encouraging good daytime sleep for second child without making first child suffer?

[sjcmum]

DD2 is 7 months old, rubbish sleeper generally. Will only really fall asleep if held by me. Have half heartedly tried to encourage her to settle herself, PUPD a bit too etc but find it impossible when I also have to look after DD1. If I'm upstairs trying to settle dd2, inevitably dd1 is downstairs shouting for me etc and getting crosser and crosser - or comes and starts bouncing around on the bed while I'm trying to calm dd2 down. Basically I usually fall back on whatever works most quickly ie holding her.

In an ideal world, I'd like to be able to put her down in her cot and walk out the door while she falls off to sleep on her own. But that seems totally impossible right now.

None of the books give you ideas of how to make things work when you have more than one child!

Anyone have any quick fixes to encourage better sleep?? or suggestions on how to juggle two children successfully?

Is it better just to keep on doing what works for now and hope that she eventually learns to settle herself?

[ches]

How old is DD2? Can she put a doll or teddy to bed while you're seeing to DD1? Or can you all read stories together? (I.e. put DD2 in a sling while reading to DD1 and let DD2 drop off.)

[sjcmum]

Good idea - might give that a try. DD1 is nearly 3. DD2 would definitely fall asleep in the sling and does quite often - trouble is at the moment, I'm the only one really who she will fall asleep with.... and it would be nice if she would do it for someone else !!!

[ChunkyChick]

If you're interested Gina Ford has a new book out 'The New Baby With Toddler', or some similar title.