i suck at this gig

[bibidanni]

Hope you feel better soon! I only have one child and he's only four months and I don't know how to cope anymore due to sleep deprivation. It really is a killer and screws with your perspective.

Is there any chance somebody could do the night shift for you once a week? Or a couple of hours during the day so you get a break? I am sure you've thought of this all already. I just hope things improve for you real soon and you get all the support you need.

[HotI]

Thanks bibidanni. DS is breastfeeding, and hourly overnight, at the moment so not so easy to hand over for now. I got away for a meeting last week that was a couple of hours, and the poor carer had him scream for most of that time. When we got home, he was asleep in her arms but still sobbing in his sleep. It was nice to take a break, and i know he was safe and loved the whole time i was away, but it's just not really worth it for now.

We have discovered he likes the swing outside so we got some gardening done, and one of us would just push him every now and then and he was happy.

[Mak]

Hey there HotI - I remember that kind of age gap and the tiredness/overwhelmingness of managing my 2. It passed and got better but I really should have tried to take care of myself better in terms of being kinder to myself and trying to get some adult space. xxxx

[Cassius2]

oh man, you reminded me how when i saw those automatic rocker swings a few months ago i was like: 'omg, why didnt i have one for DD2??' lol. i had never seen one before hahaha. after having a very intense kiddo i was tempted to get one

glad that he does like the swing though. i know that once DD2 was able to sit a bit more upright for longer periods that it did get a bit less intense and gave me a spare chance to actually have half a cup of hot tea (as opposed to the "chug-down 'cause it's there cold tea before dumping in the sink").

many hugs hopefully with the longer and sunnier days there will be more gardening opportunities and chances to get outside and get some fresh air in his lungs (always a nice way to try to tucker 'em out!)

[forshelby]

Cassius... the number of coffees and hot chocolates I had two sips of and then forgot about is definitely in the hundreds!! Thanks for reminding me of that. And to buy an automatic rocker/swingamagig type thing for this next bub. Silly me, scoffing at all the contraptions I thought I didn't need...... Oh my goodness I needed them. You watch, I'll buy them all and this bubby will be an awesome sleeper. Damn you Murphy and your stupid laws!

HotI- I'm so glad you got something from our replies. Parenting is hard work. But you're awesome, remember? Can you express a little at all so that DS can have one or two feeds from Daddy during the night? If not, is co-sleeping an option? I didn't even BF for very long but still co-slept because it minimised his squeaking and squawking during the night. It made things easier, but difficult in a different way ITMS. I remember sobbing to DP one night "I just want to have a couple of hours of sleep by myself without a baby on me, snuffling in my face!" Seems amusing now, but I remember how tiring it got. Whatever gets you more sleep though is the best option. If I didn't co-sleep, it would've been no-sleep. Hehe.... Poetic!

[HotI]

i couldn't have survived the last few years without co-sleeping! i don't do it out of any philosophical reason, just survival. i hear you both on the hot drinks too.

DS was sleeping a longer stretch at the start of the night in the hammock, but now this is only couple hours if i am lucky. He is dribbling, reflux and eczema playing up which i think is all cos he has couple teeth busting through. If so, it might settle down again soon.

[Sunny Love]

Teeting sucks, not you babe!
If DS hadn't of co-slept (because DD never liked it) i'm not sure what I wouldv'e done. Hang in there, i'm sending the sleep fairies to your place tonight xx