Parenting advice

So our ds2 is three weeks old and things are going ok. Cluster feedin in the mornings but seems to be settling in well.

One thing that I'm struggling with ( and could be because of the cluster feeding mornings and me worried ds2 won't get enough sleep) is how u handle toddler behaviour with a newborn. In particular the excited yelling and loud tantrums? I don't want to give into things but when I'm worried about him waking his brother I just do anything so he is quiet again.

How do I just get over it and if ds2 wakes he wakes? Cuz I'm just worried about how to resettle a Bub with a toddler as well.

No idea if this makes any sense as I'm typing on iPhone and feeding ds2...

It can be tough... I've tried to keep DS2's bedroom door open during the day so he actually gets used to noise during the day. At the same time, as the toddler gets older, things get easier...

Is your house big enough to try doing some quiet activities down the other end while the baby is sleeping?

Eg. I get out the playdoh, arts & crafts, flash cards, drawing etc to keep DS1 quietly occupied while DS2 sleeps.

I used the TV. A lot. When DS1 was born, DD was only 16'mths and really struggled to understand "shh the baby's sleeping!" I was fortunate that she didn't seem too upset when I sat to feed DS1 but the times that she did, I put the TV on.

It isn't the end of the world. Will your big boy happily sit and watch TV?

Other ideas I've heard that work are a special basket of toys that only come out when mummy has to feed the baby or some other sort of special activity.

I also used to make sure that the big kids were fed and watered, clean nappies/been to the toilet, before I sat down to feed.

And the thing about second, third, fourth babies... Lots of them learn to feed really quickly ;) They don't want to miss out on all the action!

Like Connie said... It gets easier as they get older.

White noise. I had tv/radio/music on all the time. There's still noise, but it's not as noticeable when there's background noise. It dulls any sudden sounds.

Dd3 used to wake when we went to bed because of the silence. I can't sleep with noise :lol: I hate waking up at 4am with religion yelling at me ;)