How do you do day sleeps and school pick up...i need help !!!

[mbear]

DD#1 is in Yr 1 this year - so second year at school. DS is 9 months, you would think i would have this juggling act down pat - but i dont......am i am totally beside myself....i need help...

We took a gamble last year, bought a factory unit for DH's 2nd business....its about 10 mins away from home. So he no longer works from home....i dont see him now till around 530pm each day. He had January off, then our DS broke his leg, so he spent some time at home...now for the last two weeks, he's been down at the factory. This is where i am finding it hard. I have to do the school drop off and pick up now on my own. School drop off is fine....we are home by 9am...i get DS straight into bed......ITs the arvos that are the prob.
I used to leave DD#3 and DS at home last year in the arvo, go and get DD#1, and then drive another 20 mins and get Dd#2....got home 4ish, woke the babies up - everyone was happy (DH still worked while babies were asleep).
Now, im trying to cram everyones sleep into the day, before 2pm when we have to leave to pick up DD#1 from shool (school finishes 240pm, by time i get them in the car, drive 20 mins, get a park, get the pram out blah, blah...i really just make it...).
DS wont last 2pm - 7pm....he just wont, at 4pm he is beside himself.
ANd to make matters worse...coz his day sleeps are becoming crappy, his nights are too. Im up at least 3 times, surviving on 2 hr intervals, and really dont think im doing a good job ATM.
Ive been on the phone to tresillian today...they suggested i get everyone up earlier - at 6am, then i would be able to get the sleeps in...but that seems a bit dramatic...
So how do you do the school thang, or school activites for older children, when you still have babies that need a sleep???

[Nelle]

Tough! Do you think you could try something like a car seat that's removable (so you could put him to sleep in the house and then carry him out to the car), or a baby carrier so he might feel more settled and sleepy snuggled next to you?

What about afterschool care, just until bub gets older and doesn't need so much sleep? Would your kids be okay with that do you think?

[Astrolady]

I have been lucky with all my kids. They generally go back to sleep when they have been moved. Even now Ash is 3, and if he falls to sleep at school run I can pick him up, buckle him into his car seat and he goes back to sleep. He then sleeps on my shoulder walking across the school oval.

So no real advice for you sorry. I just used to pick them up and put them in pram/car and do what I have to do.

[diva det]

hun i hear you!
our twins are in grade 2 and DS2 was born the first day of school last year.
School drop off have been fine as you said, but DS2 often manages to fall asleep just before i have to pick up the other two!

Since 10 months DS2 has been only having one sleep most days do he goes down between 11.30- and 12.30- that gives him plenty of time to have a good sleep and then a late lunch! Days that this happen are great and work well!

some other days he has fallen asleep earlier and then he falls asleep again around 3 or 4pm. These are hard! DS2 has to sleep on the go these days- either in the sling or the pram-
Some strategies i have used to help with tired bubs are
- go for a drive before pickup- at least then he has had 45 mins uniterupted
-when he falls asleep in the car i ring one of the other mums to tell my two to meet me at the car- that way i dont have to get DS2 out the car unti we get home again! i always park in the same spot so its easy for them to find me!
-bath and feed bubs at 4pm- esp if they are really tired- that way they can settle down earlier and not get to that crabby stage!

good luck hun- this jugling act aint easy!