Lone parent hints and tips- more than one child plus newborn

[Isadora2007]

Please share your hints and tips about how to survive life with a newborn (6 weeks) plus other children of school age. For a desperate mummy.

I did this, baby now 22 unbelievably, back from uni for Xmas!
I had 12year old,10 year old and 2 year old. Older two had schools they could walk to, I kept the toddler in nursery literally round the corner 1pm to 5pm, 5days and took a full year off work.
Bottle fed youngest and he slept well but always got up 5am. Just chilled as much as possible in the mornings, got toddler ready for nursery and took baby for a long walk after. Walked to local shops if we needed anything, went back made dinner.Picked toddler up dinner bedtime.
All were really good kids but I didn't try to do anything other than look after kids, no tv etc just really enjoyed it as was definitely last baby. I wasn't in the middle of a break up or anything dramatic though and older two usually spent Friday nights at their dad's.
What are you struggling with other than the obvious tiredness?

It’s not me @Pinkladyapplepie but she doesn’t post here and asked me to see what people suggested. I think she’s struggling with being alone. Not being able to meet the baby’s needs at the same time as her others so feels if she is a responsive mum to baby then the older ones get left to it/- too much iPad time or fighting with each other… but if she is seeing to them the baby can’t get the constant attention they want either/ cluster feeding or not wanting put down. And right now the baby is having their witching hour crying time at the other kids bedtime so she can’t figure out how to do bedtime alone. Ex is a twat and unreliable so doesn’t even do school runs etc. or if he does it’s inconsistent.

I was on my own with a newborn, an 11 month old, a just 3 year old and a teenager…ex worked away at the time and then became ex after I realised life with all the kids was easier when he wasn’t around as he was more tiring than any of them.

I tried to be as organised as possible, the slow cooker was a godsend etc and I became a dab hand at things like feeding the baby whilst two others were on each knee for a bedtime story. I kept up routines, so dinner/bath/book/bed was sacrosanct, and a good baby-wearing-wrap was an absolute necessity and helped indescribably. (I also had a teen generally wanting to chat about any issue late at night, it was all simply exhausting but it ticked along until it slowly became easier.)

I’d advise her to pick her battles, take as much rest as she can, and do lots of skin-to-skin to help regulate everyone.

Your friend is probably doing her very best under the circumstances.Six weeks in is still early days lots of adjustments for everyone. As for being alone/loveliness she she reach out to as many ppl she can invite them for coffee at her home and get them to do something to help her whilst they are there.
Has she got family? My DD1 is due in Feb and has a 7 year old, I think am very excited 😊, she is also mostly going to be on her own and I am fully expecting to take DGD to school as DD is having a CS. I have saved my leave to take time off work to help, hope you're friend is OK, keep an eye out for and post natal depression, sending my support 💙.