Kids Room Tips

I need help with my kids!?

I just had my third child a week ago. I have a 5 year old getting ready to start kindergarden this fall, a 1 year old and now a 1 week old. We are currently living with my grandparents cause our house is being remodeled and painted. We are staying in the basment which is fully finished, but does not have walls for rooms..it's carpeted and has tv and a full bathroom ,it's nice but as far as having our 1 year old down there, it's hard. I can't get him to go to sleep at night cause we are right there next to his crib and he thinks he needs to be in our bed.Our new baby is in the cosleeper next to the bed on my side. I feel really bad cause our 5 year old is upstairs with my grandparents and i don't really have alot of time to spend with her now that i have 2 infants to care for constantly. I also feel terrible that i have to put my 1 year old in the play pen and he just stands there and cries while i nurse the new baby. I need help getting organized with my time and how do this!!! the reason my kids (1 year old and the 1 week old) are so close together is because my mom killed herself and i missed my 6 week postpartum visit. Due to the fact that with my other 2 i did clomid and invetro, i NEVER thought i would just get pregnant on my own! Surprise!

Public Comments

1. perhaps you should have waited to keep reproducing until there was a bigger gap between your children. then they all could have had quality time to be babies with you.
2. Try not to forget that this situation will not last for ever. It will be tough for a bit but then when you get your own home back, it will be better. Involve your 1 year old and your 5 year old at the same time that you are feeding by reading them a story.
3. Get a folding decorative screen (or even a curtain) and place a visual divider between your 1 year old's crib and your bed. This way he has his own "room" and hopefully will be able to fall asleep instead of getting distracted by the other activity around him. As far as nursing goes, I would highly recommend a sling! There are 19 months between my boys and using a sling to nurse allows me the freedom to move about the house, play with my older son, or read him a story while I nurse his little brother! http://www.goo-ga.com/shop/all/blue_couture you could set up an art project for your 5 year old (even just a coloring book and crayons) on a small table so she can be near you while you are feeding/changing the babies. You could also wear your newborn in a sling, put the one year old in his stroller and go for a walk with your 5 year old, or perhaps walk along side her while she rides her bike.
4. you one year old is just trying to figure out her spot in the family with the new baby being there. In the big pic what would be so horrible for her to be in bed with you just tell you get back to your own home. and if you don't want to do that why don't you go up stairs tell she falls asleep so she won't see you the other thing you can do is hang a sheet to divide the two "rooms" this will not cost you a thing and you can still hear her at all times just don't be to hard on any of your children they are trying to figure out everything just like you on a different note make sure you are spending one on one time with everyone.
5. you better go and get help.
6. As hard as it is, you need to find time for one on one with each child. Maybe your husband could watch the two little ones while you take a walk around the block each night with the 5 year old. She will start to resent the younger two if she feels you have your family downstairs and she is relegated to living upstairs. And once she feels more secure with her place, she could be a big help with the little ones. Ask her to play with the one year old while you nurse the baby. Make her feel like a big deal and make sure she "overhears" you telling everyone what a grand help she is. Also, maybe you could pump your breastmilk and have hubby feed the littlest occassionally while you spend special time putting the one year old to bed.