2 DDs and DSD are at school, will a new baby be difficult?

[bratnav]

I am posting here as we are TTC what will be DC4 (sort of). I have 2 DDs from my previous marriage and DP has a DD from his. My DDs live with us, and go to their Dads every other weekend, DSD is with us 50% of the time.

DD2 and DSD started reception this year so by the time this DC comes along they will all be fully settled in school.

Basically, how difficult/easy is it with all the other DCs in school with a small baby, how helpful can the elder DCs be, am I mad?

[bratnav]

anyone?

[MarkStretch]

I'll tell you in February.

I have a dd (6) and a dsd (nearly 7).

I am hoping they are going to be really helpful with the new one!

[missmama]

I'm with you MarkStretch. It had better be easy.
DS's are 7 and 10. DC3 is due Christmas.
My only worry is the morning school run

[thefabfour]

Depends how you look at it.

I have 4 dc's and only one was in FTE when DC4 arrived.

To have everyone at school whilst you look after a newborn sounds blissful...

[thefabfour]

hmm,good point missmama forgot about the school run.

so will re-phrase - school run aside- it will be blissful.

Seriously though, I find it helps if I start getting ready and into the car at least 20 minutes before I intend on leaving. A (very) strong coffee afterwards helps too!

[hannahsaunt]

My 2 ds were at school when ds3 came along. It was much harder than when ds2 arrived as ds1 still went to nursery and so I could be flexible about when I dropped him off, when I picked him up and just how many days he did in a week (max 4). School hours (and after school activities) turned out to be very constraining and exhausting and relentless along with the need to have homework done, lunches made, gym bags packed, clean uniforms available etc etc. Much, much harder than a lo at nursery.

Wouldn't be without ds3 though

[bratnav]

I have to say that the school run with a newborn is making me very nervous, currently DP takes and collects DDs and DSD from school as I work an hour away FT and he is round the corner from the school.

How on earth do you get 4 DCs (esp a newborn) out of the door by 8.20?

[n5rje]

I had DS4 when the other 3 DSs were at school and so far it hasn't caused any problems. I found that a newborn is likely to be awake before the older children so I had time to feed him before the others got up and he didn't then need anything until after I was back from the school run. He's now 8 mths and fits in fine, he wakes up at around 6.30 so he can have his milk and I can shower before the others get up at 7. They all have breakfast together and we can be out by 8.40.

To make life easier I wouldn't bother to dress the baby before school esp. in the winter and I would recommend making packed lunches, if you have to, the night before and don't even try to wash the dishes/tidy the kitchen before school so that there's the minimum to do in the morning.

I don't expect my older boys to help with DS4 but I do expect them to help themselves and they all get themselves dressed and get their own breakfasts if necessary (they are 9/7/6) so all I have to do is the school bags.

After school isn't too bad as there isn't the urgency to do stuff to a timetable but it can sometimes be a struggle to fit in reading/spellings/any activities. I'm on my own most weekdays so I do find the bath/bed time difficult but it would be anyway even with 3.

Good luck if you decide to go ahead

[drivinmecrazy]

i found it quite easy. DD1 started reception a week after DD2 was born. I didn't worry about dressing baby for school run, used to get her changed afterwards. All I had to do was BF DD2 while DD1 was having breakfast, and out the door. Only issue was the tiredness. if baby had only slept from 5am was really hard waking. Brilliant though that i got to spend all day with baby so didn't really get the guilt of trying to divide my attention, and could sleep when baby slept. Worked for me, i couldn't bear the though of two at home at the same time.

[bratnav]

It will just be so different than DD1 and 2, they were only 15 months apart

[n5rje]

Bratnav - it is different but because I've done it all before and I have the older DSs it doesn't feel like going back to the beginning its almost like I don't have to think about what I'm doing with DS4. its just second nature. I haven't explained that very well but its not what I expected, it easier than I thought it would be.

[MarkStretch]

I am planning to do the school run with a wailing baby, in my pyjamas, with wild untamed hair.

As long as DD is fed and watered we can wait til later.

Then obviously I will do the afternoon school run leaving a glistening house with clothes and makeup on, with lovely glossy hair, and everyone will admire me.

Oh and DH works shifts so on the days that he's off I'm leaving the baby with him!

[Nemowith3and1tobe]

I have one ds who started reception and 2 dds who are still at home[nealy 2 and 3] and the idea of a whole day wit just baby sounds blissful

[bratnav]

hee hee Nemo, I know that in most ways it will be so much easier, but the DDs school is FULL of yummy mummies