To think it's impossible to look after 3 kids under 3?

[sidesplittinglol]

How do people do it? My newborn is a bad sleeper and naps for 30 max day and night. When she's awake she just wants feeding or being held and dislikes her bed.

My 1 year old is naturally feeling jealous and has been playing up even more. Screaming and crying for anything and everything. Tried to sleep train him to put himself down but it's failing.

My 2 year old will just whinge at anything you ask her to do or just whinges for no apparent reason.

Nap time is hard. I try time it so that the baby is asleep so I can put my 1 year old down but he makes so much noise he wakes her up and then end up with both screaming their heads off.

My DH is at work so I've no help during the day. Finances don't allow me to afford childcare for the older ones.

I'm just so sleep deprived!

How do you do it? If anyone has any tips I'd be eternally grateful

Hi op, I had exactly the same as you. My first bit of advice would be to make sure you get enough sleep. Priorities yourself in this, you'll be useless without enough sleep and your children won't die if they have to cry for a bit. Catch up on sleep at the weekend if you have to.

I guess your not at work op? With no school run, you don't have to be anywhere in the morning so that's good news at least. Having spoken to other parents with gaps, I think we actually have it easier having them all in a lump, it might not feel like that now though. Oh, another tip, don't bother getting them 'dressed just change their clothes when they get dirty (which will be loads). Try to enjoy this time as well!

Sorry I have no advice but you deserve a 🏅 and good luck I have heard it gets easier the older they get I know that's no help to you right now.

I used to just take them all into the bathroom with me when I was in the shower or on the toilet.

Honestly! Order yourself a double or buy one off the items for sale sites! Then strap the baby in the carrier and get them out! Just keep talking to them and pointing things out. The motion of thenlushcahor and walking usually helps with sleep too

Wow!
I want to say it can only get better, hopefully that will be true for you!

A friend of mine actually had triplets! I never will know how she coped!

It gets easier!

Eldest was 3.5 when youngest arrived, DS was only 15months. Baby in a sling constantly. Other 2 in a buggy, and get out, to the park, for a walk, to baby groups (there is usually a parent of a toddler who's happy to cuddle a baby for a while so you can have a cup of tea or play with the older ones)

I found church playgroups good, vicars wife would take the baby and supply me with constant tea on tap 😂

Don't worry about tv time etc, I bought a tablet!

It'll pass, unless like me 1 turns out to be severely autistic and 1 currently has a broken leg hollow laugh

Mine are 6,4 and 3 now

Another vote for double buggy, and get them out as much as possible to groups to tire out the bigger two. I used to have my youngest 2 in the buggy then eldest walked, but he had just turned 3 when youngest of the 3 was born, then middle one was 1.5 years. I would take them to a group every morning, they would sleep in the buggy on way back and stay asleep, then I got a bit of time to myself. It depends on the baby though, I feel like my #4 is more hard work than the first 3 who were all closer together! It will definitely get easier though op, it can take a little while for your routine to fall into place

I had three children under two-years-old at one point. You have my sympathies. It was hard going and to anyone who told me that it won't be that way forever, I wanted to stab them in the eye with a pencil ... truth is they were right, I had another child and then had four children aged four and under, that was a walk in the park in comparison.

Mine all slept though, and my husband despite working did a massive share of the responsibilities (no idea how he managed it as he worked LONG hours) ... but even still the twins first year was a blur. Two of mine also have special needs which added to the balls I was juggling.

So you have my sympathy, I don't really have any tips unfortunately I just took each day as it came and eventually things got easier. We were lucky enough to have a guest room when the children were tiny and once a week we would go off and have one night alone where we could sleep. The other 5 nights we equally shared the nighttime duties. But having that one night to sleep made all the difference.

My dts were born 3 days before ds1''s 2nd birthday. I had no help. I used to do a lot with them. It was best to get them out where they could move around. Any footpaths/beach/forest/parks. It is all a bit of a blur now but I have huge sympathies with because it was hellishly hard.
Get any help from friends or family that you can.
Sleep - make the H get up in the night as least one night during the week and weekends. Mine used to bring babies to me in bed to feed and put them back into bed afterwards.

Not impossible just bloody hard when they are so young. In the long term though it can be a good thing. You get all the nappies and sleepless nights over and done with, and you no longer need to go out with enough supplies to last most people a fortnight. I did this 20 odd years ago so may be looking with rose tinted glasses

i feel for you, i had 3 under age 2.5.

double buggy for the older two and sling for the baby, forget buggy boards - you need them strapped down!

tv time when you are feeding/need a rest.

early dinner for kiddies and early bedtime so you can rest with the baby in front of the tv/eat dinner.

lots of fresh air, i used to walk miles and miles when mine were tiny. its actually easier before they start walking, because then the pace is slooooow.

i used to go to the zoo - a lot. also the aquarium. enclosed safe spaces!

good luck. i also mastered the 3 napping at the same time.... crucial for sanity. i feel slightly wistful. mine are 3,4,5 now. and a whirlwind!! but easier. it will pass.

I guess there's hope for me then!

All the kids were asleep by 7:30pm and in that time I've done a lot of housework and cleaning ready for tomorrow! My newborn actually slept for over 3 hours!

I forgot to answer a pp's question - I do have family around but they're so busy with their own things I'd feel bad to ask them. They do help when they're free though so that's something at least.

By the time my husband gets in, it's bed time and he will help out with that. He's hopefully finishing a bit earlier tomorrow so that's good

This is why peppa pig was invented. (I had dd1 and dtds all under 3. No words of wisdom as it's all a blur but they're 10 and 7 now so I guess I coped). Take it a day at a time and set achievable goals - meaning "will put washing machine on" NOT "will tidy whole house"

My two are 15 months apart. I went out every morning to whatever group was on just to wear them out for an afternoon nap. I too spent alot if time pounding the streets until they nodded off and then found a cafe to sit and have a break while they slept.
Mondays were good - we went to a two hour music class, I'd drive for 20 mins afterwards to a large supermarket. They both nodded off. I locked the car doors and nodded off too. Then I'd go into the supermarket, have lunch in the café with them and then do a quick food shop. Mondays were great because the hours zipped by!

My mil had 4 under 4. She put two in the pram facing each other and then made the other two hold on to the left & right of the pram when she went out. Must have been incredibly hard. She was on her own, her dh fucked off abroad & left her. She told me when the health visitor called she had 50 newly washed nappies on the line!

'Little ones' is a sleeping program that has one main nap of the day plus various other naps for children of different ages, think it's around £30 - might be worth a try to get your newborn into a napping schedule in a few weeks (apprecite it's a bit soon just now) so the youngest two at least have one long nap at the same time every day.

As others have said a sling might be useful at this stage

I think toddlers all go through whiney stages. I am trying to point out good listening and giving treats for not moaning with mine and she has a star chart for sleeping but she still has days of constant whining where bribery and TV get us through - not ideal parenting but will have to do for now!

If the 1 year old is not breastfed can yo I get your OH to help sleep train or do more of the night wakes

Good luck, it will be tough but you will come out the othe side!

Others have said it, but you'll look back in a few years and realise you can't remember almost any of this bit - it'll just be a blur.

Take lots of photos!

It does get easier - mine are now 13, 14 and 16 and it all seems like such a long time ago.

i had 3 under three (oldest 2 years 10 months when the youngest came home).
i ran a tight ship like military precision. meals housekeeping the works on a rigid schedule.
i slept when they left home (in their 20's).
nothing creative, all meals tried and true, clean up efficient.
not sure anyone was particularly happy but we all survived.
good luck OP.

Wish I knew how to run a tight ship but not very good at it.

Last night when they were all asleep, I cleaned everywhere and did a lot of laundry so that was successful.

This morning has been a lot calmer as I've found a way to make my newborn sleep longer (she's been asleep since 9:30!)

I do hope it gets easier!

Is it doable? Yes, I did it, but I was really fortunate to have good nappers and kids who loved reading. It meant that there was always some down time. However, there were days where I wanted to cry and hide. Advice? I was quite routine in my life which was bit boring but gave me sanity! Take help where offered. Don't worry about standards slipping. We had many a pj day where I found it was a bit much! Whatever your approach, you'll get through it and as previous ppl have said it'll be a blur. The plus side is that mine all play really well together as so close in age and I now have more free time than other friends. Good luck and don't beat yourself up on the bad days

Ps I noticed you said you clean up when they've gone to bed. Don't. Make a point of 'finishing work' at 7/7.30. Leave the rest till tomorrow

If you aren't breastfeeding, then with three children your husband really should be doing half the nights. Mine does with just one child, as it's not fair for one person to be exhausted. Yes he works, and works long hours, but it's lot like you are resting is it!!
Some rest will make the world of difference.

I am a cminder and have 3 under threes . However will add I am not sleep deprived and can get dressed etc before children arrive )
It is still exhausting . Re naps the 2 two year olds sleep upstairs baby downstairs so that they are less likely to disturb baby.

Also double buggy was the only way a coped when one not going down well but other was down to one nap a day .

You are doing amazing

I find if i don't do it in the evenings, I won't have time to do it during the day. Having said that, my newborn has been a dream today. So I could have done some stuff today.

My DH will help in the evenings but there's not much left to do with the kids as they are going bed. As I'm BF he can't do the night feeds. He's been good with the other two though.

My 2 year old doesn't sleep. She stop napping a few months back. But I do give her down time when the 1 year old is asleep