn until after I was pregnant again (he was up 4-5 times a night), I never felt that I got "caught up."  I think you just learn to function on less sleep.