Q for those with baby & toddler (or those that have been there!)

[MrsFabuloso]

I had a similar problem with my DS and DD when DS was little. I hated DD sitting in front of the tv, but sometimes needed that extra time to be with DS. I got a sling and wore DS alot in the early months, and also got an automatic baby swing thing which he would sleep in sometimes. Otherwise I would put him into the portacot in the lounge room and I could settle him while watching DD too. I would give her some crayons or she could play with the playdough at the kitchen counter and I could still see her. It's so tough to give them both your time when they are both so little! Good luck

[Arimeh]

Yeah I'm with Kel, if I can't resettle DD2 within 5 minutes, I get her up and put her in the sling to continue her sleep while still doing stuff with the other two.

No use getting stressed out trying to get a baby to sleep and worrying about your other one - it doesn't help anyone. Bubs can feel your stress and won't go to sleep just cos you want them to - unfortunately!!!! LOL

[*Belle*]

Hun I was there, I understand, we put Tara in the bassinet in the lounge room with us and rocked her together and read stories the sounds of our voices comforted her also the washing machine helped her sleep too. But if she didnt want to settle I carried her around until she was drowsy and put her back in bassinet still in lounge room and rocked her.

[~Kim~]

Slings were our saviour too.....I didn't know some babies settled within five mins lol

[feeb]

BF DS2 to sleep while having DS1 next to may playing with shapo or sitting on floor with him rolling ball, doing jigsaw, pushing cars etc.

Or TV

Have a swing for DS2 but DS1 likes to push it to oops

[skeetaboat]

I had the same problem (still do with a catnapping 7 month old, hopefully for your DS2 grows out of it sooner than that), and I find the best thing to do is get out of the house. Toddler is occupied in wide open spaces, running around as toddlers should do, and baby goes to sleep in pram. Maybe that's an option?

Also, don't worry too much. It will only be for a short time, particularly if you are conscientous about TV. I found my toddler started getting a bit addicted, but it only took a week of strict limits for him to snap out of the habit (it was a grumpy week though!). Even if you do have to use it a bit more than you like for this short time, when it comes time to return to normality, it's not going to be like taking cigarettes off a smoker, you know? There are plenty more interesting things for toddlers to do than watch a screen and you'll soon be in a position to offer more of them to him again.