please tell me it gets better

m&m2006

i currently have 2 under 2, and i'm running low on both ends.  DD1 has been battling a cough/cold for the last month (dr. says it's just cold after cold), so her sleep is being affected...and DD2 is NOWHERE near sttn.  she goes a long time before bottles, but she fusses all night long.  i'm exhausted and some days i really just want to scream.  please tell me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that i'll be able to see it soon!

sccalla

Hang in there, it definitely gets better.  The early 2U2 months were really tough for me too (I am pretty sure I had at least one sick kid at all times from the day DD was born until she was 5 months old).  Around 4 months I finally started to feel a little more adjusted to life with 2U2 so much so that we will be trying for 3U3.

shotzie

It does get better. DD2 finally started sleeping longer stretches at about 5 months and that has made a huge difference for me. We also went through a bout of illnesses in the first couple months of DD2's life. DD1 had a terrible cold and ear infection when DD2 was 6 wks old. DD1 would only sleep if DH or I held her upright in the recliner downstairs. That week was a nightmare. Then both girls ended up in the ER in April with colds that caused breathing problems. When it rains, it pours!

Do you have any family/friends nearby who could help out so you can get some rest? Or at least, maybe on the weekends, your DH could take over so you can get a nice long nap...?

NCMichelle

Things got better around 4-5 months.  Things got A LOT better around 6 months.  DS started sleeping more then and I was able to sleep more.  I always do better with more sleep. Things get WAY better when they start to play together and you can actually do dishes without someone screaming bloody murder.  

Hang in there.  It isn't easy. 

silkyhorse

NCMichelle:

Things got better around 4-5 months.  Things got A LOT better around 6 months.  DS started sleeping more then and I was able to sleep more.  I always do better with more sleep. Things get WAY better when they start to play together and you can actually do dishes without someone screaming bloody murder.  

Hang in there.  It isn't easy. 

This is so good to hear!  I got a total of 2 1/2 hours of sleep last night before DS, then the cat, and then DD had me up.

celiabwatson

From a sleep perspective I have found that I feel much better if I can get a solid 4 hours at the beginning of the night. After that it doesn't matter as much (more would be nice, but if I get that 4 I can deal). So in our house I go to bed early and my husband stays up and takes care of anything that happens in that 4 hours. It works well for us.

jinnymb

I can finally say it does!!! The first year was pretty rough I'm not going to lie.  I had some baby blues, then Jack wouldn't sleep, then he had ear infections, I felt guilty, I missed my time with James, yadadaa....

However!!!  Once sleep was restored in our house (a year later) and we got into a groove, I honestly could not be happier with them!!  They play together all day, make each other laugh, and are seriously the best of friends.

It comes in cycles, sometimes they fight but for the most part they are very into each other.  I can get so much more done now and Jack has learned so much from James. James loves taking care of Jack, and Jack makes James laugh constantly.

 They are into the same toys and activities and the same nap schedule so it makes my days much easier. 

I know it feels like forever and bringing in the second is very challenging but I promise you it will be worth it!!!

We decide to space our 3rd, 2 years from Jack because it was very difficult that first year and hopefully Jack/James will continue to be buddies so I can bring the 3rd in smoothly.